Naturist exhibition in Marseille welcomes visitors in the nude
Stripped down to their birthday suits, visitors can flock to the Museum of Civilisations of Europe and the Mediterranean in Marseille and become fully immersed in its exhibition on the history of the naturist lifestyle in Europe.
A museum in southern French city Marseille is inviting visitors to discover Europe's relationship to the naturist lifestyle by wandering its halls in the nude.
"It's not every day you get to walk around a museum naked," said Julie Guegnolle, 38, who was celebrating her birthday at the "Naturist Paradises" exhibition in the Museum of Civilisations of Europe and the Mediterranean (Mucem).
Once a month, visitors to Mucem can explore the history of naturism in Europe in only their shoes – a precaution not for modesty's sake but simply to "avoid getting splinters," the head of France's FFN naturist organisation Eric Stefanut told AFP.
Walking around the displays clad in a sarong, Guegnolle told AFP she wanted to "do something different" for her birthday.
She and her husband, Matthieu – also in his birthday suit – were among 80 visitors in various states of undress strolling around the 600 photos, paintings, sculptures, and other works one Tuesday in August.
"When we arrived, we felt a bit lost, but it's not so strange," Guegnolle said.
'Not really accepted'
Some visitors suffered more culture shock than others, with one couple from southwest England marvelling at the liberated attitudes towards nudity on display.
(AFP)
Read more on FRANCE 24 English
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