After reopening its doors to the public in 2019, the colossal project concluded with an official photo to celebrate the delivery of the monumental staircase of the Saint-Pons Abbey Church. A happy ending for one of the foundational buildings in the history of Nice.
The Saint-Pons Abbey has come a long way. In 1999, the building was closed to the public: a slow degradation that led to a total abandonment for more than 16 years. The safety conditions for holding services were no longer met. In 2016, Nice took matters into its own hands.
Restoring the heritage of Nice
If the city wished to restore the church’s reputation, it was because it prides itself on maintaining the buildings that constitute its cultural wealth. A project amounting to 2,689,909 euros, implemented “within the framework of the Nice heritage preservation plan and in anticipation of our listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021. That is how we reopened it to the public in May 2019,” enthuses Christian Estrosi, present for the delivery of the staircase.
A final key step, which will facilitate the connection between Pasteur Hospital and Saint-Pons Abbey. Surrounded by the Ciamada Nissarda, the mayor of Nice continues: “As on some European coasts, there was only a path under the olive trees and vegetation to access the Saint-Pons Abbey. The roadmap we set for ourselves is thus completed, and I am happy for our city, for our heritage, but also for our hospital. The church is also a protective element for our healthcare workers, and this aspect is not overlooked either.”
A place rich in history
The Saint-Pons Abbey Church has played a major role in the history of the city of Nice. During the 12th century, it was a place of observation, both towards the road to Turin and the sea. Christian Estrosi adds: “The people of Nice have always seen the Saint-Pons Abbey Church as one of the foundational pillars of the evangelization of the Island of Castle Hill.”
Moreover, it was on its forecourt that the ceremonies of the Dedication of 1388 took place, when the County of Nice was handed over to the Counts of Savoy. The current church was built in 1720, in a very pronounced baroque style. Two centuries later, in 1913, it became the first building in Nice listed as a historical monument.
