IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Cimiez, a Historical Place of Enchantment

The famous Excelsior Regina that was converted to private residences.

Rich in art and cultural heritage, Cimiez, the northern hilly suburb in Nice, is still one of the most prized addresses in Nice as it was in the early 1900’s when royalty, the social elite, and celebrities would come to spend their holidays while prominent artists would come to find their inspiration.

Interestingly, Cimiez’s in-vogue appeal dates back even further when it was the capital of the ancient Roman province called Cemenelum until the Lombard invasions. Some of the Roman ruins still exist today and is one of the top attractions in Cimiez where visitors can see the ancient remains of the amphitheatre and the excavated Roman thermal baths, as well as explore the entire history of Cimiez from the Roman period to the Middle Ages at the Archaeological Museum of Nice-Cimiez.

Located between these two historical Roman ruins and set against a nostalgic backdrop of an olive grove, the Matisse Museum is housed in a beautiful and brightly frescoed 17th century style villa and houses the awe-inspiring works of Henry Matisse who actually lived and worked in this villa permanently after falling in love with Cimiez during his winter stints.

The olive groves at the monastery in Cimiez 

Apparently the Franciscan Monks also relished a fondness for Cimiez as they built the Cimiez monastery, Monastere Notre Dame de Cimiez, in the 16th century and is located on the eastern end of this same property that houses the ruins and the Matisse Museum. The monastery also features the church Eglise Notre Dame de l’Assomption, the cemetery (where Matisse is buried), a museum that was formerly the convent, and is surrounded by the most exquisite gardens that were originally the monk’s vegetable garden restored in the 1920’s. Inside the church you will find the incredible work of Italian Renaissance artist Ludovico Brea’s Pieta, Crucifiction and Deposition as well as original pieces of art and historical documents dating back to the 15th-18th centuries. It is just amazing to see how the monastery has been a religious epicenter in Cimiez for centuries and continues to draw visitors from all over the world and still offers religious services with a small community of friars that still live there.

Cimiez also boasts the impressive Belle Epoque palace Excelsior Regina Palace built in the late 19th century specifically so that Queen Victoria of England would promise to continue to spend her lengthy French Riviera sejours here where she socialized among the Europes finest artistocracy and took leisurely strolls in the Valrose gardens of the magnificent gothic Valrose Castle nearby. Today, the Regina has been converted to private residences where owners can enjoy living in the grandeur that captured Queen Victoria’s heart.

This captivating vestige of Cimiez’s rich cultural history and art sparked the opening of Chagall’s Biblical Message Museum in 1972 by the artist himself, Marc Chagall, where he houses all of biblical Old Testament inspired works and is among one of the 33 national heritage museums in France. While the ambiance of the museum is neutrally subdued, the art speaks for itself as one is transported to a world of vivid colour and emotion with each step inside.

As one visits Cimiez and walks the paths of its cultural heritage, one cannot help but feel a strong connection with its history, fine art and beauty. This truly magical place in Nice that for centuries has drawn local and foreign people alike to live here, continues today as it one of Nice’s most prized and sought-out neighborhood to live in.

A place of enchantment.

See La Villa Cimiez (new build project in Nice Cimiez).