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Origin and history

The Old Ligurian Wall, or presumed Ligurian, is an archaeological vestige located in the garden of the Cimiez Monastery in Nice. This stone wall, probably erected at the end of the Iron Age, borders the ancient oppidum of Cemenelum, ancient name of Cimiez. It is a work that reinforces the rocky escarpment, whose fragments are still visible today, although the lack of signage makes its understanding difficult for visitors.

At the Iron Age, the Ligures, local populations mentioned by ancient authors, occupied oppidums on the heights overlooking the Nice coast. These fortified sites served as shelters and community centres. The Cimiez wall could be a vestige of these fortifications, although its exact attribution to the Ligures remains a hypothesis based on archaeological and historical clues.

Between 2012 and 2014, archaeological excavations were carried out every summer at the site of the "sacred wood" site. The aim of this research was to better understand the ancient occupation of Cimiez and to clarify the origin and function of the wall. The monument was listed as historic monuments on March 28, 1929, recognizing its heritage value.

Today, the wall is integrated into the landscape of the Cimiez Garden, but its access and reading remains limited due to the lack of information available on site. Its protection as a historical monument nevertheless underlines its importance for the study of the Liguri populations and the ancient history of the Niçois region.

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