Visit rules

These rules set out the conditions for visiting the areas of the Mucem and are intended to ensure the safety of persons and property, the preservation of the site, and the quality of visits. They apply in their entirety to visitors to the Mucem and, without prejudice to any special provisions they may relate to concerning:
—individuals or groups authorised to use certain rooms for meetings, receptions, conferences, screenings or various ceremonies,
—any external parties present on its premises for professional reasons.

Any visitor who does not comply with these visit rules or who causes a public disturbance may be refused entry to the site or expelled from it without being able to claim a refund for their ticket. Failure to comply with the provisions of these rules may give rise to legal proceedings.

Part 1—General behaviour of visitors in all areas

The museum is a place for conservation and public exhibiting of the collections in its care, as well as being a living space that embraces exchanges, study and leisure.
Visitors are asked to respect the safety instructions, to avoid bringing about by their attitude, behaviour or words any disturbance whatsoever, or to avoid disturbing their surroundings in any way, in order to preserve the calm that is necessary for visits to the museum, and to allow the smooth running of events organised there.
Parents of underage children and any person in charge of their supervision are responsible for the actions of these underage children and for the respect of the various rules set out below.

Article 1—Requirement for appropriate clothing

Visitors are required to be dressed in appropriate clothing; for instance, being bare chested or walking barefoot is forbidden.

Article 2—Prohibited behaviours

Any behaviour that could affect the security of the artworks and the good conditions of visits is forbidden, in particular:
—behaving in a noisy or indecent manner or, with regard to other visitors and Mucem staff, in a way that is insulting, violent or aggressive;
—touching the artworks and objects on display (with the exception of tactile reproductions presented to the public in the Galerie de la Méditerranée);
—crossing barriers and devices designed to contain the public and, except in the event of an accident, using the emergency exits and fire escapes;
—examining works with a magnifying glass (except for the visually impaired);
—using visual aids such as binoculars, long monoculars, etc (except for the visually impaired, who may use these devices, particularly in the auditorium);
—leaning on display cases, pedestals and other presentation equipment;
—inscribing graffiti, inscriptions, marks, or dirt on any part of the premises;
—putting up posters or mobile signs inside or outside the building, unless prior written authorisation has been obtained from the President of the Mucem;
—distributing or selling any object whatsoever;
—carrying out financial transactions on the premises of the museum, with the exception of cash registers, counters and commercial areas;
—carrying searches on the premises of the museum and in front of the various entrances and to engage in any trade, advertising, propaganda or solicitation;
—hindering the free flow of visitors and obstructing passageways and exits, in particular by sitting on the steps of staircases;
—lying down on benches or on the floor;
—engaging in running, jostling, sliding, or climbing;
—organising events inside the premises, without prior written authorisation from the President of the museum;
—smoking inside its buildings;
—entering the museum while intoxicated;
—entering the exhibition areas with drinks, foodstuffs or any organic material;
—littering any area with paper materials, rubbish, cigarette butts, and chewing or sticking gum;
—causing a disturbance to other visitors with noisy behaviours, in particular by listening to transistor devices or mobile telephones on loudspeakers. Only silent or vibrating modes are permitted;
—not looking after personal items, even for a few moments;
—interfering with fire alarms or emergency materials (fire extinguisher, fire hose taps, etc) without good reason;
—using a camera with flash and/or on a tripod (except with permission from the Communications Department), and for certain exhibitions, bringing in any camera or photographic device;
—using these shots for any use other than private or for any joint or commercial purpose;
—conducting any survey or opinion poll of visitors and staff members without prior written authorisation from the President of the museum;
—bringing in pets, except for animals accompanying disabled persons.

Article 3—Specifics relating to visits with children

Children under 13 years of age must be accompanied by a responsible adult who charged with their supervision and for ensuring that they follow safety instructions, including in areas specifically dedicated to them.
Children should not be allowed to run or play in indoor spaces, carry a child on their shoulders, or be left unattended to.

Article 4—Compliance with safety instructions

Visitors are required to comply with instructions given by security guards, special security instructions, and any prohibitions that are in force, both inside and outside the buildings, depending on the circumstances (bag checks, visitor restrictions, etc).
Failure to comply with the provisions of these regulations shall render the offender liable to removal from the museum and, where appropriate, to legal proceedings.
Failure to comply with the provisions of these regulations may lead to a complaint and legal action against the offender by the Mucem or any other organisation standing in for it.

Article 5—Comments logbook

A comments logbook is available at the general reception areas of the fort Saint-Jean and the J4 area for visitors to freely log any their comments.

Article 6—Opening and closing times

Subject to the provisions below, the Mucem is open every day except Tuesday (except in August) and certain legal holidays established by the President of the Mucem, per the following hours:

Opening hours of the spaces for the public

Subject to exceptional circumstances established by the President, the site is open:
—In the summer, from July to August: from 10am to 8pm.
—In the winter, from November to April: from 11am to 6pm
—In the spring and autumn, from May to June and from September to October: from 11am to 7pm

Access for groups

Groups can only access the Mucem with a prior booking.
—An 9am-11am time slot is reserved for groups.
—The opening hours for the public are posted at the entrance of the museum.

Article 7—Ticket prices and payment

Current ticket prices are posted in the lobby.
The ticket price is indicated in euros including VAT and is only payable in this currency.
All persons entering exhibitions are required to pay the entry fee that corresponds to their visitor profile.
Any user benefiting from a special rate (reduced rate / free of charge) must be able to present the appropriate proof of entitlement.
A list of accepted proofs of entitlement is available to visitors at the museum's reception and sales desks.
Entrance charges are paid in advance of entry and no credit can be given to any user. No refunds can be made in the future, except in the case of hospitalisation, natural disasters, or some temporary inability to attend, on presentation of a receipt and subject to acceptance by the head of the institution.
Payment for one or more tickets at the ticket office may be made in cash (euros), cheque and debit or credit card (Visa/Eurocard/Mastercard), or by any other means for which an agreement has been established between the museum and the issuing organisation (holiday vouchers, culture vouchers, etc).
Payment by credit card is accepted without any minimum purchase amount. The ticket serves as a receipt; however, an invoice can be issued on request. Invoices are always produced for groups.
Automatic ticket machines only accept smart bank cards with a chip. A receipt is always issued.
Access to the reception area and to the bookshop is free and unrestricted, provided that all the provisions of these regulations are respected and complied with.
The public is subject to checks of bags and personal belongings. If a prohibited object is detected (see Article 16), access to the reception area and the museum may be refused.

Article 8—Taking photographs

Taking photographs or making audiovisual recordings for professional and/or commercial use are subject to the prior agreement of the Mucem's Communications and Sponsorship department.
It is forbidden to photograph any visitor or member of staff without their express agreement.
Freehand pencil sketching (no larger than A3 in size) are allowed as long as this does not cause any obstruction.
Film shoots, filming and recordings of radio and television programmes are subject to rules and require prior authorisation from the President or the relevant head of department. Where applicable, payment of relevant fees will be collected prior to filming or photographing.
Journalists may be authorised by the President to photograph certain works.
Technical installations and equipment may not be photographed, filmed or recorded.
Any recording or taking of photographs of staff require, in addition to the authorisation of the President, the agreement of the persons concerned.
The making of copies of works exhibited in the exhibition halls is prohibited.

Titre 2—Safety of persons, artworks and the building

Within the context of its capacity as a public space with visiting areas as established the Marseille Firebrigade Commission, queues may be organised by the Mucem's security teams.

Article 15—Checking of bags: Security staff may require visitors to open their bags or packages and present their contents at the entrance or exit of the museum, as in any other part of the facility, in order to ensure security within the museum.
Article 16—Objects that are forbidden on the premises: It is forbidden to bring into the Mucem premises any object which, by virtue of its purpose or characteristics, present a risk to the safety of persons, artworks or the building, in particular:

—weapons and ammunition, sharp or blunt object;
— explosive, flammable or volatile substances;
—dangerous, smelly, excessively heavy or bulky objects; luggage larger than cabin size (25x35x55 cm); large umbrellas; tripods; unsuitable footwear (spiked shoes, etc);
—unauthorised items: food, beverages (only transparent water bottles with a maximum volume of 50 cl are allowed), plant materials.

It is strictly forbidden to bring into or consume on-site any toxic products and substances prohibited by law (narcotics, etc). Only alcohol sold by concession vendors is allowed on the site. It is forbidden to bring in any beverage or food in any of the inside areas.
Article 17—Accidents, threatening behaviours, unusual events, public disturbances: Any unusual event is to be immediately reported to a security guard. Visitors must refrain from any action that may threaten the safety of persons or property. Any threatening or insulting behaviour made against Mucem staff or its service providers in the performance of their duties will result in legal action against the perpetrator(s) and a ban from the museum. Any visitor who does not comply with these visiting rules or who causes a public disturbance may be refused entry or expelled from the site without being able to claim a refund for their ticket.
Article 18—Accidents and dizzy spells: Any accident or dizzy spell of a person is to be immediately reported to a member of the security team or a room monitor, with the affected person treated by security staff while waiting for help. It is forbidden to move any sick or injured person, to offer them any beverage or to administer to them any medicinal product whatsoever before the arrival of emergency services. If there happens to be a doctor, nurse or first-aider among the visitors, upon proof of their competency, they should remain with the affected or injured person until the latter is taken out of the premises, leaving their personal details with the Mucem team member who is present.
Article 19—Fire: In the event of the beginnings of a fire, the utmost calm must be observed. If it is necessary to evacuate the building, this should be done in an orderly and disciplined manner under the guidance of staff and in accordance with instructions given by the latter.
Article 20—Accidents and material damage: In case of an accident or material damage, a statement needs to be completed by the Mucem security staff who witnessed the event. The victim may request compensation from the Mucem, which needs to be made in writing. The case is then to be forwarded to the Mucem’s General Administrator for assessment of any Mucem liability and if any compensation is due.
Article 21—Lost child: Any lost child is to be taken to the nearest reception bank (Mucem-J4 and Mucem-FSJ). After the closure of the Mucem, the child is to be entrusted with the police station of the 2nd arrondissement at 40 avenue Robert Schuman, 13002 Marseille.
Article 22—Alert in case of theft or removal of a work of art: Except in cases of force majeure, no exhibited work may be removed or moved in the presence of the public during the opening hours of the Mucem. Any visitor who witnesses the removal of a work of art is entitled to alert and intervene immediately. In accordance with Articles 223-6 (failure to assist) and R 642-1 of the new penal code, all persons are required to assist Mucem staff when the assistance of visitors is required by the competent administrative authority. In the event of an attempted theft in the exhibition halls, alert measures are taken, including the closure of access points and exit controls. The intentional destruction, mutilation or degradation of buildings, paintings or works of art is an offence punishable by the penalties provided for in Articles 322-1 to 322-4 of the Criminal Code.
Article 23—Exceptional closure: In the event of excessive crowds, disturbances, strikes or any exceptional climatic situation, or any situation likely to jeopardise the safety of persons or property, the President may take any measure imposed by the circumstances. In particular, the Mucem may be partially or totally closed or the opening hours may be modified. The sale of tickets may also be partially or totally stopped and the museum may be totally or partially closed. No immediate reimbursement of tickets can be claimed from the museum in the context of the application of this article.
Any request for reimbursement is to be made in writing, accompanied by the ticket and proof of bank account details.
Article 24—Lost and found: Any lost or misplaced items found on the premises are to be transferred to the Audience Department [Département des Publics] where they are to be stored for one year. After this period, they are to be transferred to the Lost and Found Department [Service des objets trouvés], 41 Bd de Briançon, 13003 Marseille. Telephone: 04 91 50 26 60.

Titre 3—Rules for the Mucem’s outside spaces

The purpose of this section is to inform visitors of the visiting conditions, which affect the outdoor areas of the Mucem. Its objective is to ensure the safety of persons and property, the preservation of the site and the quality of visits. Surveillance and visit relations staff are present in the outdoor areas to inform visitors and assist them in case of difficulty. They are responsible for ensuring compliance with these visiting regulations.

Article 30—Access to outdoors areas: Access to the outdoor areas of the Mucem is free of charge, except for non-guided groups for whom a prior notice at least one week in advance and payment of a booking fee are required. For security reasons, security staff may need to check visitors' bags or packages at the entrance or exit of these outdoor spaces.
Article 31—Opening and closing hours: The opening and closing hours of the Mucem's outdoor spaces with regards to access to the public are set and decided by the President and posted at the entrance of these spaces. They may be modified if circumstances so require.
Article 32—The garden of the fort Saint-Jean: For the comfort of all, it is requested that visitors pay due respect to the work of gardeners and to use only the alleys dedicated for use by them. The Garden of Migrations is extremely fragile. For this reason, it is forbidden to walk or sit on the lawns, to picnic outside of the areas that are provided, to pick or damage any of the plants, to break or cut any foliage, to damage the trees or to climb on them. It is also prohibited in particular to misuse all or any part of these areas for the following activities:

—team or solo ball games (football, basketball, etc);
—activities involving throwing (golf, shot-putting, etc);
—team or solo activities involving sliding (skating, roller skating, skateboarding, etc);
—any activity involving flight of any kind (kites, gliders, aeromodels propelled by rubber or combustion engines, etc);
—water games of any kind, including the launching of any object or floating craft of any kind (sailboats and miniature boats, etc);
—games involving money or gambling;
—games, sports activities, behaviours or activities that could be hazardous or which may lead of harmful incidents or accidents.
Article 33—Visitor behaviour at the fort Saint Jean: In the outside spaces of the fort Saint-Jean, in addition to the obligations set out in article 2, it is prohibited to:
—to deposit waste or objects of any kind other than in rubbish bins and containers intended for this purpose;
—to bring in pets, except for animals accompanying disabled persons;
—to use roller skates, bicycles, skates, scooters or any other motorised vehicle;
—to climb on any construction and artwork on display;
—to eat or drink outside dedicated public eating areas and picnic areas;
—to bring in firecrackers, fireworks and all other similar noisy items, objects and devices;
—to camp or to set up any device intended for camping;
—to damage the site's equipment and installations;
—to trap birds or to use traps, baits or any instruments whatsoever to capture them, to frighten them away or to chase them away;
—to light fires or to use without due permission any type of open flame appliance and device;
—to walk using any type of spiked footwear;
—to undertake any action likely to cause damage to museum assets or property or to misuse them;
—to destroy, break in any way or intentionally damage buildings, plants, objects or furniture intended for use or for decoration. These acts constitute offences.

Titre 5—Rules governing inside exhibition spaces

Article 25—General points: Entry to and moving within the exhibition areas by the public during opening hours shall be subject to possession of a valid admission ticket, namely:
—a ticket issued by a cash register or an automatic ticket sales machine;
—a ticket purchased on the Internet or from a reseller;
—a membership card and/or annual loyalty card;
—a title justifying free admission (except on the first Sunday of the month, when there is free entry for all to national museums, and during exceptional free events as decided by the establishment);
—a permanent or temporary badge issued by the Mucem or an authorised authority. Visitors must not relinquish this title before their final exit from the Mucem and its presentation may be requested at any time.
Article 26—Items that are not allowed in exhibition rooms: The following are not allowed:
—wheelchairs powered by flammable fuel. Such various means of transport or locomotion are prohibited within the premises of the establishment;
—prams;
—bulky pushchairs for children, baby back carriers with unprotected metal frame, etc ... cane pushchairs are available on loan at the cloakroom;
—inline skates, bicycles, skates, scooters and any motorised device.Wheelchair users must use the lifts and the use of wheelchairs on escalators is not allowed. The museum declines all responsibility for damage caused to third parties using these vehicles or caused by their occupants. In addition, specific visits for people with reduced mobility or with visual, hearing and mental disabilities can be organised on request.
Article 27—Access to the workshop rooms: Access to the workshop rooms is subject to possession of a specific access permit and is only possible during the museum's opening hours for a specific activity. The programme of all activities is to be set out in advance by Mucem teams. Access is only possible in the context of mediated workshops or for certain meetings or supervised events, in the presence of a facilitator or Mucem staff. The latter is responsible for the smooth running of the activity, including the use, cleaning and storage of the equipment and tools used.
Article 28—Audioguides: A paid audioguide rental service is available to visitors (excluding visitor assistance devices), including an audio-described tour. Bookings can be made at the ticket office. Similarly, a tactile tablet will be given free of charge with a valid proof of identity to families visiting the children's area after checking that the person(s) accompanying the child(ren) has (have) a valid entry ticket to the museum.
Visitors are responsible for any audioguide borrowed on their behalf and are therefore required to take due care of it and return it at the end of their visit to the ticket offices (Mucem-J4 and Mucem-Fort Saint Jean). The content of the audioguide is also available free of charge on the Mucem website. The downloaded content can then be consulted, using a personal smartphone in the museum's areas, via NFC and QR codes present on the description cards of the works on display.
Article 29—Sale of tickets and audioguides: The sale of tickets and audioguides stops 45 minutes before the Mucem closes, ie at 5.15 pm during winter months, at 6.15 pm during spring and autumn months, and at 7.15 pm during summer months. Exhibition halls must begin to be vacated approximately 15 minutes prior to closing. Audioguides must be handed back to the ticket offices 15 minutes before closing time (Mucem-J4 and Mucem-fort Saint-Jean).
Given that the children's area closes at 6pm during winter months and at 7pm during spring, autumn and summer months, touch-sensitive tablets are not available from 4.30pm and 5.30pm respectively in order that they may be handed back in before the area closes. Regular or exceptional nighttime events can be organised by the museum. In this case, special arrangements are to be made for ticket sales and the vacating of relevant areas by attendees.

Titre 7—Provisions relating to groups

Article 38—Group visits: Group visits are permitted only with a prior registration, including to the outdoor areas of the Mucem-fort Saint-Jean and Mucem-J4. They are led by one of the following designated officials:
—exhibition curators;
—curators of national museums (listed or controlled), as well as any museum curator holding a professional card issued or recognised by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs;
—within the framework of their functions, staff of the Mucem;
—the service provider required by the Audience Department for mediated activities;
—lecturer-guides holding a professional card issued by the Ministry of Culture and Communication;
—teaching staff leading their students;
—persons individually authorised by the director of the Museums of France or by the head of the Mucem;
—leisure centre facilitators;
—educators.
The group leader undertakes to ensure the respect of all the present rules and proper behaviour of the group. For school groups and leisure centres, one accompanying adult is required for every 5 children between the ages of 3 and 6 years, and one accompanying adult for every 7 children between the ages of 6 and 18 years. The number of persons in each group may not exceed 25 for non-school groups and 30 for groups on school outings.
If a group is late, the Mucem will not be able to postpone the activity. There may be no overrun of the scheduled end time of the activity.
In case of cancellation less than three days before the scheduled activity, no refund will be possible.
In case of any assembly of an unauthorised group, the security guards in the hall will escort the group to the exit.
No tips will be accepted.
Article 39—Bookings for groups: It is mandatory for groups to pre-book a visit time, including for visits of outdoor areas. Groups are admitted to the exhibition halls on presentation of a valid ticket for the whole group and an admission ticket for each member of the group (excluding school group tickets). All verbal contributions are subject to prior authorisation from the Audience Department.
Article 40—Audiophone system: Visitors in non-guided groups are allowed to bring in their own microphone and headphone kit, in order to benefit from a more comfortable visit. For technical reasons, the equipment used by visitors must be different from that used by the Mucem:
—Sennheiser transmitter microphones (reference no. SK 2020-D)
—Sennheiser brand receiver headphones (reference no. EK 2020-D-II)
Article 41—Respect of other visitors: Visitors in groups must not disturb other visitors in any way. Each member of the group should remain within close proximity to the person in charge.

Titre 8—Methods of dissemination/execution

Article 42—Publicity and communication of the visiting rules: These rules shall be made known to the public by all appropriate means. It is the responsibility of Mucem's management staff to publicise them and to ensure their application. Infringements of the provisions contained herein may lead to the application of penalties under the conditions provided for by laws and regulations that are currently in force.
Article 43—Execution of rules: The President and General Administrator are charged with the execution of these rules.