The City of Nice pays tribute to Napoleon III on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of his death. A mass took place on Monday, January 9, with the presence of Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice, Gaël Nofri, Deputy Mayor of Nice and Secretary General of the “Imperial Cities” association, and Arnaud Péricard, Mayor of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, President of the “Imperial Cities” association.
January 9, 1873 marks the passing of Napoleon III. He was the last Emperor of France and also the very first President of the French Republic. The City of Nice has thus decided to pay homage to this historical figure, an icon of France. Additionally, in the context of historical relations, Nice, as an Imperial City, is closely linked to Napoleon III. On this occasion, numerous events are planned throughout the year:
Lectures
Masséna Museum: in partnership with the Napoleonic Memory
- “Empress Eugénie and the Inauguration of the Suez Canal” on Saturday, January 21 by Abel Douay, historian, former President of the Friends of Napoleon III
- “Marshal Niel, the Last Hope of French Arms” on February 25 at 3 PM by Alexandre Gourdon, historian
- “Music Under the Second Empire” on March 18 at 3 PM by André Peyregne, Honorary President of the French Federation of Artistic Teaching
- “The Youth of the Two Emperors” on Saturday, April 29 by David Chanteranne, historian, editor-in-chief of the Napoleonic Memory magazine and Emmanuelle Papot, Vice-President of the “Friends of Napoleon III”
- “From One Coup to Another” on Saturday, June 24 by Patrice Gueniffey, historian
- “Napoleon III and Public Education” on Saturday, September 9 by Eric Anceau, historian
- “The Latin Union, a Work of Napoleon III” on Saturday, November 18 by Yves Brugière, Vice-President of the Numismatic Circle of Nice
Mediterranean University Center
- Round Table: “What Legacy for the Second Empire?”
Dance Evening at Villa Masséna
For one night, you will have the chance to relive a grand 19th-century dance evening. This event will take place in July 2023, and it will take the form of a private ball typical of the era depicted. It will be set in the sublime gardens of the Villa Masséna, with period costumes that will embellish this fantastic evening.
Concerts
The Opera will offer a piano-voice recital in October 2023 with students from the CFA at the Caballé Foyer of the Opera. This concert is part of the Afterwork programming of the Opera, with artists performing songs and arias from the Second Empire.
Exhibitions
Masséna Museum: in partnership with the Friends of Napoleon III
The exhibition “Napoleon III and Eugénie on the French Riviera” will take place from October 5 to November 12, 2023.
City Hall of Nice – Salle de l’Union
Exhibition: “The Second Empire and Numismatics” with the Nice Numismatic Circle.
The Imperial Days
Join at the Masséna Museum from October 20 to 22, 2023 for the 6th edition of the Imperial Days. On the program: initiation to Second Empire dances in the grand salon, explanations of 1869 fashions with fashion shows, and military demonstrations.
Films and documentaries about Napoleon III will be scheduled by the Cinémathèque of Nice during October 2023.
This rich and varied program aims to raise awareness of the history of the City of Nice, directly linked to Napoleon III. Indeed, he contributed to the attachment of Nice to France in 1862. And during his first visit in 1860, he wished to make Nice the winter capital of Europe for high society. Nice has been named the winter resort city of the Riviera in the UNESCO World Heritage. This creates a historical legacy that continues to this day.