The buzz in France this week? The opening of MuCEM, the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations, in Marseille, this year’s European Capital of Culture. Officially inaugurated by President François Hollande yesterday, the national museum was designed by architect Rudy Ricciotti as a landmark building overlooking the Vieux Port.
Covered with an “exterior skin of delicate filigreed concrete” that resembles lace-- a true engineering marvel—the new building is connected to the historic Fort Saint-Jean by a footbridge. MuCEM seeks to showcase the diverse cultures of the Mediterranean, and promote dialogue between Europe and North Africa. For more information, visit www.mucem.org
The museum itself is part of Marseille’s spectacular renaissance—with public works projects galore. (See our coverage of Marseille-Provence 2013 in Travel Agent Magazine, along with our review of the dazzling new InterContinental Hotel in Marseille.)
Image via www.rudyricciotti.com