Nice – Cimiez
Nice, one of the most renowned cities in France, lies at the foot of the Colline de Cimiez.
In 14 BC, the Romans founded their city of Cimiez on the slopes of the hill.
The ancient city thus offers exceptional views of the modern city of Nice and the Mediterranean Sea.
Its remarkably well-preserved and extensive remains are now part of the magnificent public garden Le Jardin des Arènes de Cimiez, planted with lush olive trees.
Archaeological site of Cemenelum
Cimiez was then called Cemelenum and was the capital of the ancient Roman province of Alpes-Maritimes.
It was also a garrison town for Roman troops stationed in the area.
The archaeological museum, whose windows open directly onto the archaeological site, houses a multitude of objects unearthed during excavations carried out in the ancient city: amphorae, marble statues, jewellery, and everyday objects.
After visiting the museum, take time to explore the ruins, including the arenas and three Roman bath complexes.
Matisse Museum
Cimiez evolved over the centuries, and several buildings were constructed among its ruins.
Among these is a splendid 17th-century mansion with several windows painted in trompe l’oeil, an emblematic artistic style of the period.
This mansion now houses the Musée Matisse. The museum boasts a vast collection of works by Henri Matisse, as well as extensive collections of paintings, sculptures, prints, paper cutouts, stencils, fabric paintings, ceramics, and even stained glass.
Monastère Notre-Dame de Cimiez
Benedictine monks founded the Monastery of Notre-Dame-de-Cimiez in the 9th century.
In 1546, the Franciscans settled in Cimiez and replaced the old buildings with the current monastery, which include the Neo-Byzantine Notre-Dame de l’Assomption (Church of Our Lady of the Assumption), the cloister, the cemetery, and the gardens. The church boasts various works of religious art, including a Pietà, a Baroque wooden altarpiece, and a magnificent seraphic cross. The cloister is now used for musical events and summer masses.
The Italian-style gardens cover 9,550 square metres and replace the monastic orchard and vegetable garden while preserving their original layout. You will find old pergolas, crumbling under the weight of climbing roses, and contributing to the beauty of the site.
The monastery is still active and was listed as a historical monument in 1993, followed by the gardens and cemetery in 1994; the latter contains the tombs of Henri Matisse and Raoul Dufy.
Seraphic Cross of Cimiez
The Place du Monastère de Cimiez (square) is adorned with a white marble trefoil cross (or seraphic cross) placed on an elegant twisted column.
This Franciscan cross depicts, on one side, a crucified seraph (hence its name), and on the other, the Virgin Mary, themes linked to the Franciscan order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi.
However, this seraphic cross is a replica of the original one. The first cross, carved in 1477, stood in the monastery cemetery, but was removed during the French Revolution to save it from destruction.
This cross was replaced in 1804 and was classified as a historical monument in 1904.
Sadly, it was vandalised in 1979, and moved to a side chapel of the monastery church for safekeeping.
Hôtel Regina
Cimiez is not just Roman ruins or religious remains.
This is also where you’ll find the magnificent Belle Epoque Hôtel Regina, where Queen Victoria stayed during her sojourns on the French Riviera. The Regina was also home to Henri Matisse.
Finally, just a short walk from the park, along Avenue du Docteur Ménard, you will find the prestigious Musée National Marc Chagall (Marc Chagall National Museum), which exhibits many of his masterpieces!
Department of Alpes-Maritimes
Access: Bus Line 15 from Place Massena in Nice
Coordinates: Lat 43.696036 – Long 7.265592
Credits: Photos Melanged Magic by Evelyn Jackson – Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Header and Photo4 by Édouard Hue CC BY-SA 3. – Roman arenas by Eric Coffinet Public domain – Matisse Museum by GFreihalter CC BY-SA 4.0
