The Museum Masséna, an architectural jewel of the Promenade des Anglais, evokes, through its collections, the art and history of the river from Nice to France to the end of the Belle Epoque.

The whole works evoke this theme by a scenography that combines the graphic arts, furniture and objects of this period and more particularly history.

Among others are the mortuary mask of Napoleon made by Dr. Arnolt, the diadem of Josephine in mother-of-pearl, gold, pearls and colored stones offered by Murat to the Empress and the book written by Prefect Liegeard.

The visitor will be able to meet the landscape painters of the 19th century and especially Joseph Fricero, Antoine Trachel or Alexis Mossa...

It should be noted that the ground floor of the Villa is itself a work thanks to its sumptuous interior decor created by architects Hans-Georg Tersling and Aaron Messiah, and the furniture and art objects of the 1st Empire that garnish the living rooms.

The Villa Masséna was built on the Promenade des Anglais, between 1898 and 1901 by Danish architect Hans-Georg Tersling (1857-1920), one of the best architects of the Côte d’Azur at the Belle Epoque. The chosen style is neo-classical with a strong italiasing print.

Prince Victor of Essling (1836-1910) grandson of Niçois André Masséna, in fact his winter residence. His son, André, heir of the estate to the death of his father, in fact donated to the City of Nice in 1919, and the Museum Masséna was inaugurated in 1921.

A vast renovation campaign, led by the city of Nice between 1999 and 2008, allowed to restore the villa of Belle-Epoque, its interior decors, and to value its historical and artistic collections.

The museum enjoys a historic garden built according to the design of a revolutionary landscape architect at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, namely, Édouard André overlooking the Promenade des Anglais and adjoining the famous Negresco hotel.