Mucem (Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations)

The Mucem, the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations, opened in 2013 at the J4 pier in Marseille, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. Architect Rudy Ricciotti designed the square main building as a cube wrapped in a dark concrete lattice that filters the Mediterranean light, and high footbridges link it to the 17th-century Fort Saint-Jean and, beyond that, the old Panier district. The museum is devoted to the societies and cultures of the Mediterranean basin and holds collections of everyday objects, art and ethnography, shown in permanent displays and in temporary exhibitions that change regularly. The building is as much of an attraction as its contents. A rooftop terrace and the walkway between the cube and the fort give sweeping views over the harbour mouth, the Cathedral de la Major and the open sea. Fort Saint-Jean has gardens with Mediterranean plants and terraces that are free to enter, and a visit to the grounds can be made without buying a museum ticket. A typical visit lasts two to three hours, split between the exhibitions and the outdoor spaces. The museum is closed on Tuesdays, on 1 May and on 25 December, and the ticket desks close 45 minutes before closing time, so visitors should check mucem.org for current hours. Adult admission is EUR 11, reduced EUR 7.50, with a family ticket at EUR 18 and free entry for visitors under 18. Late afternoon is the favoured time, as the terraces catch the low sun and the lattice casts strong shadows. The museum is reached on foot in 10 to 15 minutes from the Vieux-Port, by tram T2 or T3 to Joliette, or by bus 60, which also links to Notre-Dame de la Garde. A cafe and restaurant on the terraces allow a break between sections.