Musée des Beaux-Arts de Marseille – Left Wing of Palais Longchamp

A historic museum in a grand setting

The Museum of Fine Arts is the oldest museum in Marseille. Founded in 1801, it is now housed in the left wing of the Palais Longchamp, a majestic 19th-century monument built to celebrate the arrival of water from the Durance River. The palace itself is striking, with its grand columns, sculptures, French-style gardens, and above all its monumental fountain, where the Durance is depicted on a chariot pulled by Camargue bulls.

The museum holds a rich collection of European artworks. However, only a small portion of this collection—over 8,000 works in total—is displayed in the galleries. Many remain in storage and are not accessible to the public. The permanent exhibition focuses mainly on Old Masters, presented in a rather sober and classical setting. The display is not particularly modern, with few interactive or immersive elements.

During our visit, admission was free, which made it worth exploring, but the true marvel remains the palace and its exterior surroundings.

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