Marseille Soap Museum

Ideally located on the Vieux-Port, Savonnerie de la Licorne’s
Marseille Soap Museum welcomes you at the heart of a historic
site and within, the old galley arsenal built by Louis XIV.

This monumental military arsenal was designed by his minister, Colbert, in the second half of the 17th century to host and arm the king’s galleys, including the famous and sumptuous “réale” – 57 meters long and equipped with 32 pairs of oars.

Until 1748, the arsenal was used to house galleymen and hard labour convicts before their transfer to Toulon, which today is the mooring site of France’s famous aircraft carrier, the “Charles de Gaulle”.

This 1666 painting on your right by Jean-Baptist de la Rose shows the Vieux-Port, the galley arsenal and the current location of the Marseille Soap Museum.

Even today, one can still get a feel of the places in the region where the soap museum’s white stone and wooden beams come from. our museum opens the doors to the history of soap, from prehistory to the present, thanks to its frescoes, artworks, documents, objects and rare pieces.

Enjoy our interactive museum with its own “sense of smell space” and our Marseille soap manufacturing demonstration workshop where you can create your very own personalized soap.

Come to this famous leisure spot for a solo visit or with family, children or in a group. complement your new found knowledge about soap with a visit to the soap museum shop to check out our hundreds of soap products and our entire range of genuine marseille soaps.