{"id":11159,"date":"2024-04-15T17:09:30","date_gmt":"2024-04-15T15:09:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/provencelovers.fr\/musee-archeologie-nice-visite-photos\/"},"modified":"2026-02-20T13:15:06","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T12:15:06","slug":"visit-museum-archeology-nice-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/provencelovers.fr\/en\/visit-museum-archeology-nice-photos\/","title":{"rendered":"Museum of Archaeology (Nice): visit + photos"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

During your stay in Nice<\/strong>, you’ll probably want to climb to the heights of the city<\/strong> to enjoy the view of the Mediterranean<\/strong> and theexceptional architecture<\/strong> of the C\u00f4te d’Azur<\/strong>. Here you’ll find the Matisse Museum<\/strong>, a must-see, and right next door the Mus\u00e9e d’Arch\u00e9ologie de Nice\/Cimiez<\/strong>. Here, we discovered the origins of Nice<\/strong> through remarkable<\/strong> artefacts<\/strong> and remains<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

Here are some useful tips<\/strong> for planning your visit to the Archaeology Museum in Nice.<\/p>\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 the Archaeology Museum of Nice\/Cimiez worthwhile?<\/h2>\n\n

Yes, the museum is well worth a visit. We learned a lot about Nice’s fascinating history as we immersed ourselves in the treasures of<\/strong> the Mus\u00e9e d’Arch\u00e9ologie, nestled high above the city. With its rich<\/strong> and varied collections<\/strong> ranging fromAntiquity<\/strong> to the Middle Ages<\/strong>, and its open-air remains, the museum offers a real immersion in the region’s past. It bears witness to Nice’s former splendor and exceptional cultural heritage.<\/p>\n\n

Visiting the Archaeology Museum is one of our favorite things to do in Nice<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

The 3-day Museum Pass, available on the official Ville de Nice website<\/a>, gives you access to all Nice’s municipal museums for 72 hours.<\/p>\n\n

\"Hall<\/figure>\n\n

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

Remains of Roman baths<\/h3>\n\n
\"Remains<\/figure>\n\n

The archaeological site of Nice\/Cimiez is located on the hill of the Cimiez<\/strong> district. It was the ancient city of Cemenelum<\/strong>, capital of the Alpes Maritimes region. The site features the remains of three complete spa complexes<\/strong> (1st<\/sup> to 3rd<\/sup> centuries). We enjoyed following the path of the water<\/strong>, which was particularly well explained.<\/p>\n\n

A Gallo-Roman baptistery<\/h3>\n\n
\"Remains<\/figure>\n\n

You’ll also find a Paleochristian complex<\/strong> on the site. It consists of a cathedral<\/strong> and a baptistery<\/strong>, which we particularly enjoyed. The 2 buildings represent one of the last manifestations of urban life<\/strong> in Cemenelum (from the5th<\/sup> century onwards).<\/p>\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

A Roman helmet<\/h3>\n\n
\"Roman<\/figure>\n\n

Once inside the museum building, we were intrigued by a Roman soldier’s helmet<\/strong> on a table next to a mirror. You can try it on and watch yourself with it. It’s easy to understand what it meant to wear this metal helmet, which weighed 3.5kg<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n

The milestones of Augustus and Hadrian<\/h3>\n\n
\"Augustus<\/figure>\n\n

Milestones<\/strong> marked Roman roads every thousand<\/strong> Roman paces<\/strong>. One mile corresponded to 1481m). We had fun trying to decipher the inscriptions. They indicate the distance<\/strong> from the main town or from Rome. They also bear the name of the emperor<\/strong> who built the road.<\/p>\n\n

The Ilonse wild boar<\/h3>\n\n
\"Ilonse<\/figure>\n\n

We have reconstructed a copy of this statuette representing a wild boar<\/strong>, found near the site of theancient Gallic village of Ilonse<\/strong> (north of Nice). Ears, backbone, tail and legs separate. For the Gauls, the wild boar was a sacred animal<\/strong>. It was probably buried during a religious ceremony.<\/p>\n\n

Jewels and precious stones<\/h3>\n\n
\"Jewelry<\/figure>\n\n

We loved the jewels<\/strong> and gems<\/strong> on display. They were mainly found in the thermal baths (at the bottom of the pools and in the sewers, where they must have been lost). Many come from the western spa<\/strong>. They suggest that this was probably the women’s bath<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

Limestone sarcophagi<\/h3>\n\n
\"Sarcophagus<\/figure>\n\n

We were moved by the 2 sarcophagi we saw. Indeed, like our modern graves, the inscriptions<\/strong> they bear tell the story of those who were buried there. One was commissioned by a mother for her children, the other by a wife for her husband.<\/p>\n\n

A terracotta oil lamp<\/h3>\n\n
\"Oil<\/figure>\n\n

Many oil lamps<\/strong> have been found on the Cimiez site, particularly in the necropolis<\/strong>. We really liked the decorations on this one. The medallion features the figure of Eros<\/strong>, seated in profile, playing the lyre.<\/p>\n\n

Glass perfume jars<\/h3>\n\n
\"Balsamaires<\/figure>\n\n

Vials of perfume, balsam \n balsamaires<\/strong>\n<\/em>in bluish glass intrigued us. They were found in the necropolis, buried in a layer of ashes<\/strong>. They were probably used in cremation rites<\/strong>, thrown into the fire with aromatic plants, alongside more personal objects and food.<\/p>\n\n

Marble mortar<\/h3>\n\n
\"Marble<\/figure>\n\n

Mortars<\/strong> were indispensable to daily life. They were used to grind grains, legumes and condiments, as well as to prepare colors and ointments. The finger-shaped<\/strong> pestle on this one amused us.<\/p>\n\n

Silene’s mask<\/h3>\n\n
\"Silenus<\/figure>\n\n

This little bronze<\/strong> mask is a marvel! It was originally one of the decorative elements of a situla<\/strong> (bucket-shaped bronze container). Masks like this one adorned the bases of its handle<\/strong>. We enjoyed discovering Sil\u00e8ne<\/strong>, a mythological character who was part of Dionysus<\/strong>‘ entourage.<\/p>\n\n

Ceramics with geometric patterns<\/h3>\n\n
\"Iapyge<\/figure>\n\n

We really liked this little cup with its high,<\/strong> horn-shaped handle<\/strong>. The all-round latticework and background motifs <\/strong>are very delicate. It is part of a group of ceramics attributed to the Iapygian populations<\/strong> who occupied what is now the Puglia region around the 3rd century BC.<\/p>\n\n

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OUR TPS FOR RENTING YOUR CAR IN \nProvence<\/span><\/h5>\n\n\n\n