Attraction
Promenade des Anglais
Nice's seafront avenue curves for almost seven kilometres around the Baie des Anges, lined with palms, pebble beaches and the city's famous blue chairs.
Villa Masséna
A Belle Epoque palace on the Promenade des Anglais housing the Musée Masséna, which tells the story of Nice and the Riviera from the 18th to the early 20th century.
At a glance
- Type
- Art and history museum
- Area
- Promenade des Anglais, Nice, France
- Official site
- massena-nice.org
Good to know
- Free for under-18s
- French Riviera Pass
- Fully wheelchair accessible
- Listed garden
Why we recommend it
The Villa Masséna is a Belle Epoque palace set back from the Promenade des Anglais behind its own garden. It was built between 1898 and 1901 by the Danish architect Hans-Georg Tersling as a winter residence for Prince Victor d'Essling, grandson of Marshal André Masséna, in a neoclassical style with a strong Italian influence. His son André gave the villa to the city in 1919 and it opened as a museum in 1921. A long renovation from 1999 to 2008 restored its interiors.
The collections cover the history of Nice and the French Riviera from the eighteenth to the early twentieth century. The ground-floor rooms keep their decoration by Tersling and Aaron Messiah, with First Empire furniture and objects. Highlights include Napoleon's death mask, a mother-of-pearl diadem given to the Empress Joséphine by Murat, and a book by Stephen Liégeard, the prefect who popularised the name Côte d'Azur. Upstairs, Riviera landscapes by painters such as Joseph Fricero and Alexis Mossa show the coast before mass tourism. The museum carries the official Musée de France label.
The listed garden in front of the villa was designed by Edouard André and makes a calm break from the traffic of the Promenade. Next to it, the Jardin de la Légion d'Honneur holds the memorial to the victims of 14 July 2016. The exhibition Nice, ma ville, mes jardins, about how the city grew with its plants, runs until 28 February 2027.
The museum is closed on Tuesdays and its hours change between summer and winter. Under-18s enter free, the French Riviera Pass gives free entry, and a city museum ticket covers all municipal museums for 96 hours, which is good value if you also plan to see the Musée Matisse. The tourism office describes the site as fully accessible for wheelchair users, and the average visit is about an hour. Guided tours can be arranged on request.
The villa is next door to the Hotel Negresco and a short walk west along the seafront from the Jardin Albert 1er and Place Masséna. It works well as a first stop on a trip, before you head out to see the places its collections describe.
Villa Masséna FAQs
What is the Musée Masséna about?
It covers the history of Nice and the French Riviera from the 18th to the early 20th century, in a Belle Epoque villa.
When is it closed?
The museum is closed on Tuesdays and on certain public holidays. Hours differ between summer and winter.
Do children pay?
No, visitors under 18 enter free.
Is it accessible?
Yes, the site and building are listed as fully accessible for wheelchair users.
How long should I allow?
About an hour.
Can I visit the garden?
Yes, the listed garden in front of the villa is part of the site.
Is it included in the French Riviera Pass?
Yes, the pass gives free entry.
What is next door?
The Hotel Negresco stands beside the villa on the Promenade des Anglais.