Villa Méditerranée – Cosquer Cave | Marseille

Note: Villa Méditerranée reopened in June 2022 as a museum dedicated to the Cosquer Cave (a cave near Marseille famous for its prehistoric paintings).

Villa Méditerranée in Marseille is a new museum and cultural center dedicated to various historical, cultural, scientific, and sociological aspects of the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.

The center, located close to the MUCEM museum inside the “Vieux Port” of Marseille, is housed in an iconic building, designed by Italian architect Stefano Boeri, with spaces located both above and below sea level.

Villa Méditerranée presents a permanent exhibition currently divided into two main sections.
Beyond the Horizon narrates the history of human and trade mobility in the Mediterranean by using multi-media and interactive exhibits.
The Time scales section depicts, mainly through audio-visuals, the history of the Mediterranean basin from both a social and a geological point of view.

The center organizes temporary exhibitions, focused on the Mediterranean Sea and its people, as well as educational programs and special events, particularly addressed to children and teens.
At Villa Méditerranée, a 400-seat auditorium and a restaurant/café, specialized in Mediterranean cuisine as one would expect, are available to the visitors.
The museum is fully accessible to people with disabilities.

Photos: cover by Amayes XI, 1 by Christian Mange, 2 by Julien Carnot, 3 by Jeanne Menj