Here we can speak of a feat. How to reconstruct what was one of the most powerful citadels of the Mediterranean? This impregnable, inviolable castle of Nice, which was nevertheless destroyed by the King of France, Louis XIV in 1706.
A 3D film allows us to rediscover with historical accuracy what this hill looked like before its destruction ordered by this king.
The excavations will allow us to rediscover this past. The film shows us this fortress. The castle hill was a citadel. Its military usefulness was confirmed after the 12th century, and the populations then found themselves in what is called the lower town, now known as Old Nice.
The 3D technique allows us to recreate the old medieval palace of the Counts of Savoy, the 16th-century fortifications, and the citadel of Nice.
The film, below, shows us these fortifications of Nice. The excavations allowed the location of the two cathedrals, the one from the 5th century as well as the one from the 11th century. The excavations of the castle are not finished; further discoveries are expected, and we will probably have to revise our simplistic conceptions of a Greek castle hill and a Roman Cimiez.
According to Marc Bouiron, director of the archaeological service, there is still much to learn, and all these old stones have not given up all their secrets. This film allows us to imagine the imposing aspect of this fortress, which was complemented by the citadel of Villefranche, Saint Hospice, and Mount Alban for the defense and protection of this narrow strip of territory that provided the House of Savoy with access to the sea and thus to trade.
Perhaps one day we will be able to rebuild this structure as well as the 11th-century cathedral, it is, as we know today, a utopia, but one cannot help but believe or dream about it.
Thierry Jan
