Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Musée des explorations du monde (MEM), located in Cannes in the Suquet district, has its origin in the exceptional legacy made to the city in 1877 by Baron Lycklama. This passionate collector gathered objects reflecting his taste for Mediterranean antiquities (Greek, Roman, Egyptian), Orientalism, and primitive arts in Oceania, the Himalayan or the Americas. His collections, marked by a cosmopolitan spirit, also include pre-Columbian ceramics, musical instruments from all over the world, and 19th-century Provencal paintings, reflecting his eclecticism and his openness to the world.

The MEM is associated with a major historical site: the Suquet Tower, an ancient medieval tower, as well as the Sainte-Anne Chapel and the Notre-Dame-de-l'Espérance Church, remains of a castle once occupied by the monks of Lérins. These monuments, classified or protected, anchor the museum in a rich architectural heritage, where religious history and cultural explorations combine. Lycklama's legacy, combined with this medieval setting, makes the MEM a unique place where art, history and travel can be discussed.

The museum's assets lie in the diversity of its holdings: more than 20,000 objects, including archaeological pieces, old and contemporary photographs, and ethnographic artifacts. These collections, labeled Musée de France, offer a panorama of cultural exchanges and curiosities that animated the European elites in the 19th century. The museum address, at 16 Rue du Suquet, places visitors in the heart of a historic Cannes, between monastic heritage and opening to the world.

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