Visitors to one of Marseille's biggest museums are welcome to remove their clothes as they explore a new exhibition dedicated to naturism in Europe – so long as they keep their shoes on.
"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 at the Museum of Civilisations of Europe and the Mediterranean (Mucem).
Once a month, visitors can explore the displays 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 French news agency AFP.
Dedicated to the history of naturism in Europe, the exhibition features some 600 photos, paintings, sculptures and other works, including loans from the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Louvre and the Swiss National Library in Bern.
The naturist movement sprang up in Switzerland and Germany in the 19th century.
France's first naturist group emerged in the south-eastern Provence region in 1930 before spreading throughout the country with the help of pioneers such as Christiane Lecocq, co-founder of the first French naturist resort in Montalivet, near Bordeaux.
Her nude black-and-white portrait is among the photos on display.
'Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity'
Strolling around the galleries clad in a sarong, Guegnolle said she wanted to "do something different" for her birthday.
She and her husband were among 80 visitors in various states of undress one Tuesday in August.
"When we arrived, we felt a bit lost, but it's not so strange," Guegnolle said.
Some visitors suffered more culture shock than others, with one couple from south-west England marvelling at the liberated attitudes towards nudity on display.
Kieren Parker-Hall and Xander Parry said discovering the history of naturism while in the nude was a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity".
"There's not a lot of naturist stuff in England," said web developer Parker-Hall, 28, adding the practice is "not really accepted".
Parry, a 30-year-old stained glass maker, agreed. Being naked in Britain is seen as "weird... you should be a bit ashamed of being naked," he said.
Naturism 'comes out of the closet' in France
'Stronghold of naturism'
Though there is no official ranking, Mucem describes France as "the world's leading tourist destination" for those who enjoy going nude outdoors.
The southern port city of Marseille, long considered a "stronghold of naturism", boasts several dedicated centres – due in part to the region's mild climate, according to Bruno Saurez, head of the local naturist association.
"We're right on Spain's heels for the number of visitors to vacation resorts" dedicated to naturists, he said.
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But for Christelle Bouyoud, 53, naturism goes further than tourism or the freedom to bare it all. The decision to go nude can be a unifying force for society, she believes.
"When you're naked, it's very complicated to face someone on the battlefield," said Bouyard, a naturist of a decade's standing.
For the fully clothed and the naked alike, the exhibition runs at Mucem until 9 December.
(with AFP)
