Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations

Must visit place in Marseille. Even if you are not a fan of art or exhibitions it is still a place to go. The entrance to the building is free of charge, you will just need to pass security check. You'll be able to visit a fortress and the roof of the museum. I would recommend to be there around sunset and observe it from the bridge between the museum building and the fortress

This museum is a great place to learn about the Mediterranean history. It has old building and new building. The architecture is blend of history as well as modernity. Entry to museum is free. Few galleries are paid. Overall a must visit place in Marseilles.

A large museum with several varied exhibitions on Marseille, the Mediterranean and Europe as a whole. Thousands of items are grouped into different themes in a way that can be a bit overwhelming and bewildering. It must be a challenge to know how to curate such a variety of objects, pictures, sculptures and text. The modern building is almost surrounded by water and is wrapped in a wonderful ‘net’. Walkways wrap around the building and bridges link it to the older fort next door where the exhibitions continue. The whole experience of the building is wonderful with incredible views of the building itself, the Mediterranean Sea and of Marseille. Gardens, walkways and resting points have been created throughout both buildings and the whole thing is really successful. There are small cafes on the ground floor and on the roof with a very high end restaurant on floor 3.

This is an architectural delight, blending modern with the historic. If you only want to view the museum buildings and access the old fort via the bridge, you don't need to pay anything. If you want to access the exhibits you will need to pay, but it is not too expensive. The exhibits had a lot of variety, one dedicated to the nude form in art, one for pop culture, one that blended Mediterranean history with modern influences, and one that was just a random collection of modern art. None of the exhibits were that interesting, but the pop culture one was kind of fun for me and my 8 year old daughter. The kids area says that is for kids up to 11, but it's really targeted for kids under 5.

Visited MUCEM in Marseille last weekend and it was awesome! The architecture is super modern and blends so well with the historic Fort Saint-Jean. The exhibits were diverse and really engaging—loved learning about Mediterranean cultures and history. The views from the rooftop were stunning, perfect spot for some great photos. The cafe had some tasty snacks too. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in Marseille! It is free to enter as well!

What a quirky museum! Reasonably priced, including the exhibitions (well worth the extra if you are looking for a more traditional museum with exhibits). We bought tickets at the counter. Visa or Mastercard only. The highlight of this place is the view! Set in an old fort, there's still a lot of the stonework left untouched, and like I said...the views! There's a lot of stairs and a steep ramped climb to get in, but inside the exhibit building are escalators to go up. We went to all 5 exhibits: pop culture, natural (they mean naked, not outdoors...fair warning!), antiquities, modern art, and a little sports section (don't miss some famous objects in the front with tiny signs indicating previous ownership by Pele, Cassius Clay, or Princess Diana.) Not a lot of original pieces, but still a good visit. Multiple language translations on the placards was also nice. The top floor of this building looks like a modern bird cage and hosts a café with drinks, coffee, sandwiches , etc. It was HOT the day we went, and the exhibits are the only part indoors and with air conditioning, so if you need a break from the heat, the extra cost was worth it!

This museum is actually two main buildings. You have the contemporary building that has the exhibits and the fortress-like has a nice walkway around the perimeter. You can get some nice views of the harbor and the cathedral. As for the exhibit itself, the one about the Mediterranean was the most impactful. It starts with a display of Greek culture and how that transitioned to the colonial french adopting that culture to justify the colonization of Algeria. It was a thoughtful reminder of how ideals of antiquity and heritage can sometimes morph into a sense of superiority and oppression. Marseilles is very much a multicultural city with many people coming from across the Mediterranean, so this exhibit is very relevant.

Excellent museum in an incredible location. They have an amazing permanent collection and host very interesting special exhibitions. The old fortress within which the museum is located is worth the visit alone. But the way the modern section was integrated is architecturally unique.