Until May 14, the Villa is hosting an exhibition titled Nice, an English story in its ground floor salons. The museum presents a retrospective of the history linking the English to the French Riviera.
On Monday, May 7, 2018, King Charles III, then Prince of Wales, and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, were on an official visit to Nice. The museum wished to pay tribute to the monarch five years after his visit, during this particularly significant period for the British. The king and queen consort were crowned on May 6, 2023. The exhibition Nice, an English story is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day except Tuesday until May 14.
Let’s go back to 2018. From his arrival at the Nice airport to the sounds of God Save the Queen, to the tasting of socca and the visit to the flower market of Cours Saleya, the entire visit of the heir to the British Crown is documented. On the occasion of his 32nd stay in France, he received the diploma of honorary citizen. Signed by the mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, it is displayed in the dining room of the Masséna Museum.
Under the iconic skylight of the Villa, framed photographs depict the royal couple and the Estrosi couple in the gardens facing the Promenade des Anglais. Just a few steps further, in the reading room, are exhibited the signatures of Charles and Camilla in the guestbook of the Memorial to the Victims of July 14. A place of reflection located in the courtyard of the museum.
A shared history since the 18th century
The historical ties between the Côte d’Azur and Great Britain date back to the 18th century. Historical documents retracing the imprint left by the English on the territory are on display. In the portrait salon, archives from 1818 testify to the creation of the English cemetery and the construction of the Anglican Church. The English have shaped the landscape of the City of Angels, leaving a material heritage still visible today on the territory.
Visitors also learn that as early as 1934, an exhibition on the English presence was held at the Masséna Museum. English brochures from the time are displayed. Right next to them, an album bears witness to the camaraderie between the two nations. In Nice, from 1912 to 1936, Franco-English festivals were organized.
And the British royal family is far from being unfamiliar with the French Riviera. It also illustrates the English attachment to our territory. In almost perfect French, the King recalled during his visit in 2018 that this corner of France is adored by his ancestors. His great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, visited the Côte d’Azur nine times in her later years.
A night at the Masséna Museum
The exhibition features activities offered as part of the European Night of Museums on Saturday, May 13. At 5 p.m., Anne Brogini, a professor of Modern History, and Germain Butaud, a lecturer of Medieval History, will host a conference-book signing titled Nobility of Nice and Its County between the 13th and 19th Century.
Following that, guided tours are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., accessible without reservation. This European initiative allows free access to museums all over France and Europe simultaneously. Nice actively participates in this evening event.