Musée d'Histoire de Marseille

Overview

The Musée d'Histoire de Marseille tells the story of the city from its founding as a Greek colony 2,600 years ago to the present day. Located within the Centre Bourse shopping center, it incorporates the excavated remains of the ancient Greek port — visible through the museum floor.

Highlights

• The Greek Port: Preserved ruins of Massalia's original 6th-century BC harbor, visible in the Jardin des Vestiges archaeological garden directly below.
• Roman Wreck: A remarkably well-preserved 3rd-century Roman merchant vessel discovered in the Vieux-Port.
• Interactive Timeline: A multimedia journey through 26 centuries of Marseille's turbulent history.

History

The ancient port was discovered during construction of the Centre Bourse shopping center in 1967. The museum was created in 1983 to display the finds, and was extensively renovated and expanded in 2013 for the European Capital of Culture year.

Visitor Tips

• Jardin des Vestiges: The outdoor archaeological garden showing the Greek port foundations is free and worth visiting even without entering the museum.
• First Sunday: Free entry on the first Sunday of each month.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.