Marseille, France – Visitors to the Museum of Civilisations of Europe and the Mediterranean (Mucem) in southern French city Marseille are being offered a unique experience: to wander its halls in the nude while discovering Europe’s relationship with the naturist lifestyle. Once a month, those visiting Mucem can explore the history of Naturism in Europe without any clothes on – except for their shoes, a precaution to prevent getting splinters.
For Julie Guegnolle, who was celebrating her birthday at the “Naturist Paradises” exhibition in August, this was an opportunity to do something different. She and her husband Matthieu were among 80 visitors strolling around the 600 photos, paintings, sculptures, and other works while being completely naked except for their shoes.
Not all visitors found the experience as natural as others; one couple from southwest England were surprised by the liberated attitudes towards nudity on display. Kieren Parker-Hall and Xander Parry enjoyed the “fantastic” photography, including a black-and-white portrait of Christiane Lecocq, who was a female pioneer in French Naturism. Discovering the history of Naturism while in the nude was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the couple, especially since Naturism is not widely accepted in their home country.
France has been described as “the world’s leading tourist destination” for those who enjoy going nude outdoors and Mucem sees itself as part of this tradition. The Naturist movement originated in Switzerland and Germany in the 19th century before spreading to France, which is now considered a stronghold of Naturism with several dedicated centres due to its mild climate.
For Christelle Bouyoud, Naturism goes beyond simply being naked; it can be a unifying force for society. The exposition featuring loans from the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Louvre and the Swiss National Library in Bern is open until December 9th.