Visiting the MuCEM
In 2013, as Marseille served as the European Capital of Culture, President Hollande arrived to inaugurate a museum project that had been in the works since 1990. France provided its second-largest city with a major cultural institution.
The history of a landmark project
The MuCEM, or Museum of Civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean, is the result of a long heritage. It began in the late 19th century with the Musée d'Ethnographie du Trocadéro (Trocadéro Ethnography Museum) in Paris, followed by the Musée national des Arts et Traditions populaires (National Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions) in the mid-20th century. The latter's collections were moved to the Bois de Boulogne in the 1970s, but due to low attendance, officials began exploring a transfer to the provinces by the early 1990s.
After the closure of the Musée national des Arts et Traditions populaires in 2005 and the expansion of the collections to include North Africa and the Middle East, it was a natural choice to bring the project to the Phocaean city. The MuCEM was built on the site of the Hangar J4, which once served as the connection point for ferries between Marseille and Algiers.
This massive project, which carried a budget of 167 million EUR (about 180 million USD), now stands as one of the most significant museums in Europe.
The 4 sections of the MuCEM
The museum is divided into 4 distinct areas:
- The J4 is a cube measuring 72 meters on each side, supported by 309 pillars. It houses an auditorium, a screening room, a children's area, bookstores, cafes, and restaurants.
- The Fort Saint-Jean, overlooking the entrance to the Vieux-Port (Old Port), features a 12,000 square-meter garden, an esplanade for summer events, exhibition space, and a historical trail.
- The I2MP, or Institut méditerranéen des métiers du patrimoine (Mediterranean Institute of Heritage Professions), is a hub for training and cultural exchange.
- Finally, the Centre de conservation et de ressources (Conservation and Resource Center) brings together storage facilities, a reading room, and an exhibition hall. It allows visitors to handle, observe, and learn about specific objects from the museum collections, provided they submit a request in advance.
The MuCEM holds approximately 1 million pieces in its collections, making it a cornerstone of French cultural life.
Opening hours
*Information subject to change
I found this museum very pleasant to visit, but also very big! Between the temporary and permanent exhibits, there is something for everyone. I left with a little more knowledge and some pretty photos. The museum is connected to Fort Saint-Jean: if you walk for a few minutes, you discover a beautiful outdoor space. A great place to spend the afternoon!