A museum in the southern French city of Marseille is inviting visitors to explore Europe's connection to the naturist lifestyle by wandering its halls in the nude.
Julie Guegnolle, 38, celebrated her birthday at the "Naturist Paradises" exhibition at the Museum of Civilisations of Europe and the Mediterranean (Mucem), saying, “It’s not every day you get to walk around a museum naked.”
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Guegnolle, who a ttended with her husband Matthieu, joined about 80 visitors in various states of undress to view 600 photos, paintings, sculptures, and other works on display. Despite initial discomfort, Guegnolle said, “It’s not so strange.”
Some guests experienced culture shock, such as a couple from southwest England. Kieren Parker-Hall and Xander Parry appreciated the "fantastic" photography, including a nude black-and-white portrait of Christiane Lecocq, a French naturism pioneer who lived to 103. They described the nude tour as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” given that naturism is less accepted in England.
Parker-Hall, 28, noted that naturism is “not really accepted” in England, with nudity often viewed as “weird” or something to be ashamed of.
France is known as a top destination for naturism, with the movement originating in Switzerland and Germany in the 19th century. The first French naturist group was founded in Provence in 1930. Marseille, a “stronghold of naturism,” is a key center due to its mild climate.
Christelle Bouyoud, 53, who has been a naturist for a decade, believes that naturism transcends tourism and can be a unifying force. “When you’re naked, it’s very complicated to face someone on the battlefield,” she said.
The exhibition, featuring items from the Centre Pompidou, the Louvre, and the Swiss National Library, will be open to both clothed and unclothed visitors until December 9.