La Vieille Charité
A Baroque complex built in the 17th and 18th centuries to shelter the poor, with three-tiered arcades surrounding an oval-domed chapel; today it houses the Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology and a museum of African and Oceanic art.
The Vieille Charité was designed by Marseille architect Pierre Puget and built between 1671 and 1749. It has served as a poorhouse, barracks and housing for the destitute, and after restoration in the 20th century it became a cultural center. The pink stone arcades around the courtyard and the central oval-domed chapel are exquisite, and you can admire them by entering the courtyard for free. Inside, the Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology has rich ancient Egyptian collections, and the Museum of African, Oceanic and Native American Art also has displays. Museum admission is about €6. It sits in the heart of the old Le Panier quarter.
Opening hours
About 09:00–18:00; closed Mondays
Nearby sights
- Le Panier
- Marseille Cathedral (La Major)
- Old Port of Marseille
- Cosquer Méditerranée
- MuCEM & Fort Saint-Jean
- Marseille History Museum & Jardin des Vestiges
- Abbey of Saint-Victor
- Noailles & Marché des Capucins