Museum Jean Cocteau

Influential French artist
This museum is located right at the waterfront and is dedicated to the French artist and author Jean Cocteau (1889-1963).

For decades, Jean Cocteau was an influential figure on the European art scene and he was closely associated with the Riviera and Menton.

The museum building is iconic, designed by French architect Rudy Ricciotti who also designed the MUCEM Museum in Marseilles.

It took eight years to build the 20,000 sqm construction. The museum has been open to the public since 2011.

The architecture is clearly inspired by the sea, providing the museum’s natural inner light and at the same time protection from the strong sun that shines more in Menton than anywhere else in France.

Exhibition, library and café
The interior of the museum is without columns and divided into seven areas. It contains 1,000 works by Cocteau, a large part of which was donated by Severin Wunderbaum, a private collector with great love for Cocteau’s works. In addition, temporary exhibitions are also shown, mainly by artists inspired by Cocteau.

The museum also includes a library, a children’s workshop and a café.

By Tommy Sverre / 2020