Palais Lascaris

About the museum

The palace was built from 1648 on Rue Droite for the Lascaris-Vintimille family, a leading noble family of Nice in the service of the Dukes of Savoy. The family remained its owner until the Revolution. Put up for sale in 1802, the building subsequently fell into serious disrepair.

The City of Nice bought it in 1942 and it was listed as a historic monument in 1946. Restoration work took place from 1963 to 1970, the year the palace opened to the public as a municipal museum. The painted decorations of the staircase and vestibule were restored again between 1996 and 2001.

The palace is one of the most striking examples of civil Baroque architecture in Nice. Its monumental staircase, fresco ceilings and reception rooms show the influence of Genoese art. Since 2013, the museum’s collection of early musical instruments has been enriched by the Tissier-Grandpierre collection, deposited by the Institut de France, which includes 65 instruments, among them 18 harps.

Highlights

• Monumental staircase and vestibule decorated with Baroque frescoes
• The Grand Salon, known as the “Phaéton” salon, and a state bedchamber with alcove
• The palace chapel with a stucco ceiling
• Collection of early musical instruments and the Tissier-Grandpierre collection (harps)
• Visit booklets in French, Niçois, Italian and English

Permanent exhibitions

• Salons baroques et escalier monumental – A route through the 17th-century state apartments, with fresco ceilings, an alcove bedchamber, a chapel and period furniture.
• Collection d'instruments de musique anciens – Early instruments from the museum and the Tissier-Grandpierre collection, deposited by the Institut de France, including harps from the 18th to the 20th century.

Founded

1970

Operated by

Ville de Nice

Visitors per year

approx. 102,520

Admission & discounts

Free with proof for visitors under 18, students, job seekers, recipients of social benefits, journalists, teachers (Pass Éducation), tour guides, museum curators, employees of the City of Nice, the Métropole and the CCAS, and members of the friends’ associations of Nice museums. The Pass Musées de Nice, issued free of charge on site to residents of the Métropole over 18 (identity document and proof of address dated less than 3 months), gives free access to the municipal museums for 3 years. The same rates apply to the Musée de la Photographie, the Musée d’Archéologie, the Musée de Préhistoire Terra Amata and the Musée d’Art naïf Anatole Jakovsky.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: not available
• 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

As the palace is listed as a historic monument, it has no lift. The City of Nice website provides no further information on accessibility.

Kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

A visit guide for children is available on request at the front desk. Visitors under 18 enter free of charge.

Getting there & parking

The palace is in the Old Town, on Rue Droite. The City of Nice website suggests a cycle route (Géovélo) and gives no information on public transport or parking.

Amenities & dining

The palace is air-conditioned.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit