Historical, it is for more than one reason… Located in the heart of the city, near Place Masséna, the Promenade des Anglais, and Old Nice, the lycée enjoys an exceptional location.
Built in 1909 by the architect Henri Ebrard, who is also known for the Marseille Opera, and decorated by the Niçois artists Louis Martin and Charles-Martin Sauvaigo, the Masséna lycée is a place of memory for all the people of Nice.
A former Augustinian convent (1623) transformed into an imperial lycée (1812), then into the Collegio Convitto Nazionale (1848) where voters were called to vote for the attachment of the County of Nice to France on April 15, 1860, the Masséna lycée, and more specifically the olive tree of peace that stands in front of the entrance, are the starting point of the commitment of five students to join the Resistance on June 6, 1944.
The Masséna lycée is also a living memory of the many personalities who studied within its walls. To name but a few: Romain Gary, Jean d’Ormesson, Louis Nucéra, Max Gallo, Daniel Pennac, Didier Van Cauwelaert, and Yves Klein…
The Prefect of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region therefore issued an order dated March 15, 2016, to list this lycée as a historic monument.
A resolution to that effect had already been voted on during the municipal council meeting on September 29, 2014.
