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Origin and history

The Masséna Museum is housed in one of the last prestigious 19th century villas on the promenade des Anglais in Nice. Built between 1898 and 1901 by architects Hans-Georg Tersling and Aaron Messiah, it was commissioned by Victor Masséna, prince of Essling and Duke of Rivoli, grandson of Marshal André Masséna. Inspired by the neo-classical Italian villas and Empire style, the building reflects the family's tribute to Napoleon I, the source of their titles. The gardens, designed by landscaper Edward André, and the court of honour were restored between 2006 and 2007.

In 1919, André Masséna, son of Victor, gave up the villa to the city of Nice under two conditions: to transform the place into a museum of local history and to open the gardens to the public. The museum was inaugurated in 1921, dedicated to the history of Nice from 1792 to 1939. After a major renovation (1999-2008), it reopens in 2008 with 1,800 m2 of exhibitions, an Empire furniture, and the Cessole library, rich in documents about Nice County and the region.

The facades and roofs have been classified as historical monuments since 1975, then the whole (village, courtyard, garden, pavilion) is registered in 2023. The museum exhibits 15,000 pieces: paintings, furniture, art objects, and weapons, illustrating the Nice heritage. His museum, chronological and thematic, highlights elements such as Napoleon's death mask or Josephine's diadem. The gardens, restored according to the plans of Edouard André, offer a view of the promenade des Anglais.

The museum hosted temporary exhibitions from 2013 to 2019, co-authored by Jean-Jacques Aillagon, exploring the millennium history of Nice. Its access, paid for in the 20th century, was free between 2008 and 2015 before the return of a fee. Today, the Masséna Museum remains a major architectural and historical testimony of the Nice Belle Époque, combining imperial fascia and local heritage.

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