Musée d'archéologie de Nice-Cimiez

About the museum

The museum is located on the Cimiez hill, on the site of the Roman city of Cemenelum, capital of the province of the Alpes-Maritimes. It succeeded an earlier site museum created in 1960 in the Villa des Arènes, which today houses the Musée Matisse. The current building opened in January 1989.

The site displays the remains of three complete bath complexes dating from the 1st to the 3rd centuries, streets, a residential quarter with shops and an amphitheatre. An early Christian group with a cathedral and a baptistery from the 5th century marks the last phase of urban life in Cemenelum.

The collections cover the Metal Age, Antiquity and the early Middle Ages. They come mainly from excavations carried out on the site between 1950 and 1969, but also from the region and from the wreck of the Fourmigue C, off Golfe-Juan. Visitors see statues, steles, sarcophagi, statuettes, tableware, jewelry, perfume flasks, coins and pieces of furniture.

Highlights

• Remains of three Roman bath complexes
• Bronze mask of Silenus (1st century BC)
• Bronze dancing faun found at Cimiez
• Amphitheatre and streets of Cemenelum
• Early Christian group from the 5th century and objects from the Fourmigue C wreck

Permanent exhibitions

• Le site archéologique de Cemenelum – Baths, streets, residential quarter, amphitheatre and early Christian group of the Roman city.
• Collections permanentes – Objects from the Metal Age, Antiquity and the early Middle Ages, from excavations at Cimiez and in the region.

Founded

1960

Operated by

Ville de Nice

Visitors per year

approx. 46,381

Admission & discounts

Free admission with proof also for job seekers, recipients of the RSA, ASS or ASPA benefits, holders of ICOM and ICOMOS cards, journalists, teachers with the Pass Éducation, tour guides, employees of the City, the Métropole and the CCAS, and members of museum friends' associations. Residents of the Nice Côte d'Azur Métropole receive the Pass Musées de Nice free of charge.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum and part of the archaeological site are accessible to people with disabilities.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Famille Plus label. Family guided tour “Balade à Cemenelum” and experimental archaeology workshop “Vivre à Cimiez durant l'Antiquité” for children aged 6 to 12 accompanied by an adult, outside school holidays.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit