Muséum d'histoire naturelle de Marseille

About the museum

The museum was founded in 1819 in Marseille by the mayor and prefect of the time; Polydore Roux was its first curator. It was initially housed in the Chapelle des Bernardines, then moved in 1830 to a former Masonic lodge building.

In 1869 it settled permanently in the right wing of the Palais Longchamp, designed by the architect Henri-Jacques Espérandieu, which the museum shares with the Musée des Beaux-Arts. It opened to the public in August of the same year. Paintings by Jean Francis Auburtin have decorated the stair landings since 1899. Between 1974 and 1988, an aquarium occupied the ground floor. The museum received the “Musée de France” label in 2002 and celebrated its bicentenary in 2021.

The collections comprise several hundred thousand specimens: animals, plants, fossils and minerals. The galleries open to the public display African fauna as mounted specimens, the fauna and flora of Provence with frescoes by Raphaël Ponson, skeletons and skulls, and then evolution and prehistory. A permanent display, “Terre d'évolution”, runs from 2022 to the end of 2026.

Highlights

• Provence gallery with listed frescoes
• Safari gallery with mounted animal specimens
• Osteology gallery with skeletons and skulls
• Prehistory gallery on evolution
• Permanent display “Terre d'évolution” (2022 to end of 2026)
• Setting of the Palais Longchamp

Founded

1819

Operated by

Ville de Marseille

Visitors per year

approx. 103,543

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission: Paid temporary exhibitions free on the first Sunday of each month and on the public opening day

Permanent collections are free to enter. Only paid temporary exhibitions have a charge, depending on their category; they are free on the public opening day and on the first Sunday of each month. A temporary exhibition ticket also gives access to the permanent collections. Tickets online at billetterie-musees.marseille.fr or on site by card, cash or cheque.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is listed as not accessible to visitors with reduced mobility.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Stroller-friendly: not available

Workshops and activities for children and their accompanying adults during school holidays (storytelling, shadow theatre, pottery, archaeology, drawing), often by reservation. Family activities: free for adults, €4 for children aged 5 to 18 (€1.50 at reduced rate), free for children under 5 when accompanied.

Getting there & parking

The museum occupies the right wing of the Palais Longchamp, boulevard Philippon.

Amenities & dining

Strollers are not allowed in the museum galleries and can be left at the reception desk; strollers are lent against identification.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit