{"id":11128,"date":"2024-04-12T17:54:09","date_gmt":"2024-04-12T15:54:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/provencelovers.fr\/visit-musee-massena-nice\/"},"modified":"2026-02-20T13:20:38","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T12:20:38","slug":"visit-museum-massena-nice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/provencelovers.fr\/en\/visit-museum-massena-nice\/","title":{"rendered":"Museum Mass\u00e9na (Nice): visit + photos"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Planning a holiday on the Riviera<\/strong>? Don’t miss the Mass\u00e9na Museum<\/strong> in Nice<\/strong>. The villa that houses it is a symbol of Belle \u00c9poque<\/strong> opulence on the C\u00f4te d’Azur<\/strong>. Nestled in the heart of the city, this historic residence offers a captivating glimpse of 19th-century aristocratic life.Here are some useful tips<\/strong> for planning your visit to the Mus\u00e9e Mass\u00e9na in Nice.<\/p>\n\n

\"Facade<\/figure>\n\n
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This guide is completely independent<\/strong>, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n

Is a visit to Nice’s Mass\u00e9na Museum worthwhile?<\/h2>\n\n

Yes, the Villa Mass\u00e9na is well worth a visit. It’s an architectural jewel on the Promenade des Anglais<\/strong>. It was designed by Danish-born architect Hans Georg Tersling. He was inspired by Italian villas. We loved the Empire-style<\/strong> 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<\/strong> on the C\u00f4te d’Azur. The villa has recently been listed as a Monument Historique. Find out more here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

In our opinion, it’s one of Nice’s finest museums<\/a> and one of the city’s best activities <\/a>. Don’t miss it.<\/p>\n\n

\"Veranda<\/figure>\n\n
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WHERE TO STAY IN Nice<\/span><\/h5>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Our favorites: neighborhoods and hotels<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the waterfront, with sea view:Anantara Hotel<\/strong> – See prices, photos and availability<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the new town, close to the sea:Hotel Apollinaire<\/strong>, elegant and bright – See prices, photos and availability<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the old town, with all the charm: AparthotelAMMI Vieux Nice<\/strong> very practical and pleasant – see prices, photos and availability <\/a> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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See our complete selection of the best hotels in Nice<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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See available accommodation for your dates >>.<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n

What you can see<\/h2>\n\n

The Entrance Porch<\/h3>\n\n
\"Entrance<\/figure>\n\n

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<\/strong>. We imagined the elegant horse-drawn carriages that passed by to drop off guests at the sumptuous parties held in the reception rooms<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

La Grande Galerie<\/h3>\n\n
\"Grand<\/figure>\n\n

The vast spaces of the Grande Galerie<\/strong> impressed us. They give access to the reception rooms. The decor is inspired by the late 18th century. A statue of Napoleon<\/strong> welcomes visitors. Above the mosaic floor<\/strong> and pink marble<\/strong> columns, the gallery is adorned with a painted frieze<\/strong> of Greco-Latin<\/strong> inspiration. It is the work of Alexandre-Evariste Fragonard<\/strong>, son of Jean-Honor\u00e9 Fragonard, both from Grasse.<\/p>\n\n

The Dining Room<\/h3>\n\n
\"Villa<\/figure>\n\n

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

The decorations of Govone Castle<\/h3>\n\n
\"Woodwork<\/figure>\n\n

We were literally overwhelmed by the decorative elements<\/strong>. The most remarkable come from the Ch\u00e2teau de Govone<\/strong>, 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<\/strong>, in 1898.<\/p>\n\n

Le Cabinet de Lecture<\/h3>\n\n
\"Villa<\/figure>\n\n

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

\"Villa<\/figure>\n\n

Le Salon des Portraits<\/h3>\n\n
\"Portrait<\/figure>\n\n

Three large full-length portraits give the salon its name. On the north wall, we could admire Napoleon 1st<\/strong> in coronation costume. It’s a reproduction of the famous painting by Baron G\u00e9rard, the original of which is at the Ch\u00e2teau de Versailles. On the east wall, portraits of Napoleon III<\/strong> and Empress Eug\u00e9nie<\/strong> appear to face each other.<\/p>\n\n

Le Grand Salon<\/h3>\n\n
\"Vaulted<\/figure>\n\n

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

\"Eagle<\/figure>\n\n

Le Fumoir<\/h3>\n\n
\"Villa<\/figure>\n\n

Le Fumoir<\/strong> is a square, canted salon. We loved the delicate elegance of the painted woodwork<\/strong> in the corners. They depict mythological subjects<\/strong> and date from the Directoire<\/strong> period. They come from theH\u00f4tel de Roquelaure<\/strong> in Paris.<\/p>\n\n

The Great Staircase<\/h3>\n\n
\"Grand<\/figure>\n\n

TheEscalier d’Honneur<\/strong> is monumental. At the very top, on either side of the stairwell, we took a good look at the two large canvases depicting the Mass\u00e9na family<\/strong>. We had fun trying to identify the personalities of the nobility of the Empire<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

1st floor exhibition areas<\/h3>\n\n
\"Musée<\/figure>\n\n

The Mus\u00e9e Mass\u00e9na’s collections<\/strong> are linked to the history of vacationing on the C\u00f4te d’Azur<\/strong>. It features works and objects associated with a period ranging from the Second Empire<\/strong> to the eve of the First World War<\/strong>. The Mass\u00e9na Museum is home to historical treasures such as Josephine’s diadem<\/strong>. Made of gold, pearls, stones and mother-of-pearl, it had been given to the Empress by Murat<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

\"Empress
Empress Josephine’s tiara<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

The Mus\u00e9e Mass\u00e9na’s program also includes temporary exhibitions<\/strong>. For more information on the current exhibition, consult the museum calendar here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

Le Jardin de la L\u00e9gion d’Honneur<\/h3>\n\n
\"Garden<\/figure>\n\n

We loved the “English”<\/strong> atmosphere of the garden. It offers cool, elegant shade overlooking the Promenade des Anglais. It was designed on the seaward side by landscape architect \u00c9douard Andr\u00e9<\/strong> (late 19th – early 20th century), who combined vast parterres of flowers and evergreens with a more luxuriant vegetation of palms, cycas and orange trees.<\/p>\n\n

The Memorial<\/h3>\n\n
\"Memorial<\/figure>\n\n

To the southeast of the garden, we paid our respects at the memorial to the victims of the July 14, 2016<\/strong> attack. The space is topped by the fountain<\/strong> from the national tribute held in October 2016 on Ch\u00e2teau hill. It shows the names of the 86 victims.<\/p>\n\n

Mass\u00e9na Museum in Nice: how to get there<\/h2>\n\n

Where is the Villa Mass\u00e9na?<\/h3>\n\n