The #Massena Museum of Art and History in #Nice, one of the main sights along the Promenade des Anglais. [PHOTO-VIDEO GALLERY]

The "The Promenade or the Invention of a City" exhibition (until October 4, 2015) attempts to explain the reasoning behind the City of Nice's decision to submit "Nice, Winter Capital and the Promenade des Anglais" for inclusion on UNESCO's World Heritage List. In doing so, members of the public will gain a deeper appreciation for the outstanding universal value of this 'historic urban landscape'.

History

In 1898, Victor Massena, Prince of Essling and Duke of Rivoli, grand-son of Nice's field marshal Andre Massena, decided to build a large villa on Nice's seafront, the Promenade des Anglais.

Massena, who appreciated the Rothschild villa in Cannes, proposed her as a model for architects Hans-Georg Tersling and Aaron Messiah. They are also asked to draw upon the large villas in neo-classical Italian style, they also adopt an Empire style, evident homage to Napoleon I, whom Massena family owes its titles.

The Prince of Essling, Duke of Rivoli, André Prosper Victor Eugène Napoleon Massena, son of Victor Massena, sold this jewel of the Belle Epoque built by his father, to the city of Nice in 1919, for a price equal to the succession rights he had to pay, stating that the garden should be open to the public, and that the villa became a museum of local history as the "museum Massena". This was done.

The villa is designed for brilliant receptions. The gardens, designed by landscape architect and botanist Edouard André (1840-1911) and the courtyard to the north were restored between 2006 and 2007. The facades and roofs of the villa are listed as historical monuments since 1975 The Massena Museum was inaugurated in 1921. 

The museum

For decades, the Villa Massena is a museum dedicated to local history until the turn of the century in which takes place a heavy renovation of the site. After years of restoration it reopened on 1 March 2008.

Outside, redevelopment work permit to restore the garden to its original map drawn by the landscaper Edouard André. At night, like its neighbor the Negresco, powerful lighting showcases its historic façades. Inside, the lounges regain their former splendor and warmth as with all woodwork from early years of the nineteenth century from the castle of Govone near Turin. The predominantly Empire style furniture decorates the lounges.

The new layout, designed by architect Philippe Mialon from Nice, offers a permanent exhibition area of ​​1,800 m2. The Massena Museum, an architectural jewel of the Promenade des Anglais, evokes, through its collections, art and history of the Riviera (1792 and 1939) from the connecting Nice to France until the end of the Belle Epoque. All the works on two levels evoke this theme by a scenography that combines graphic arts, furniture and objects from this period.

The first level relates more particularly to the story. Are presented including the death mask of Napoleon made by Dr. Arnolt, Josephine's pearly tiara, with gold, pearls and colored stones, offered by Murat to the Empress and the book by Liegeard Prefect.

Art is presented in the second level. Visitors can meet landscape painters of the nineteenth century and especially Fricero Joseph Antoine Trachel or Alexis Mossa, sculptors, including Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux and artists from the world of music and literature.

The third floor houses the rich Cessole library of thousands of documents, including on the history of the County of Nice, Provence, Savoy and northern Italy.

Public reception takes place north of the building, a pavilion located at number 65 of the Rue de France. 

The museum is fully accessible to disabled people.

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