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Origin and history

The prefectoral palace of Nice, located in the Old Nice, was initially a residence of the Dukes of Savoy from 1550, before becoming the palace of the kings of Piedmont-Sardaigne until 1860. Transformed into a prefecture after Nice's attachment to France, he now preserves traces of his royal past, such as the coach pass and the honorary staircase built in 1818 by architect Jean-Antoine Scoffier. Successive changes, especially in the 19th and 20th centuries, have erased almost entirely the original building, leaving only some emblematic elements.

Originally, the palace was a modest residence acquired by Duke Emmanuel-Philibert in 1571, near the Dominican church. Enlarged and embellished by his successors, like Charles Emmanuel I in the 17th century, he became a royal residence in its own right. In 1792, during the French invasion, the palace was destroyed and transformed into a military hospital, losing some of its gardens and outbuildings. After the Sardinian Restoration in 1814, Victor-Emmanuel I made it a royal residence, modernized by Scoffier between 1818 and 1825.

Nice's attachment to France in 1860 marked a turning point: the palace became the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes. Napoleon III stayed there during his visits, and important expansions were carried out between 1862 and 1910 to make it a prestigious reception place. The architects Auguste Dieudé-Defly and Lucien Barbet added a festive hall decorated with paintings by Jules Chéret, symbolizing the eclecticism of the Third Republic. In 1996, parts of the palace were classified as historical monuments.

In the 20th century, the palace gradually lost its administrative function to a protocol role. In 1960, General de Gaulle celebrated the centenary of annexation of Nice. More recently, in 2001, the Treaty of Nice was signed by European ministers, and in 2008 it hosted a Russia-EU summit. Today, it houses the residences of the prefect and the president of the departmental council, while serving as a framework for official events.

Architecturally, the palace blends various styles, neoclassical columns with eclectic decors of the festive hall. Only the vestibule, the honorary staircase and the coach pass still remind the ancient palace of the Dukes of Savoy. The facades, which have been redesigned several times, reflect the successive adaptations of the building, between royal heritage and prefectural function.

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