The MuCEM — Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations — opened in 2013 as the centrepiece of Marseille's year as European Capital of Culture. It occupies two linked sites at the mouth of the harbour: Rudy Ricciotti's striking J4 building, wrapped in a perforated concrete lattice, and the restored Fort Saint-Jean. A high footbridge connects them, with another bridge spanning across to the Panier and the Cathédrale de la Major.
The collection traces the human history of the Mediterranean basin from prehistory to the present, drawing on the holdings of the old Musée des Arts et Traditions Populaires in Paris together with new ethnographic acquisitions. Temporary exhibitions are often the highlight; recent shows have covered topics from migration to popular religion. Even visitors with no interest in the collection should buy a ticket for access to the upper terrace, which has one of the best views in the city. The fort's panoramic walkway is free.