Museums and galleries in Marseille

Marseille's cultural landscape spans over two millennia, showcased through the Roman Docks' ancient warehouses and the comprehensive Marseille History Museum. The 17th-century Vieille Charité complex serves as a major hub, housing collections of Mediterranean archaeology and arts from Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. Modern and contemporary art are represented at the Musée Cantini and the FRAC PACA, while specialized venues like the Santon Museum preserve local Provençal traditions and the Mémorial de La Marseillaise explores the national anthem's revolutionary origins.

Marseille Museums & Galleries — Map

Lars Textorius / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Old Charity Center

La Vieille Charité is a former almshouse, now functioning as a museum and cultural centre, situated in the heart of the old Panier quarter…

André Derain / PD-US

B

Cantini Museum

The Musée Cantini is a museum in Marseille that has been open to the public since 1936.

Alkhimov Maxim / CC BY 3.0

C

La Marseillaise

"La Marseillaise" is the national anthem of France. The song was written in 1792 by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle in Strasbourg after the…

Jean-Pierre Dalbéra / CC BY 2.0

D

Museum of Roman Docks

Ruins of ancient Roman warehouse, sheltered by a museum with exhibits on what life was like in these days.

Medium69 / CC BY 2.0

E

Marseille History Museum

The Marseille History Museum is the local historical and archaeological museum of Marseille in France.

Jean-Pierre Dalbéra / CC BY 2.0

F

Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology

Second only to Louvre in France, this museum is not to be missed. Come see the various artefacts of Egyptian or Cretan origin.

Charliemoon / CC BY-SA 3.0

G

African, Oceanic & Native American Art Museum

Something different to do in Marseille - the variety of the collection, coming from three continents, is indeed amazing.

Ismoon / CC BY-SA 4.0

H

Museum of African, Native American and Oceanian Arts

Located on the second floor of the Vieille Charité, this museum displays a diverse collection of masks, statues, and artifacts from Africa, Oceania, and the Americas, including a significant collection of Mexican popular art.

I

Fonds Régional d'Art Comtemporain PACA

Designed by architect Kengo Kuma, this contemporary art center features a distinctive facade of 1,500 enameled glass panels. It hosts rotating exhibitions and manages an extensive regional collection of modern works.

J

Santon Museum

Displays a collection of the traditional Christmas figurines - santons. You can watch them being made or buy one at the giftshop.

K

Studio Fotokino

Studio Fotokino is a small art gallery which focuses on contemporary art and its many forms.

L

David Pluskwa Contemporary Art

This gem of a contemporary art gallery started of in the early 1990s with the focus on regional artists, though since then it's spread its…

M

Centre international de poésie Marseille

Situated within the Vieille Charité, this public institution is dedicated to contemporary poetry through readings, exhibitions, and a specialized library housing over 30,000 volumes.

N

Galerie Béa-ba

Contemporary art gallery located near the Old Port, specializing in modern painting, sculpture, and photography by both established and emerging artists.

O

Galerie Gourvennec Ogor

Housed in a former industrial warehouse, this gallery showcases international contemporary art across 400 square meters of exhibition space, focusing on emerging artists and experimental projects.

P

Soleil Levant

Art center and gallery space located in the 1st arrondissement, hosting exhibitions of contemporary visual arts and local creative projects.

Q

Galerie Ho

Contemporary art gallery focusing on emerging painters and photographers, providing a platform for regional talent in the heart of the city.

R

Art-cade*

Located in the former Grands Bains de la Plaine, this non-profit gallery focuses on the intersection of contemporary art and architecture, hosting experimental exhibitions and artist residencies.

S

Centre international de recherche sur le verre et les arts plastiques

A specialized research center and studio where international artists, designers, and architects experiment with glassmaking techniques to create contemporary works and prototypes.

T

Les Ateliers de l'Image

A cultural space dedicated to photography and the moving image, offering exhibitions, workshops, and educational programs centered on contemporary lens-based media.

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