The iconic Bellandarium, overlooking the Bay of Angels, reopens its doors to host a unique exhibition. Designed to pay tribute to the 480th anniversary of the Siege of Nice and Catherine Ségurane, this event is the first in a commemorative program extending throughout 2023.
“Let yourself be told about the Castle Hill”. Steps and more steps, the count is long. And finally, upon looking up: the reward. The panorama of Nice, admired, painted, photographed by the entire world rises from the top of the Bellanda Tower. With its location and history, this hill is above all a place of attachment and memory. The exhibition dedicates a space with a guest book for the locals who wish to share their stories or anecdotes related to this hill.
Inside this tower built in the mid-19th century, the Bellandarium offers a true scenography. A valuable educational tool. The exhibition invites the public to journey through seven major periods of Nice’s history. The visitor is invited to follow the timeline that hugs the curves of the monument. Under its arches, 52 costumed characters, both real and fictional, illustrate the evolution of clothing and military equipment, both offensive and defensive. The project is 85% financed by the European Union.
Nice, a land of encounters
“The hill is somewhat where it all begins, the history of Nice is truly intimately linked to it,” begins Cécile Verdoni, exhibition curator at the City of Art and History. From Antiquity to the present day, passing through the beautiful Niçoise Middle Ages and Nice in the time of Louis XIV, a journey through time is guaranteed. And there’s a fine crowd, one might encounter Publius Verduccius, Gaetano Rosso known as “la ratteta” or even Audebert de Barras. Then, around a bend appears the mythical heroine Catarina Segurana and further away the Coventry couple.
10 characters are new. New female figures are added and complete the 20th-century section. A spotlight on the development of seaside resorts in Nice by the first English visitors. To enhance the immersion, objects are displayed and three animated films are shown. They highlight three key moments: the siege of 1543, the sieges of Louis XIV, and the intervention of cannon firing.
Once upon a time in Nice in 1543
Between June and September 1543, Nice, owned by the Duke of Savoy, suffered a Franco-Ottoman assault. “It is an essential moment for the history of the city,” notes Cécile Verdoni. This landmark episode for the construction of Nice’s memory and identity is associated with the figure of Catherine Ségurane. The Niçoise heroine who is said to have repelled the enemy assault on August 15, 1543. She remains today, a symbol of resistance for the people of Nice.
Because to become attached or love one’s country, it is easier to know its history, Christian Estrosi, the mayor of Nice takes on the role of a teacher for the occasion, in front of students from Terra Amata. “We had significant episodes here in this fortress or at the foot of the Castle,” he recounts. The mayor continues his story: “When Emperor Charles XV was fighting Francis I, the famous Shroud that covered the body of Christ, was being guarded by the Duke of Savoy. And one day, the French invaded Savoy. The Duke of Savoy, in his county of Nice, will protect the Shroud in the citadel of the Castle.” It would stay there for 7 years, in the 16th century, before landing in Turin where a museum is dedicated to it.
Practical Information
The inauguration of the exhibition marks the beginning of the commemorations of the mythical figure of Catherine Segurane and the 480 years of the Siege of Nice. It is accessible via the steps of Lesage Hill, within the Castle Hill Park. The doors are open from Tuesday to Saturday from 9 AM to 1 PM and from 2 PM to 5 PM. The entry fee is 6.10 euros, free for minors, and there are discounted rates available.
Guided tours take place on Wednesdays and Fridays in April, departing from the Nietzsche terrace, above the waterfall. Tickets are to be reserved on the online ticketing system.