Museum Masséna (Nice): visit + photos

Planning a holiday on the Riviera? Don’t miss the Masséna Museum in Nice. The villa that houses it is a symbol of Belle Époque opulence on the Côte d’Azur. Nestled in the heart of the city, this historic residence offers a captivating glimpse of 19th-century aristocratic life.
Here are some useful tips for planning your visit to the Musée Masséna in Nice.

This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.

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Is a visit to Nice’s Masséna Museum worthwhile?

What you can see

Masséna Museum in Nice: how to get there

Useful tips for visiting the Masséna Museum

Is a visit to Nice’s Masséna Museum worthwhile?

Yes, the Villa Masséna is well worth a visit. It’s an architectural jewel on the Promenade des Anglais. It was designed by Danish-born architect Hans Georg Tersling. He was inspired by Italian villas. We loved the Empire-style reception rooms on the first floor, with their magnificent decor and woodwork. Upstairs, the exhibition areas house fascinating collections relating to the history of holidaying on the Côte d’Azur. The villa has recently been listed as a Monument Historique. Find out more here.

In our opinion, it’s one of the most beautiful museums in Nice. Don’t miss it.

Veranda in the dining room of the Villa Masséna in Nice

What you can see

The Entrance Porch

Once through the entrance gate, which opens onto the rear of the garden on the town side, a wide ramp leads up to the villa’s entrance porch. We imagined the elegant horse-drawn carriages that passed by to drop off guests at the sumptuous parties held in the reception rooms.

La Grande Galerie

Grand Gallery of the Villa Masséna in Nice

The vast spaces of the Grande Galerie impressed us. They give access to the reception rooms. The decor is inspired by the late 18th century. A statue of Napoleon welcomes visitors. Above the mosaic floor and pink marble columns, the gallery is adorned with a painted frieze of Greco-Latin inspiration. It is the work of Alexandre-Evariste Fragonard, son of Jean-Honoré Fragonard, both from Grasse.

The Dining Room

The layout of the Dining Room was designed to suit the social lifestyle of the time. The room is extended by a magnificent veranda. It’s one of the elements of the villa we admired most. It provides access to terraces and gardens. The decor of the Dining Room is exceptional.

The decorations of Govone Castle

We were literally overwhelmed by the decorative elements. The most remarkable come from the Château de Govone, near Turin. They are the work of the finest Piedmontese artists of the early 19th century. They were acquired by the villa’s owner, the Prince of Essling, in 1898.

Le Cabinet de Lecture

The Cabinet de Lecture was once the office. It was converted into a neo-empire library in 1937. Here we found rare editions by printers and publishers from Nice.

Le Salon des Portraits

Three large full-length portraits give the salon its name. On the north wall, we could admire Napoleon 1st in coronation costume. It’s a reproduction of the famous painting by Baron Gérard, the original of which is at the Château de Versailles. On the east wall, portraits of Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie appear to face each other.

Le Grand Salon

Vaulted ceiling of the Grand Salon of the Villa Masséna in Nice

The Grand Salon is the villa’s main living room. It is located in line with the garden’s entrance and perspective. It overlooks the rotunda section of the terrace, on the sea side. We marveled at the frescoes in the vault. The central motif depicts Athena driving a chariot. Don’t miss the brackets adorned with an eagle bearing the Savoy cross.

Eagle on the consoles in the Grand Salon of the Villa Masséna in Nice

Le Fumoir

Le Fumoir is a square, canted salon. We loved the delicate elegance of the painted woodwork in the corners. They depict mythological subjects and date from the Directoire period. They come from theHôtel de Roquelaure in Paris.

The Great Staircase

TheEscalier d’Honneur is monumental. At the very top, on either side of the stairwell, we took a good look at the two large canvases depicting the Masséna family. We had fun trying to identify the personalities of the nobility of the Empire.

1st floor exhibition areas

The Musée Masséna’s collections are linked to the history of vacationing on the Côte d’Azur. It features works and objects associated with a period ranging from the Second Empire to the eve of the First World War. The Masséna Museum is home to historical treasures such as Josephine’s diadem. Made of gold, pearls, stones and mother-of-pearl, it had been given to the Empress by Murat.

Empress Josephine's diadem at the Musée Masséna in Nice — Empress Josephine’s tiara

The Musée Masséna’s program also includes temporary exhibitions. For more information on the current exhibition, consult the museum calendar here.

Le Jardin de la Légion d’Honneur

We loved the “English” atmosphere of the garden. It offers cool, elegant shade overlooking the Promenade des Anglais. It was designed on the seaward side by landscape architect Édouard André (late 19th – early 20th century), who combined vast parterres of flowers and evergreens with a more luxuriant vegetation of palms, cycas and orange trees.

The Memorial

Memorial in the garden of the Musée Masséna, Nice

To the southeast of the garden, we paid our respects at the memorial to the victims of the July 14, 2016 attack. The space is topped by the fountain from the national tribute held in October 2016 on Château hill. It shows the names of the 86 victims.

Masséna Museum in Nice: how to get there

Where is the Villa Masséna?

In Nice
On the Promenade des Anglais
The museum entrance is at 65 rue de France, Nice (06000).

The Promenade des Anglais in Nice — The Promenade des Anglais at sunset

Access by car and parking

If you’re coming by car, you can park at the Palais Masséna parking lot (29 promenade des Anglais). Find out more here.

OUR TPS FOR RENTING YOUR CAR IN Provence

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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.