Museum of fine arts
The Museum of Fine Arts is the oldest museum in Marseille! Created in 1801 by the Consulate, the artworks were displayed in the Chapel of the Bernardines Convent. However, due to lack of space, it later moved to the enchanting setting of the Palais Longchamp, a colossal building built by Napoleon III to celebrate the arrival of water in the city of Marseille. To all those wondering what to do in Marseille, come and visit the Museum of Fine Arts!
The museum's collection
The Museum of Fine Arts opened its doors in 1873 in one of the wings of the Palais Longchamp.
Among the permanent collections of this Marseille museum are over 2000 paintings, 300 sculptures, and 3000 works and drawings dating from the 16th to the 19th century. Even though only 200 masterpieces could be hung in the galleries, new canvases regularly come out of storage to be presented to the public.
On the ground floor, you can admire the oldest works (16th and 17th centuries), and going up to the first floor, the works are more recent (18th and 19th centuries). The canvases of the greatest Italian painters rub shoulders with those of French painters. Noteworthy is the impressive collection of the French artist Pierre Puget!
Visiting the museum of fine arts
For modern art enthusiasts visiting Marseille, we also recommend the Museum of Contemporary Art.
It's one of the ideal activities in Marseille when the weather isn't great. We recommend going to the ticket office to avoid having to queue during peak times. Opening hours are from 10 am to 6 pm from Tuesday to Sunday.
Restaurants in Marseille abound in the 4th arrondissement, and you shouldn't have trouble finding a table for dining or enjoying a drink.