French museum invites naturism exhibit visitors to disrobe

Aug. 29 (UPI) -- A French museum announced members of the public are being invited to view its exhibit on naturism while wearing nothing but a pair of shoes.

Marseille's Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations, or Mucem, said nude patrons are being welcomed to peruse the Naturist Paradises exhibit in the nude on designated dates once a month, during a time the facility would normally be closed.

The nude museum visits are being organized in partnership with the French Naturist Federation, or FFN.

Naturist Paradises features hundreds of pieces of art from naturist communities, including paintings, sculptures, photographs and films.

"It was only natural for the Mucem, a social museum based in Marseilles, a Mediterranean city around which several major naturist centers have sprung up, to explore this singular and unifying social phenomenon that is naturism, (or rather naturisms, because there are different types)," the museum's website states.

FFN official Eric Stefanut said the museum's nude visitors will still be required to wear shoes inside the exhibit.

"It's to avoid getting splinters," he told The Guardian.

The Naturist Paradises exhibit at the museum runs through Dec. 9. The next nude tour is scheduled for Sept. 3.