Founded 2,600 years ago, the place known as the Phocaean city is the oldest city in France. The History Museum goes to meet the past of Marseille, from the origins of its foundation by the Greeks to the present day.
A museum between past and future
The Marseille History Museum was founded in 1983, near the Old Port (Vieux-Port). It presents to the public the discoveries made during the archaeological excavations on the ruins of the ancient Greek port of the city, nestled at the bottom of the Lacydon. You can admire the ancient walls and quays by walking around the Garden of Vestiges (Jardin des Vestiges in french).
The place has been completely renovated, redesigned, and modernized for Marseille-Provence 2013. The new museographic path places the museum in the heart of the city, dialoguing both with the past, embodied by the Jardin des Vestiges, and the future of the city symbolized by the economic activity of the Centre Bourse, a popular shopping and business center with shops, offices, conference rooms and hotels.
With a 3,500 m² exhibition space, rooms dedicated to temporary exhibitions and workshops, a 200-seat auditorium, a resource and documentation center with a graphic arts cabinet, the Marseille History Museum attracts many visitors every year.
Collections of the History Museum
The Marseille History Museum tells the story of the past of the oldest city in France, but also of a port city open to the Mediterranean Sea and the world. By following the museographic path, the visitor discovers the lives of the men and women who have written the history of the city over the centuries. Thirteen chronological sequences retrace millennia of human occupation, from prehistory to the contemporary development of the urban space.
The museum houses in its collections remarkable archaeological finds, unearthed during numerous excavation campaigns. During your tour of the museum, you can see the astonishingly well-preserved fragments of wrecks dating from the 6th century BC, and other extraordinary items.
A living history tour
The Marseille History Museum offers the public a playful and interactive approach. Reconstructions, models and digital media allow visitors to immerse themselves in the different periods they discover. The work of historians and archeologists is highlighted by resurrected historical or romantic characters such as Pytheas, the Greek explorer, or Edmond Dantès, the famous Count of Monte Cristo. Escales de l’Histoire (Stopovers in History) will particularly appeal to the youngest visitors: these experimental modules should help them to immerse themselves in a playful way in the stories that are offered.
Visitors’ comments highlight the quality of the collections and the immersive experience.
Ancient Port site of Marseille
2,600 years ago, sailors from the distant Greek town of Phocaea settled in the calm waters of the Lacydon cove, where they founded a city. The site of the ancient port bears witness to the genesis of the oldest city in France, which has become a great metropolis with an international reputation and one of the largest ports in Europe open to the Mediterranean Sea.
Marseille has become a very popular tourist destination, attracting tourists from all over the world. You can complete your discovery of the city’s past by visiting the other historical monuments: the Abbey of Saint Victor, the Château d’If, or the Fort Saint-Jean which today houses part of the Mucem…
Practical information
Prepare your visit to the Marseille History Museum:
- Opening days: open from Tuesday to Sunday. Closed on January 1, May 1, November 1, December 25 and December 26.
- Schedule: from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Address: 2 Rue Henri Barbusse, 13001 Marseille
- Access : metro line 1, Vieux-Port station
- Website: https://www.musee-histoire-marseille-voie-historique.fr/en/
