Marseille History Museum

In a city that is rich in history, it was very rewarding to find a well planned and presented museum. Enter the grounds through the park (not the shopping mall) to see the layout of the ancient port. Excavated walls and buildings are described on plaques to help visualize. Inside you will proceed from earliest archeological finds to modern day. The modern day presentation is poor and lacking but that isn't why you should go to a history museum, is it. Early on you'll encounter the remains of two ancient ships along with video presentations that can be heard through earphone devices available at the entrance. Models have been build to demonstrate how the ship looked when it was in use. The videos include how it was used, the importance of them to ancient Marseille, and the process of discovering and protecting them. The museum is broken into stages that each have a marker showing the dates and most important events. At each stage, there is an audio and sometimes video explanation to add to the exhibits.

I got a chance to visit I the museum for free and I am very glad. It’s one of the most interesting approach to show the marine history of the city through such ship installations I have ever seen. Several levels of the museum guide you through its history. I was a bit disappointed that the latest history (1970s) is not yet available

Really enjoyed this museum. For a museum without an entry free, with well translated audio guides in English, this was an incredible experience. There is so much effort put in well documenting the entire history of Marseille throughout the museum. We were absolutely delighted spend over 2 hours of informative stories, activities & other engagements. The staff was kind & polite. I would highly recommend it!

This one was definitely a surprise! I visited because I ran out of things to do while in Marseille and the ticket was free. Considering I usually don't like archological museums, this one really exceeded my expectations. The informations are delivered with well made and detailed audioguides and videos: it is quite a shame that at the time of my visit most of them were under repair. Overall I wouldn't say it's a must, but it's definitely an underrated museum.

Free museum with lots of non-functional sections. The audio guide was barely usable in English. None of the employees speak anything but french. I understand this is France, but do you want people to appreciate your city or not? In my country you wouldn't be hired for a tourist attraction if you were monolingual. No tiene opción en español. Además, solo los franceses preservarían su propia derrota.

The Marseille History Museum (Musée d'Histoire de Marseille) is located in the heart of Marseille and is dedicated to showcasing the rich and diverse history of the city. The museum is situated in a historic building that was once a part of the city's ancient port, providing a fitting backdrop for its exhibits. The museum's collection spans from the ancient Greek and Roman periods through to modern times, highlighting significant events, cultural developments, and the evolution of Marseille as a major Mediterranean port. Visitors can explore artifacts, multimedia displays, and interactive exhibits that tell the story of the city's inhabitants, trades, and transformations over the centuries. In addition to its permanent collection, the museum often features temporary exhibitions and educational programs that delve deeper into specific aspects of Marseille's history and culture. If you have any specific questions or need more information about the museum, its exhibits, or visiting details, feel free to ask!

Amazing museum to learn about the history of Marseille. Very interactive for kids and even for adults.

This is an outstanding history museum with a great entertainment and educational value. Definitely take advantage of the excellent audio guide. The museum is laid out chronologically in the setting of an archeological location of a roman port. It guides through the history of Marseille from prehistory through today. The physical displays are supported by really good multimedia content, which allows you to deep dive on specific topics. The displays are relevant, interesting, clearly marked (French only unfortunately). The highlight was the audio guide. It covered the thematic areas giving the overview and noting the key artifacts. It was sufficiently in-depth giving great explanations of each period, the historical context of the artifacts, and supporting stories. Very rich content presented in an accessible but not dumbed-down manner. Great job, museum! Overall, it is definitely among the best city history museums. Highly recommend. Note, if visiting on the day the mall is closed, go through the gatehouse on the archeological side. The signs are misleading.