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Massena Museum in Nice

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Housed in a resort villa built at the end of the 19th century, the Massena museum retraces the cultural and artistic influence of the French Riviera, or Côte d’Azur, from the annexation of Nice to France until the Belle Époque. On the Promenade des Anglais, the Massena Museum bears witness to the refinement of the arts and culture of this period, which is both familiar to us and yet sometimes little known.

From a villa to a museum

Victor Masséna, Prince of Essling and Duke of Rivoli, decided in 1898 to build an imposing resort villa facing the Mediterranean Sea. The architects Hans-Georg Tersling and Aaron Messiah were inspired by the Villa Rothschild in Cannes, but also by the large Italian neo-classical villas that were numerous on the French Riviera at that time. The influence of the Empire style pays homage to Napoleon I, who gave his titles to the family and contributed to its prosperity. With its park and gardens and its main courtyard, the villa is a popular place of receptions for the high society of the early 20th century.

The property was sold to the city of Nice in 1919 by André Masséna, the son, on condition that it would house a museum and that the garden would be open to the public. Inaugurated in 1921, the museum was initially devoted to local history. A complete renovation initiated in 1999 and completed in 2008 allowed the Massena Museum of Nice to regain its original splendor.

Permanent collections

Oil paintings, watercolors, engravings, bronzes, sculptures, posters, furniture, and objets d’art are to be discovered. The works on display are part of a complex scenography, combining graphic arts, furniture and objects associated with a period ranging from the Second Empire to the eve of the First World War. The Massena Museum houses real historical treasures, such as the death mask of Napoleon made by Doctor Arnolt, or Josephine’s golden tiara, set with pearls, colored stones and mother-of-pearl offered to the empress by Murat.

Various paintings by landscape painters are also presented to visitors, who can discover works by Alexis Mossa, Antoine Trachel and Joseph Fricero. The first floor houses the sumptuous original decor, a true work of art in its own right. The lounges are furnished with remarkable furniture and objets d’art in the First Empire style.

Historic rooms and lounges

What better setting than one of the most beautiful villas on the French Riviera to house the collections of the Massena Museum? Each room, each reception room surprises visitors with its spectacular and refined decor.

The great gallery, whose decoration is inspired by the end of the 18th century, leads to the reception rooms. A painted frieze, influenced by Greco-Roman antiquity, adorns this room. A copy of the statue of Napoleon at the foot of the frieze and several paintings enrich the already majestic decor of the room. The library once housed the service. Today it houses thousands of books, prints and historical documents. The dining room is extended by a large semicircular conservatory. Its compartmented ceiling recalls the social purpose of this room. The gypsum panels are decorated with nereids and brazier supports that rest on dolphins.  Empire console tables and an early 19th century clock furnish this room. The large living room is the main reception room of the villa, and an essential room of the residence. Four paintings by Paul-Louis-Narcisse Grolleron refer to the feats of arms of Marshal Masséna during the Napoleonic Wars. Your visit to the Massena Museum in Nice will also allow you to discover the smoking room, the portrait room, the office of the Prince of Essling and the grand staircase.

Exhibitions and events

The Massena Museum also regularly hosts exhibitions on various themes. Thus, in 2020, the circus is in the spotlight with the exhibition entitled Le cercle enchanté (The Enchanted Circle), which puts the spotlight on circadian arts through the collection of Dr. Alain Frère. In 2017 and 2018, Jean Gilletta et la Côte d’Azur, paysages et reportages (Jean Gilletta and the French Riviera, landscapes and reports) put the spotlight on the work of this famous photographer and founder of a postcard company. The exhibition Nice, le départ de la gloire (Nice, the start of glory), allowed remarkable works such as the Napoleonic Code to be exhibited. In 2015, the exhibition La Promenade ou l’invention d’une ville (The Promenade or the Invention of a City) focused on the genesis of the Promenade des Anglais and the remarkable urban landscape of the city of Nice, the winter capital.

Practical information

  • Visiting time: from one hour and a half to two hours
  • Opening days: Every day except Tuesday. Closed on May 1st
  • Schedule: from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in summer (from May 2 to October 31), from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in winter (from November 1 to April 30)
  • Address: 65 Rue de France, 06000 Nice
  • Access: by public transport, bus 12 (stop Congrès Promenade). By car, you can park at the Palais Masséna parking lot (29 Promenade des Anglais).

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