Christian Estrosi presented the transformation project of Gare du Sud this Thursday, December 11. The building will become a flexible cultural center, open to everyone, and designed as a living space for the residents of the neighborhood and beyond. The first phase will begin in February 2026 with an exhibition dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci.
The city of Nice is embarking on a new phase in the life of Gare du Sud. The mayor described a project based on the needs expressed by the residents of the neighborhood. According to him, “we started with the needs of the people of Nice, especially those who live in this neighborhood.” Many families requested an accessible space, open all day, and suitable for people of all ages.
The mayor recalled his long-standing attachment to this place. He mentioned his intervention in 1993 “to personally stop the bulldozers” and his role in the building’s listing as a historical monument in 2004 and 2005. He also spoke of his personal memories, linked to the lottery once held by his grandparents at the foot of the station.
The project conducted in 2019, focused on the concept of a gourmet hall, Mediterranéo, allowed the area to be revitalized, although it did not meet all expectations. The mayor assessed that “this ‘food court’ model is outdated.” After several closures due to health standards issues, the city took back control in September 2025 and repurchased the long-term lease, except for the IT Trattoria restaurant, which remains in place.
The focus then shifted to a cultural and social project. The figures cited during the presentation highlight the sector’s dynamism. The Raoul-Mille library recorded 160,000 loans in one year, half of which were for youth. The mayor deduced a strong local need from this. The 6,500 children enrolled in schools in the neighborhood further strengthen this argument.
A cultural place but not only…
The future “Halle de la Découverte” addresses four goals: to create a vibrant, family-friendly place, to revitalize a protected heritage site, to strengthen neighborhood cohesion, and to offer a variety of cultural services. The entire area will be centered around a large central square, designed as a meeting space. The project also includes a café serving as an exchange point, to be set up in 2026.
Around this central hub, several spaces will coexist. An exhibition area will host artistic or interactive content. Documentary spaces will offer books for both adults and youth. An art library will allow the borrowing of artworks. A games library will offer games, workshops, and tournaments, with an intergenerational purpose. A comic book library will showcase comics in all their forms. A fablab will provide access to technical tools for experimenting, imagining, and creating. A pedagogical kitchen will offer workshops around Niçoise gastronomy.
The city aims to preserve the site’s identity. A space will continue to invite visitors “to travel and escape through culture, knowledge, and creativity.” The total cost of the repurchase and the work is estimated at about 10 million euros.
The first phase of the project will begin in February 2026. The café will open its doors and host meetings with artists, authors, and speakers. The games library will also be operational at that time. This launch will mark the arrival of the first major event. The mayor confirmed the organization of an exhibition open to all, titled “Leonardo da Vinci, at the Crossroads of Arts and Sciences.” According to him, visitors will discover a tour combining “reproductions of drawings, paintings, models, installations, and 3D video animations.” The themes addressed will range from painting to urban planning, including engineering or anatomy.
With this project, the city wants to establish a place of proximity at Gare du Sud, focused on discovery and collective use. A new step that combines the memory of the building with an openness to new cultural practices.
