Logo Musée du Patrimoine

All French heritage classified by regions, departments and cities

Pope's Column in Nice dans les Alpes-Maritimes

Patrimoine classé
Patrimoine religieux
Monument
Alpes-Maritimes

Pope's Column in Nice

    Place dite de la Croix-de-Marbre
    06300 Nice
Colonne du pape à Nice
Colonne du pape à Nice
Colonne du pape à Nice
Colonne du pape à Nice
Colonne du pape à Nice
Colonne du pape à Nice
Colonne du pape à Nice
Colonne du pape à Nice
Colonne du pape à Nice
Colonne du pape à Nice
Colonne du pape à Nice
Colonne du pape à Nice
Colonne du pape à Nice
Colonne du pape à Nice
Crédit photo : Patrice Semeria - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

Antiquité
Haut Moyen Âge
Moyen Âge central
Bas Moyen Âge
Renaissance
Temps modernes
Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
0
100
1800
1900
2000
7-9 août 1809
First passage of Pius VII
9-11 février 1814
Second passage of Pius VII
1815
Decision to erect column
4 septembre 1823
Column Inauguration
26 décembre 1906
Historical monument classification
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

White marble column: by order of 26 December 1906

Key figures

Pie VII - Supreme Pontiff Two passages in Nice in 1809 and 1814.
Raymond Garin - Consul of Nice Supervised erection in 1822.
Charles-Félix - King of Sardinia Authorized the construction of the monument.
Marie-Louise d'Étrurie - Queen Welcomed Pius VII in 1809.

Origin and history

The pope's column is a commemorative column in white marble erected in Nice in 1822 to mark the two passages of Pope Pius VII in the city, in 1809 and 1814. These visits, marked by triumphal welcome, were major events for the Nice population, which thus manifested its devotion to the sovereign pontiff. The column was erected in the very place where Pius VII was carried in triumph by the crowd, after the crowd had unsealed its car and pulled it to the cathedral.

The first passage of Pius VII took place from 7 to 9 August 1809, when he was in exile after his abduction by Napoleonic troops. Welcomed by a huge crowd, he stayed at the Prefecture and blessed the Niçois from his balcony, under illuminations and fireworks. His second passage, from February 9 to 11, 1814, took place in a context of liberation: liberated by Napoleon, he crossed France to reach Rome. In Nice, 150 priests and thousands of inhabitants welcomed him, pulling his own car to the church.

The decision to erect the column was taken in 1815, and the work was carried out in 1821-1822 under the authority of King Charles-Félix. The monument, located on Place de la Croix-de-Marbre, was inaugurated on September 4, 1823. He bears inscriptions in Latin on his four sides, referring to the Pope's two visits, as well as the coat of arms of his family, the Chiaramonti. The sommital cross, with two horizontal branches, recalls the cross of Lorraine. Ranked a historic monument in 1906, the column remains a symbol of religious fervour and Niçois history.

Latin inscriptions detail the circumstances of the two visits. The one of 1809 evokes the emotion of the crowd and the ceremonies in honour of the pope, while the one of 1814 describes his triumphal arrival, drawn by the people despite the resistance of the soldiers. A third inscription commemorates his blessing from the balcony of the Prefecture, and the last pays tribute to the Nice consuls who supervised the erection of the monument. These texts highlight the Niçois' attachment to Pius VII, who even gave them a portrait in thanks.

The column is distinguished by two peculiarities: the double cross, similar to the cross of Lorraine, and the family coat of arms of the pope (Chiaramonti) rather than pontifical. These elements reflect both the political context of the era — marked by tensions between the Church and Napoleon — and local piety. Today, the monument, owned by the commune, bears witness to this historical episode in which Nice, then under Sardinian influence, affirmed its fidelity to the Holy See.

External links