The Best Museums of Nice, France

Nice has a rich artistic tradition and an exceptional history. The local museums are an incredible way to learn more about this unique city, and the role it has played for centuries of artistic and cultural evolution in France. 

Musée Matisse

The Musée Matisse houses one of the world’s largest collections of the works of Henri Matisse, who lived and worked in Nice from 1917 to 1954 and personally donated many of his works to the museum. Matisse was a prolific draughtsman, printmaker, sculptor, and painter, with a broad depth and complexity to his evolution as an artist. The permanent collection includes 68 paintings, 236 drawings, 218 prints, 95 photos, 57 sculptures, and hundreds of objects that belonged to the artist. The museum is in the Cimiez neighborhood, in the historic Villa des Arenes, constructed in the 1600s.

Matisse is a central figure in modern art, and his personal work and growth as an artist is inextricably entwined with the history of the city and his legacy in Nice. A visit to this museum offers fascinating insights into the place, the artist, and the trends and movements in modern art around the world.

Musée Masséna

The Musée Masséna is in one of the most spectacular villas on the Promenade des Anglais, a beautifully restored and maintained building with tranquil gardens and an incredible setting. The collection is devoted to the  Masséna family, who built the villa, and whose personal and family history is synonymous with the history of Nice, Napoleon, and France itself. The museum contains art, furnishings, and personal effects belonging to the family, and has a fascinating collection of objects from the history of Nice from the 1800s through the beginning of WWII, with military memorabilia and many fascinating personal effects from Napoleon and Josephine. The Musée Masséna is a fascinating museum in a beautiful setting, and it’s well worth exploring to learn more about the history of Nice and the Masséna family.

Musée National Message Biblique Marc Chagall

Unusually, the Musée National Message Biblique Marc Chagall (or Musée Marc Chagall) was founded during the artist’s lifetime, as he had a fervent wish for a permanent place to display his biblical works. Chagall himself determined the placement of his works in the museum, created some of the mosaic and stained glass works in the building, and provided instructions for the creation of the garden. He also specified that the museum should have an annual exhibition on religious or spiritual history. Due to his behest at his death, and a variety of subsequent acquisitions, the museum now hosts the largest collection of the works of Marc Chagall in the world, with more than 400 works by the artist.

The  Musée Marc Chagall is a fascinating tribute to this complex, fascinating artist, who played such an incredible role on the world stage. 

Musée des Beaux-Arts

The Musée des Beaux-Arts has a collection that is a tribute to the important and influential artists who have lived and worked on the French Riviera over the centuries. The stunning building was once the private mansion of Ukrainian princess Elisabeth Vassilievna Kotschoubey, built in 1878. The collection goes back over 400 years of French art, and includes sculptures by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, François Rude, and Auguste Rodin, along with some ceramics by Pablo Picasso. The paintings are from artists like Jan Brueghel the Elder, Claude Monet, Marie Bashkirtseff, and Édouard Vuillard. The museum is small but beautiful, with beautiful art in a spectacular setting.

MAMAC (Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain)

It’s difficult to miss the Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain when you are in Nice. The massive structure is near the Place Garibaldi, overlooking the Place Yves Klein, bridging the course of the Paillon river. The tetrapod arch is clad in Carrara marble, making it a gleaming addition to the architecture of the city. Inside, the permanent collection has more than 1300 pieces, showcasing avant-garde art movements from the 1950s to today, with collections featuring the European New Realists, American Pop Art, The School of Nice, The Arte Povera, and American minimalism movements, among others. The massive museum has ample space for various temporary exhibitions, of which there are often 3 or more at once.

These are just a few of the exceptional museums in Nice, and everyone who lives in the city has their favorite. But no visit to the city would be complete without taking time to explore the cultural and artistic legacy of this unique destination.