Nice Museums
Nice is a city of art and culture and after Paris, has the most museums in France. Here are some of the main ones....
Designed by the Japanese architect Kenzo Tange, in the heart of Parc Phœnix, in a subtle architecture of white marble, glass and steel, this museum offers classical works and contemporary creations. The tea pavilion evokes the aestheticism of the Zen ceremony.
405, Promenade des Anglais - Arénas,
Tel. 04 92 29 37 00 - fax 04 92 29 37 01
Open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. from 16/10 to 30/04 and from 10am to 6pm.
Closed Tuesdays and 1st January, Ist May and 25th December.
Admission: 6 Euros - Reduced rate: 4 Euros
Access for the physically disabled
This original architecture (four grey marble towers linked by transparent walkways) and a major permanent collections tracing the history of the European and American avant-garde since the early sixties.
Promenade des Arts
Tel. 04 93 62 61 62
Open 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., except Monday and holidays. Admission: 4 Euros - Reduced rate: 2,50 Euros FINE ARTS MUSEUM Permanent exhibition. In a beautiful private home built in 1876, vastes collections of paintings from the 17th (Italian in particular), 18th (Van Loo, Hubert Robert, Fragonard) and 19th (Romanticism, Realism, Orientalism, Symbolism and Impressionnism: Degas, Boudin, Dufy, Sisley, etc.) centuries. Major works by Chéret, Ziem and Van Dongen as well as sculptures by Carpeaux and Rodin. Temporary exhibitions
33, Avenue des Baumettes
Tel.04 92 15 28 28,
Open 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., closed Monday and some holidays.
Admission: 4 Euros - Reduced rate: 2,50 Euros FRANCISCAN MUSEUM, CHURCH AND MONASTERY OF CIMIEZ An evocation of the life of Franciscan monks in Nice from the 13th to the 18th century, an illustration of the spiritual and social message of Saint Francis of Assisi through paintings, sculptures, engravings, illuminated manuscripts, frescoes, reconstructed chapel and monk’s cell, prayer-books on parchment...
Place du Monastère
Tel. 04 93 81 00 04
Open daily 10 a.m. - noon and 3 - 6 p.m., except Sunday and holidays. Admission free ANATOLE JAKOVSKY INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM OF MODERN ART Inaugurated on 5 March 1982 in the former residence of the perfumer François Coty, this Museum owed its existence to the large donation by Anatole and Renée Jakovsky: 600 paintings, drawings, engravings and sculptures retracing the history worldwide of Naive Art from the 18th century to the present. Words by Bauchant, Bombois, Rimbert, Séraphine... Croatian, Haitian, Brazilian artists... completed by a rich State collection from the National Museum of Modern Art Centre Georges Pompidou.
Château Sainte-Hélène, Avenue de Fabron
Tel. 04 93 71 78 33
Open 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., closed Tuesday and some holidays
Admission: 4 Euros - Reduced rate: 2,50 Euros This completely renovated 17th-century Genoan-style villa in the heart of the olive grove in the Gardens of Cimiez houses the personal collection of the great Fauvist painter who lived in Nice from 1917 until his death in 1954.
Works from all periods of his life offer a comprehensive panorama: from the first paintings made in 1890 to the famous gouache cutouts, 236 drawings, 218 engravings and the complete presentation of the books illustrated by the artist. Temporary exhibitions
164 Avenue des Arènes de Cimiez
Tel. 04 93 81 08 08, open 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., closed Tuesday and some holidays. For annual closing: contact the Museum. Admission: 4 Euros - Reduced rate: 2,50 Euros Biblical scenes illustrated in 17 large paintings, sculptures, stained glass windows, mosaics and
tapestries, 205 preparatory sketches, 39 gouaches (1930), 105 engravings (1956) and 215 lithographs.
Avenue du Dr Ménard, corner of Boulevard de Cimiez
Tel. 04 93 53 87 20
Open 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. 1 July to 30 September and 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. October to June (without interruption), closed Tuesday
Admission: 5,50 Euros ARCHAEOLOGY MUSEUM OF NICE–CIMIEZ Founded by Augustus in 14 BC, Cemenelum was, from the Ist to the 4th century, the capital of the Alpes Maritimae province. You can visit the amphitheatre, the public baths (3rd century AD), paved streets and the Palæochristian Episcopal Group (5th century AD).
The Museum, inaugurated in January 1989, offers collections ranging from the Bronze and Iron Age (1100 BC) to the Dark Ages: ceramics, glass, coins, jewellery, sculptures, tools...
160, Avenue des Arènes
Tel. 04 93 81 59 57, open 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., closed Tuesday and some holidays.
Admission: 4 Euros - Reduced rate: 2,50 Euros Reconstruction of a prehistoric (Acheulean) occupation site, plaster casts, documents on the site of an elephant hunters’ camp in Nice 400,000 years ago.
25, Boulevard Carnot
Tel. 04 93 55 59 93, open daily 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., except Monday and some holidays. Library open by appointment 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Admission: 4 Euros - Reduced rate: 2,50 Euros PALAIS LASCARIS Genoan-style Baroque palace built starting in 1648 by the Lascaris-Ventimiglia family.
Very fine façade with balconies on consoles and pilasters decorated with capitals and garlands of flowers. A pharmacy (1738) is on display on the ground floor. A monumental staircase leads to the staterooms (17th and 18th century decoration and furniture).
15, Rue Droite
Tel. 04 93 62 05 54, open 10 a.m.- 6 p.m., closed Tuesday and some holidays
Admission free
Splendid 18th-century villa, perfectly surrounded by contemporary architecture of concrete and pebbles. This privileged site covers 20,000 m_ of terraces and gardens housing the National Superior Art School and a Contemporary Art Centre and residence for artists.
20, Avenue Stephen Liégeard,
Tel. (switchboard): 04 92 07 73 73,
Exhibitions : Tel. 04 92 07 73 80, open daily 2 - 7 p.m. July to September and 2 - 6 p.m. October to June. Closed Tuesday. THEATRE DE LA PHOTOGRAPHIE ET DE L'IMAGE The "Théâtre de la Photographie et de l'Image" in the heart of Nice in the building which formerly housed the "Théâtre de l'Artistique", has maintained its charm and elegance of the Belle Epoque period. Its mission is to collect photographs of Nice and its region by researching ancient documents but also sending photographers to "report" on the city's human, urban, historic and industrial heritage.
• 27, boulevard Dubouchage
• Tel. 04 97 13 42 20
• Open : 10am - 6 pm
Closed Mondays and certain holidays.
Admission free. This was the first museum in Nice as from 1863, the initiative of J.B. Barla. Today there are close to a million specimens, from the Mediterranean, Africa or South America. The Natural History Museum aims to promote these treasures of our heritage and increase public awareness of environment protection.
• 60, bd Risso
• Tél. 04 97 13 46 80
• Open : from 10am to 6pm
Closed Mondays and holidays
• Admission free |
