French Museum Opens Nudist Exhibit, Allowing Visitors To Walk Around Naked

In a unique perspective, a museum In France is inviting visitors unclothed. The museum depicts naked paintings and hence it is “logical” For visitors too to adhere to the theme. The museum is called Mucem and is situated in Marseille city of France. 

As per the reports, the museum opens once a month. It exhibits naked paintings, photographs, films, magazines, sculptures and other pieces of art. Currently, the museum is open till December 9. 

Naked but wearing shoes

The head of France's FFN naturist organisation Eric Stefanut told media that visitors can be naked but with shoes on. He said this was not for the modesty's sake but just to avoid splinters. The museum remains closed in the evening every month and that's when visitors visit the museum. 

Nude visits are conducted under Naturist Paradises exhibition which happens in partnership with the French Naturist Federation. The museum is called as “Naturist Paradises” exhibition under the Museum of Civilisations of Europe and the Mediterranean (Mucem). 

The pieces of art displayed in the museum have been collected from naturist communities and public and private collections in France and Switzerland. The Communities include Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Louvre, and the Swiss National Library in Bern.

History of the Naturist movement

Bruno Saurez, head of the local naturist association, told a media portal that the museum is about the Naturist movement that started in Germany and Switzerland in the 19th century. The movement arrived in France later in 1930 and quickly gained momentum. Marseille is described as the “stronghold of naturism” because of its mild climate.

Can visitors go fully dressed? 

However, what if visitors enter fully dressed? A spokesperson of the museum said that it is possible but it will be a “bit odd”. But it is “logical” to adhere to the theme. 

Responses from visitors

Julie Guegnolle, 38, celebrating her birthday, who visited the museum said, ‘It's not every day you get to walk around a museum naked.”

Many visitors were shocked by the liberalisation of the museum. A couple from England, Kieren Parker-Hall and Xander Parry, said that it was “fantastic” to see the history of naturism. The couple specifically mentioned the black-and-white nude pictures of the female pioneer of French naturism, Christiane Lecocq. 

The couple said that the practice is not welcomed in England. "There's not a lot of naturist stuff in England.” said Parker-Hall adding that the naturist practice is "not really accepted".

Agreeing with Parker, Xander Parry said that nudity is seen as shame in England. She told media, “weird... you should be a bit ashamed of being naked.”

Hence the couple said that visiting the history of naturism while being nude or naturist was a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”

Unifying force

Christelle Bouyoud, 53, said that the celebration of naturism is much beyond the nude visit of the tourists. It is a unifying force that can bind the society. 

Naturist Bouyound said, “When you're naked, it's very complicated to face someone on the battlefield.”