Palais Lascaris
A must see. Not very far away.
R. Droite - F - 06000 Nice
A sumptuous Genoese dwelling.
Opening: Daily except Tue 10am-6pm. Guided tours daily except Mon and Tue: 3pm. Closed 1 Jan, Easter Sunday and Monday, 1 May, 25 Dec.
Rates: No charge. Guided tours: €3.
Comments:
Built in 1665, this palace has a façade that is decorated with balustrade balconies on consoles of sculpted marble and pilasters. After seeing the pharmacy, there is a majestic ceremonial staircase, followed by a prestigious baluster staircase leading upstairs with a number of rocaille vaults and niches. Upstairs, the ceiling is covered in trompe-l'oeil frescos, and there are Flemish tapestries, atlases and caryatids, and Louis XV woodwork encrusted with gold leaf.


Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle     
60 bis bd Risso - F - 06000 Nice
For mushroom lovers.
Opening: Daily (except Mon): 10am-6pm. Closed 1 Jan, 1 May, 14 Jul, 25 Dec.
Rates: No charge.
Comments:
Do you like mushrooms? Then head for this natural history museum where 7,000 casts await you.


Musée d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain       
Prom. des Arts - F - 06200 Nice
The Nice school and its successors..
Opening: Daily except Mon 10am-6pm. Closed 1 Jan, Easter Sunday, 1 May, 25 Dec.
Rates: €4, no charge 1st and 3rd Sunday in the month.
Comments:
The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art contains works from the Nice school, its earlier influences and later effects. The new realists include Arman, César and Spoerri. Pride of place goes to Yves Klein (1928-1962) with his blue monochromes. The neo-Dadaist Fkuxus movement is represented by Ben. Development in abstraction is illustrated by Supports/Surfaces (Vaillat, Pagès, Dezeuze). The return to figuration by Garouste and, in a style inspired by cartoon strips, Combas and Hervé di Rosa.


Asian Arts Museum
Designed by the Japanese architect Kenzo Tange, in the heart of Parc Phœnix, in a subtle architecture of white marble, glass and steel, this museum offers classical works and contemporary creations. The tea pavilion evokes the aestheticism of the Zen ceremony.
405, Promenade des Anglais - Arénas,
Tel. 04 92 29 37 00 - fax 04 92 29 37 01
Open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. from 16/10 to 30/04 and from 10am to 6pm.
Closed Tuesdays and 1st January, Ist May and 25th December.
Admission: 6 Euros - Reduced rate: 4 Euros
Access for the physically disabled
Free admission on the first Sunday of each month
Internet : www.arts-asiatiques.com


Musée de Terra Amata     
25 bd Carnot - F - 06300 Nice
In the steps of ancient Nice.
Opening: Daily except Mon 10am-6pm. Closed 1 Jan, Easter Sun, 1 May, 25 Dec.
Rates: €4 (children: no charge), no charge 1st and 3rd Sunday in the month.
Comments:
Built on a prehistoric site with the oldest houses built by man (400,000 years old), this museum contains stone tools, bones, building foundations and laboratory analyses concerning the environment and climate, leading you from the digs to reconstructions.


Musée Marc-Chagall       
16 av. du Dr-Ménard - F - 06000 Nice
The Biblical Message by Marc Chagall.
Opening: Jul-Sep: daily except Tue 10am-6pm (last admission 30min before closing); Oct-Jun: daily except Tue 10am-5pm (last admission 30min before closing). Closed 1 Jan, 1 May, 25 Dec.
Rates: €5.50, no charge 1st Sunday in the month.
Comments:
This museum contains the largest permanent collection of work by Marc Chagall (1887-1985). 17 large paintings make up the artist's Message Biblique. These compositions describe the Creation, earthly paradise, the Flood, the Song of Songs, etc. The museum also contains a tapestry (La Création), an external mosaic and three large stained-glass windows.


Musée Masséna     
 67 r. de France - F - 06000 Nice
A First Empire palace.
Comments:
Surrounded by gardens, the museum is housed in a building erected by the Marshall's grandson. There is sumptuous First Empire décor and a collection of jewels from around the world.


Musée Matisse (Villa des Arènes)       
164 av. des Arènes-de-Cimiez - F - 06000 Nice
A journey through the work of Matisse.
Opening: Daily (except Tue) 10am-6pm. Closed 1 Jan, Easter Sunday, 1 May, 25 Dec.
Rates: 4€, no charge 1st and 3rd Sunday in the month.
Comments:
Dominating the sea, this 17C villa, with its Sienna earth colour, houses around 30 paintings by Matisse (1869-1954). From dark palettes to canvases lit with the Mediterranean sun, then, after a stay in Morocco, to pure colour, and finally to the refined drawing of cut papers in absolute blue poster paint. 54 bronzes, sketches and models complete the panorama.


Musée Archéologique     
160 av. des Arènes-de-Cimiez - F - 06000 Nice
The antique past of the Alpes-Maritimes.
Opening: Daily except Tue 10am-5.40, (last admission 5pm). Closed 1 Jan, Easter Sunday, 1 May, 25 Dec.
Rates: €4 (including access to the archaeological site), no charge 1st and 3rd Sunday in the month.
Comments:
The Archaeological Museum contains bronzes and ceramics illustrating the great Mediterranean civilisations. The Mask of Silène is marvellous. The Ligurian and Roman influences are shown by the archaic statuette of the soldier of Mount Bégo, tools of the Oppidas, the military borders of Via Julia Augusta and a collection of coins. The museum also contains steles and sarcophaguses and an early Christian collection.


Theatre de la Photographie et de l'Image
The "Théâtre de la Photographie et de l'Image" in the heart of Nice in the building which formerly housed the "Théâtre de l'Artistique", has maintained its charm and elegance of the Belle Epoque period. Its mission is to collect photographs of Nice and its region by researching ancient documents but also sending photographers to "report" on the city's human, urban, historic and industrial heritage.
• 27, boulevard Dubouchage
• Tel. 04 97 13 42 20
• Open : 10am - 6 pm
Closed Mondays and certain holidays.
Admission free.


GALLERIES
The municipal galleries located in the heart old Old Nice host temporary exhibitions by young artists. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., except Monday and some holidays
Admission free


Galerie des Ponchettes
Temporary exhibitions
77, Quai des Etats-Unis
Tel. 04 93 62 31 24


Galerie de la Marine
Temporary exhibitions
59, Quai des Etats-Unis
Tel. 04 93 62 37 11


Galerie du Château
(also closed on Sundays from 1st June to 31st August)
14, rue Droite
Tel. 04 97 13 32 17


Galerie Renoir
(also closed on Sundays from 1st June to 31st August)
8, rue de la Loge
Tel. 04 93 13 40 46