Planning a stopover on the Côte d’Azur? Don’t miss the Musée National du Sport in Nice, located in the Allianz Riviera Stadium. We were pleasantly surprised by the experience, even though we’re not sports fans ourselves, but the collections and immersive museography aroused our interest and curiosity.
Whether you’re a sports enthusiast or simply curious, the Musée National du Sport offers a fascinating immersion into the French sporting landscape, even for those unfamiliar with the world of sport.
In this article, we’ll be sharing our tips and thoughts on the visit, along with plenty of photos to illustrate our experience.
This review is completely independent, we visited anonymously and paid our admission in full.
Why visit the National Sports Museum in Nice?
Is the National Sports Museum in Nice’s Allianz Riviera Stadium worth the investment? Our review
Completely! We’re not sports fans in general, but this museum was a really great discovery. In fact, we’ve listed it in our 15 ideas for things to do in Nice.
Our experience at the National Sports Museum was truly enriching and immersive, thanks to the different types of objects on display: old bikes, interactive screens, authentic racing suits, medals, interviews, trophies, jerseys, photographs, paintings and archive images.
This museum recalls the defining moments and innovations that have shaped French sport. It’s a place for young and old alike!
You’ll see paintings, sculptures, costumes and cut-outs, as well as touch screens, videos and explanatory panels. The museum’s collections and immersive, interactive tour immersed us in the history and highlights of the French sporting scene.
The Musée National du Sport is located in Nice’s Allianz Riviera Stadium. Having never visited a stadium before, we opted for the combined museum and stadium tour, which we highly recommend. We were curious to get a behind-the-scenes look at a stadium. The building itself is well worth a visit if you’re an architecture buff.
Why are Nice’s Musée National du Sport and Stade Allianz Riviera famous?
This museum, nestled in Nice’s stadium, was an unusual and rather pleasant discovery for us. These 2 locations illustrate Nice’s sports culture, and are famous for a number of reasons:
- A rich collection and heritage treasure trove: almost 45,000 collectibles and 400,000 documents trace the origins and defining moments in the history of sport in France.
- An immersive, interactive tour: throughout our visit, we had access to touch screens, videos, testimonials and archive images to understand the chronological stages and emergence of sporting disciplines. There’s even a training room at your disposal, so get fit!
- The stadium’s modern architecture: designed by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte in 2013, the 36,000-seat facility hosts international events such as concerts, shows andEuro 2016. It’s also home to OGC Nice soccer club.
For us, these 2 interconnected spaces are emblematic places that attract sports enthusiasts, architecture lovers and entertainment fans to Nice.
Our favorite moments
You’ll discover all the stages of our visit later in this article, but we couldn’t resist sharing our favorite moments with you right now:
- Immersion in the press conference room at the Allianz Riviera stadium, where we were transported into the electrifying atmosphere of sporting events. We imagined ourselves in the shoes of the athletes and journalists, feeling the palpable excitement of the pre- and post-match interviews.
- Once inside the museum, we were captivated by the section dedicated to cycling and the Tour de France. We really enjoyed the staging and installation of vintage bicycles, jerseys worn by cycling legends and accounts of historic stages.
- Finally, we really liked the room dedicated to competitive swimming and water sports in France. The exploits of Olympic swimmers and the practices surrounding these disciplines are revealed through a wide variety of art objects. Paintings, sculptures and even pieces that belonged to the sport’s greatest figures are on display.
Interactive and immersive exhibits punctuated our visit, showcasing a wide variety of sporting disciplines, from historic feats to contemporary athletes.
If this has inspired you to go, don’t wait any longer and reserve your place!
A little history
We have witnessed a very strong sporting culture in Nice. It is also evident in the installation of the National Sports Museum in the Arenas/Saint-Isidore district to the west, towards the airport. Located in the Allianz Riviera stadium, the museum houses a vast collection of objects and memorabilia relating to the history of France’s major sporting achievements.
Created in 1963, the Musée National du Sport was first established in Paris, with the principal mission of studying sporting events and the rich heritage associated with them. Numerous collector’s items are preserved and restored here. The museum also aims to educate people about universal values and access to sport.
In 2013, the Arenas / Saint-Isidore neighborhood, on the way to the airport, is undergoing strong growth and development. Nice will host the museum in the new, larger and more modern Allianz Riviera stadium, to limit its environmental impact.
After 2 years of construction, Jean-Michel Wilmotte’s architectural feat became the Côte d’Azur capital’s main stadium, replacing the legendary Stade du Ray (or Stade Léo-Lagrange). This former place of worship in the heart of Nice (now demolished), with a capacity of around 17,000, opened its doors in 1927.
DISCOVER Nice
- Best things to do in Nice
- Where to stay in Nice: 15 best hotels
- Where to eat in Nice: 20 best restaurants
- The 12 best museums in Nice
- Best beaches
- Visit the Palais Lascaris
- Visit the MAMAC Museum
- Visit the Museum of Photography
- Itineraries: 1 day – 2 days – 3 days – 5 days – 7 days
- Rent a car in Nice (airport or train station)
- Most beautiful villages around Nice
Practical tips: National Sports Museum and Allianz Riviera Stadium, Nice, France
Where is the National Sports Museum?
The Musée National du Sport is located in the Stade Allianz Riviera, Boulevard des Jardiniers, Nice (06200).
The Nice neighborhood map is coming soon!
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- Choose a car that is powerful enough (the roads are steep) but compact (some passages are narrow).
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- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
- Driving time from Marseille: 2h10min.
- Driving time from Avignon: 2h30min.
- Driving time from Aix-en-Provence : 2h.
- Driving time from Cannes: 50min.
- Driving time from Antibes: 40min.
How to get there
The easiest way to get there is by car.
If you prefer public transport, streetcar lines T2 and T3 serve the “Stade Allianz Rivieras” stop close to the site. Just get off at this stop and follow the signs to the museum and stadium.
There are several options for getting to Nice. The city is easily accessible by car, plane and train. If you choose the train or plane option, you can depart directly from Paris. By train, you can also take a direct route from Lyon, Cannes, Marseille, Toulon, and many other European cities.
See the available schedules and book your train tickets now.
However, we do recommend that you travel by car, which is the most practical way to discover Provence. The A8 freeway links Nice to other towns in the region.
Parking
The Stade Allianz Riviera in Nice has its own dedicated parking lot, making it easy to get to if you’re arriving by car. The parking lot is located in the immediate vicinity of the stadium and offers parking spaces for spectators and visitors.
There is another pay parking lot, Parcazur Saint-Isidore, very close to the stadium. The pedestrian entrance is opposite the “Stade Allianz Riviera” streetcar stop. From here, you can easily walk to the stadium.
The entrance for cars is a little further along Boulevard des Jardiniers. The signs are there to guide you to the specific entrance reserved for vehicles.
Best time to visit the museum and stadium
The Musée National du Sport and the Stade Allianz Riviera can be visited all year round. On the other hand, there are quieter periods to avoid the crowds and make the most of the experience.
The summer months, from July to August, are usually considered the busiest due to the influx of tourists to Nice. If you want to avoid the big crowds, it is recommended to plan your visit outside these months.
During the day, we recommend that you visit these 2 sites in the morning, opting as we did for the combined museum and stadium tour. These areas are generally less busy than lunchtime and the afternoon.
How long to visit and main difficulties
As we’ve chosen to combine the museum and stadium visit, we recommend you allow around 2 hours on site. A visit to the stadium lasts about 1 hour, while a visit to the museum takes about the same amount of time.
We didn’t notice any particular difficulties, either in the museum or in the stadium. PRM access is available with elevators.
If you’re going with small children, there’s no problem taking your stroller! A changing table is even available in the toilets for changing your little ones.
Tips for visiting
During the guided tour of the stadium, the direction of the visit is obviously imposed and commented on. Behind-the-scenes tours of stadiums are only available on specific dates. In the museum, the direction of the visit is more or less imposed with a circuit that we recommend you follow.
The stages are clearly marked, with signs indicating how to get from one room to the next. If you’d like to focus on a particular collector’s item or work of art, don’t panic. You can take your time and even retrace your steps during the visit.
The National Sports Museum with children
The highly immersive tour, the variety of disciplines highlighted and the interactive dimension of the museum make it a perfect place for children!
Schedules and prices
Schedules:
The museum is open all year round:
- From September to May, Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm,
- June to August daily, 10am to 6pm,
- closed December 25, January 1 and May 1.
On match days at the Stade Allianz Riviera, the museum closes exceptionally 1 hour before kick-off.
Rates:
- Musée national du Sport permanent or temporary exhibition: €6,
- Musée national du Sport permanent or temporary exhibition: €8,
- Guided tour of the Allianz Riviera museum and stadium: €16.
To avoid queuing and make sure you get in, reserve your place now!
You’ll also find group rates and more information on the official website.
Nearby restaurants
Nice is home to some very (very) good restaurants. We’ve put together a list of our top 20 restaurants in Nice. Here’s our selection from that list:
- Restaurant JAN – a Michelin-starred restaurant that offers fine dining and a remarkable sensory experience.
- Restaurant La Rotonde of the Hotel Le Negresco – an unforgettable moment in an elegant setting in the heart of the legendary palace on the Promenade des Anglais.
- Restaurant Peixes – a menu based on fish and seafood for an original and refreshing experience.
- Restaurant La Storia – Mediterranean cuisine on the Cour Saleya: typical of the south of France!
- Maison Joia Restaurant and Delicatessen – an establishment that showcases 100% French products.
- Restaurant Les Épicuriens – gourmet dining in a welcoming, refined setting.
- Restaurant Sentimi – a culinary journey to Italy through traditional flavors.
WHERE TO STAY IN Nice
Our favorites: neighborhoods and hotels
On the waterfront, with sea view:
Anantara Hotel – See prices, photos and availability
In the new town, close to the sea:
Hotel Apollinaire, elegant and bright – See prices, photos and availability
In the old town, with all the charm:
AparthotelAMMI Vieux Nice very practical and pleasant – see prices, photos and availability
A museum at the heart of Nice’s Allianz Riviera Stadium
The Musée National du Sport is located in Nice’s impressive Allianz Riviera Stadium, in the heart of the Arenas / Saint-Isidore district. We’d never been to a stadium before, so we thought we’d take the combined museum and stadium tour!
We were a small group of about ten people. Our guide commented on the tour in French and English, revealing the stadium’s behind-the-scenes secrets. We then passed through the players’ entrance, where only officials are usually allowed. This is the home stadium of OGC Nice, the French Ligue 1 soccer club.
After passing through the lobby, you’ll arrive in the press conference room, where players and coaches are interviewed before a match. We imagined the sensations they must have felt in those exciting pre- and post-game moments!
As the tour progresses, you now enter the changing rooms. We wondered how the teams would feel in this room? A combination of excitement, nervousness and intense concentration? Probably. It’s also where they prepare themselves mentally, feel the adrenaline rush, celebrate a victory, relax in the massage room or take a shower! And what do you think?
The tour ends with a visit to the coaches’ and referees’ offices. We also appreciated the sobriety of the spaces. After passing through the mixed zone where the 2 teams meet, you’ll enter the pitch, the boxes and the stands to complete the tour. Did you know that the lawn on this site is a hybrid, half natural and half synthetic?
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Antiquity, the origins of sport
Right from the start of our visit to the Musée National du Sport, we were immersed in the beginnings of physical exercise in Olympia, Delphi and Corinth in Greece. Did you know that these representations date back to the end of the 6th century BC? Take this sarcophagus front, for example. Discus throwing, javelin throwing, wrestling and pugilism are depicted: these were the main events in ancient Greece.
These sports practices made up the pentathlon to showcase an athlete’s qualities. Take a look at this terracotta vase dating back to 400 BC! Several palestra (or ancient gymnasium) scenes are painted on this thousand-year-old amphora.
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The French sporting landscape from the Renaissance onwards
Did you know that jeu de paume is the ancestor of racket sports, and in particular tennis?
As we continued our tour, we learned a great deal about the evolution of practices through the ages. Fencing, for example, has been practiced for thousands of years, since the time of the knights. In this section, you’ll discover that the Renaissance marked a turning point in the practice of swordsmanship with the invention of the rapier, a fine sword with a flexible blade.
Olympic Games: between prestige, unity and competition
Another of the museum’s highlights that we really enjoyed was the section devoted to the Olympic Games. Thanks to the various explanatory panels, we learned that the ancient Olympic Games began in the 8th century BC – imagine that!
It was Pierre de Coubertin who re-established the modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896 every 4 years. He was President of the International Olympic Committee until 1925. In the museum, a number of works of art and collectors’ items recall his commitment to universal youth and the fraternity of sporting encounters. Above, for example, you’ll see a bronze statue of Pierre de Coubertin dating from 1993.
As you pass by, take time to admire the magnificent collection of Olympic Games medals on display on the wall. Bronze, silver and gold, some very fine pieces reflect the victories of the athletes in this international competition that brings together the best athletic performances.
Observe the striking patterns and colors of these Paris 1924 Olympic winners’ vases, presented by the City of Light to the Olympic champions above. If you look closely, you’ll see that among the 16 disciplines represented on these trophies, rugby, rowing, diving and soccer illustrate these masterpieces.
A little further on, you’ll cross paths with the Olympic mascots! We found it quite amusing to see how they’ve evolved over almost a century! Beautiful posters accompanied by the Olympic flames are on display in this section. Beautiful collectibles not to be missed during your visit.
Continuing with the invention of the bicycle and the Tour de France
The bicycle was born in the 19th century as a means of getting around without using horses. The wooden draisienne first appeared in the 1820s, named after its inventor, the German baron Karl Drais. Followed 50 years later by the grand-bi, which introduced pedals. Today’s bikes are constantly being reinvented to make them lighter and more comfortable for riders. Remember to look up, as several models hang in the center of the room.
The Trophée Edmond Gentil was launched in 1946, named after the famous founder of the Alcyon cycle company. Did you know that this trophy rewards the “feat of the year” of a cyclist elected thanks to 70% of the votes cast by national federations?
The Tour de France was created in the early 1900s by Henri Desgranges, head of the newspaper L’Auto, who organized and sponsored the event. The goal? Massive newspaper sales. A success: every year, the race attracts thousands of people who come to watch the final stage on the legendary Champs-Élysées avenue. In this room, sports newspaper covers reveal the public’s enthusiasm for this event since its creation in 1903.
Diving into water sports
Head for the water sports and swimming section! We really enjoyed this stage of the tour: paintings, statues, illustrations, posters… We were able to understand the essence of these disciplines and their respective histories thanks to the many objets d’art in the display cases.
One of the pieces that fascinated us was the bronze statue Le nageur s’élançant by Hungarian sculptor Mark Weinberger Vedresla, which focuses here on the musculature of the swimming athlete. It’s worth noting that this sport has always been very famous in Hungary, so the artist was very observant in drawing inspiration for his art from swimming races.
Another work that caught our eye was Water-Polo by Adrienne Jouclard in the 1940s. She transcribes the movement of the players in paint, the energy of the game and the swirling agitation of the water. Transparent effects reveal the teams’ footwork in the pool. A feast for the eyes and an artistic performance of the highest order!
Continuation and end of the tour
Patience, you’re almost at the end of the road. But first a visit (express or otherwise!) to the fitness testing room. A friendly, fun place to train with real interactive machines. Not bad, eh? Are you up to the challenge?
Before reaching the last room, you’ll discover various disciplines such as athletics, skiing and rugby, represented by photographs, archive images and oil paintings.
This bronze statue dates back to the 1930s, a period when skiing was booming. Here, the cross-country skier is looking for speed. It’s worth noting that from the outset, this sport was seen as a distinction for the more affluent categories.
We’re almost there! Are you an expert in combat sports? One of the museum’s last sections features posters, costumes and accessories of champions during their sporting exploits. Marcel Cerdan, Laura Flessel, Teddy Riner. You’ll relive these historic moments as all the collectibles are displayed and showcased!
Many combat sports are quite ancient. Let’s take wrestling, which has been on the increase since the 19th century. And then numerous sports newspapers vied to organize international competitions. Here, one of the poster artists presents these wrestlers as modern-day gladiators.
As the tour draws to a close, you’ll enter the last section, where team sports such as soccer are represented. The gold metal and malachite replica of the 2018 World Cup, won by Les Bleus, takes pride of place in this room.
Finally, there’s the extreme sports section, and an area dedicated to the OGC Nice soccer club, which used to play at the Stade du Ray, the Côte d’Azur capital’s old stadium.
So if this has convinced you, don’t delay in taking your place! Enjoy your visit!
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- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is powerful enough (the roads are steep) but compact (some passages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
Frequently asked questions
What events are held at Nice’s Allianz Riviera Stadium?
Concerts, competitions and top-level sporting events are held at Nice’s Allianz Riviera Stadium. It’s also the home ground of OGC Nice soccer club. Find out all about the program on the stadium’s official website.
What is the capacity of Nice’s Allianz Riviera Stadium?
The stadium, which opened in 2013, can accommodate up to 36,178 people, with a wide range of facilities available.
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- Most beautiful cities in Provence (coming soon)
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All our tips in this article were put into words with the help of Myriam.
