Fort Saint-Jean
15,000 m2 including 1,100 m2 of exhibition space and 12,000 m2 of gardens
“A fully restored historic monument, open to all”.
Fort Saint-Jean is an integral part of Mucem. Linked by a 115 m-long footbridge to the contemporary building designed by architect Rudy Rucciotti, the fort hosts exhibitions throughout the year and, in fine weather, open-air cultural events (shows, large-screen projections, concerts, festivals…). It also features a Mediterranean garden, restaurant and bookshop.
Free access to the landscaped outdoor areas allows visitors to stroll around and make the Fort their own, turning it into a real place to live.
The second 70 m-long footbridge linking it to the Panier district ensures continuity in the urban and tourist itinerary between the oldest part of the city and the new J4 district. Fort Saint-Jean’s geographical location and history make it a veritable junction between the city and the museum, between history and its contemporary setting.
Spaces
MucemLab
At the crossroads of research, creation and heritage, the MucemLab offers meetings, seminars, workshops and training courses throughout the year.
Order court
Accessible from the Old Port, the Cour de la Commande is one of the entrances to the Mucem. A lively passageway, it hosts events, exhibitions, a ticketing area and the MucemLab, the museum’s research and training center.
Place d'Armes
Accessible from Panier, Place d’Armes is another entrance to Mucem.
This area houses a ticket office, exhibitions (Georges Henri Rivière building) and the footbridge leading to J4.
The officers' gallery
The Galerie des Officiers offers a walk through the heart of Fort Saint-Jean and exhibition spaces that tell its story.
King René Tower
Built in the mid-15th century, King René commissioned the construction of an imposing square tower to watch over access to the port. It is possible to visit it.
The Garden of Migrations
The Jardin des Migrations (Garden of Migrations) unfolds across the outdoor spaces of Fort Saint-Jean: a veritable interlude of nature in the heart of the city! Surrounded by flowers, essences and aromatic plants from different shores of the Mediterranean, this landscaped, sensory walk invites you to observe, touch, smell and listen…
Services
Access
Related exhibitions
View all past exhibitions
Related activities or events
View full agenda- Free
Free visit of the statue of the Bonne Mère
A summit meeting with the Bonne Mère !
Head to the top of the King René Tower to see the monumental reproduction of the statue of the Bonne Mère. This new statue, created by Maison Christofle, is an extension of the “Bonnes Mères” exhibition. With this installation, the Mucem illustrates the plural nature of the exhibition’s title, while at the same time transforming the panorama of Marseille. This replica celebrates the symbolism of the Bonne Mère and underlines her secular nature, beyond her religious nature.Le Saturday, Jul 18, 2026
Jusqu'au Wednesday, Sep 30, 2026de 10h à 18h
Fort Saint-Jean / King René Tower
- Free
*Mamma Roma*, by Pier Paolo Pasolini
Open-Air Movie Theaters
An evening dedicated to the figure of the mother and her hopes for her son.
*Mamma Roma*, by Pier Paolo Pasolini, 1976, 1h47 – Original version with subtitles Mamma Roma, a middle-aged prostitute, is freed from her pimp on the occasion of his wedding. She then takes her young son, Ettore—who knows nothing of her past life—back with her, settles in a working-class neighborhood in Rome, and becomes a market vendor. While she harbors hopes for Ettore’s success, he begins hanging out with the neighborhood’s idle youths…
Practical information Bar and light meals available on site. Chairs and bleachers are available. You may want to bring cushions for your comfort. Starting at 8:00 p.m., access is only via the Passerelle Saint-Laurent (Panier side).On Wednesday, Jul 22, 2026
de 21h45 à 00h
Fort Saint-Jean / Place d'Armes
- Free
All About My Mother, by Pedro Almodóvar
Open-Air Movie Theaters
An evening where family stories, upheaved lives, and the power of maternal bonds intertwine.
All About My Mother, by Pedro Almodóvar, 1999, 1h41 – Original Version with Subtitles Manuela, a nurse, lives alone with her son Esteban, who is passionate about literature. For Manuela’s birthday, Esteban takes her to the theater to see *A Streetcar Named Desire*. After the show, Manuela tells her son that she once performed in that play opposite her father, who played the role of Kowalsky. It is the first time Esteban, deeply moved, has heard about his father. Just then, he is struck by...
Practical information Bar and light meals available on site. Chairs and bleachers are available. You may want to bring cushions for your comfort. Starting at 8:00 p.m., access is only via the Passerelle Saint-Laurent (Panier side).On Wednesday, Jul 29, 2026
de 21h45 à 00h
Fort Saint-Jean / Place d'Armes
- Free
Sunday free admission
Every first Sunday of the month, the Mucem opens its exhibition doors free of charge!Le Sunday, Aug 2, 2026
Jusqu'au Sunday, Nov 1, 2026de 10h à 20h
J4 & Fort Saint-Jean / Georges Henri Rivière building
- Free
Angèle, by Marcel Pagnol
Open-Air Movie Theaters
Two films, two eras, but the same exploration of motherhood, the passing down of traditions, and women’s place in society.
With Caroline Chenu, co-curator of the exhibition “Good Mothers” *Angèle*, by Marcel Pagnol, 1934, 2h23 – Original Version with French Dubbing After being seduced and then abandoned, Angèle soon finds herself in a brothel in Marseille. A single mother to a young boy, she returns to her village, where her father locks her in the farm’s cellar along with her illegitimate child…
Practical information Bar and light meals available on site. Chairs and bleachers are available. You may want to bring cushions for your comfort. Starting at 8:00 p.m., access is only via the Passerelle Saint-Laurent (Panier side).On Wednesday, Aug 5, 2026
de 21h15 à 00h
Fort Saint-Jean / Place d'Armes
- Free
Linda Wants Chicken, by Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laudenbach
Open-Air Movie Theaters
An evening full of tenderness and humor centered on family ties.
With Caroline Chenu, co-curator of the exhibition “Good Mothers” *Linda Wants Chicken*, by Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laudenbach, 2023, 1h19 No, it wasn’t Linda who took her mother Paulette’s ring! This punishment is completely unfair! And now Paulette would do anything to make amends—even make chicken with peppers, even though she doesn’t know how to cook. But how do you find a chicken on a day of general strike? From chicken coops to watermelon trucks, from overzealous cops to...
Practical information Bar and light meals available on site. Chairs and bleachers are available. You may want to bring cushions for your comfort. Starting at 8:00 p.m., access is only via the Passerelle Saint-Laurent (Panier side).On Wednesday, Aug 12, 2026
de 21h15 à 23h
Fort Saint-Jean / Place d'Armes
- Free
Adam, by Maryam Touzani
Open-Air Movie Theaters
An evening dedicated to bringing women together, sharing knowledge, and fostering solidarity among women.
*Adam*, directed by Maryam Touzani, 2020, 1h41, Original Version with Subtitles In the Medina of Casablanca, Abla, a widow and mother of an 8-year-old girl, runs a shop selling Moroccan pastries. When Samia, a young pregnant woman, knocks on her door, Abla has no idea that her life is about to change forever. A chance encounter, two women on the run, and a journey back to what truly matters.
Practical information Bar and light meals available on site. Chairs and bleachers are available. You may want to bring cushions for your comfort. Starting at 8:00 p.m., access is only via the Passerelle Saint-Laurent (Panier side).On Wednesday, Aug 19, 2026
de 21h15 à 23h30
Fort Saint-Jean / Place d'Armes
- Free
One Sings, the Other Doesn't, by Agnès Varda
Open-Air Movie Theaters
An evening exploring life choices, women’s struggles, and the bonds that form and evolve over time.
With Caroline Chenu, co-curator of the exhibition “Good Mothers” *One Sings, the Other Doesn’t*, by Agnès Varda, 1977, 2h Two young women are living in Paris in 1962. Pauline (17), a student, dreams of leaving her family to become a singer. Suzanne (22) is raising her two children and coping with the tragedy of their father’s suicide. Life has driven them apart; each is facing her own struggles as a woman. Pauline becomes a singer in an activist, traveling band after going through a...
Practical information Bar and light meals available on site. Chairs and bleachers are available. You may want to bring cushions for your comfort. Starting at 8:00 p.m., access is only via the Passerelle Saint-Laurent (Panier side).On Wednesday, Aug 26, 2026
de 21h15 à 23h45
Fort Saint-Jean / Place d'Armes
- Free
El Sett, by Marwan Hamed
Open-Air Movie Theaters
Discover *El Sett*, directed by Marwan Hamed, a powerful biopic about the singer Oum Kalthoum, under the stars at Fort Saint-Jean.
*El Sett*, directed by Marwan Hamed, 2026, 2h35 – Original version with subtitles Born in a small village on the Nile, singer Oum Kalthoum finds herself at odds with a conservative society. Amid hardships and illness, she used her voice with strength and determination. Portrayed by Mona Zaki, this famous Arab diva—a global icon—is the central figure of this biopic. A daring project from the writer of the multi-award-winning *The Yacoubian Building*. French Premiere In partnership with...On Thursday, Aug 27, 2026
de 21h15 à 00h30
Fort Saint-Jean / Place d'Armes
Guided Tour of the Exhibition “Clément Cogitore: Ferdinandea, the Ephemeral Island”
by Enguerrand Lascols, co-curator
Enguerrand Lascols, the exhibition curator, invites you to a guided tour of the exhibition “Clément Cogitore: Ferdinandea, the Ephemeral Island” on Saturday, August 29, and Sunday, August 30, at 11:15 a.m.
Do you know the story of Ferdinandea, that ephemeral volcanic island that emerged in the Mediterranean in 1831 between Sicily and Tunisia, and quickly caught the attention of European powers eager to seize its strategic position? To learn a little more about the history and myths surrounding Ferdinandea—and how artist and filmmaker Clément Cogitore explores it through a 16mm film, videos, and photographs—the curator invites you to a unique tour as part of the “La rentrée” event organized by the...On Saturday, Aug 29, 2026 and on Sunday, Aug 30, 2026
de 11h15 à 12h30
Fort Saint-Jean / Georges Henri Rivière building