The 43rd edition of European Heritage Days is taking place in France this weekend, and for the occasion, Nice is putting on its best. From Saturday, September 19 to Sunday, September 20, you will be able to visit cultural sites for free, attend exhibitions, concerts, etc… And even if some activities are fully booked, others remain available.
European Heritage Days are making their return this weekend for a 43rd edition. This year, the chosen themes are as follows: “Photography Heritage” and “Heritage in Peril: Revive, Resist, Reimagine.”
The objective is to offer a renewed perspective on the treasures of the Nice region. On the program, around a hundred events, including visits to iconic sites, participatory workshops, exhibitions, digital features, scavenger hunts, etc… All these activities are free and require only a simple advance reservation.
If 48 hours before the start of the event some activities are already fully booked, others remain to be discovered. So to not miss anything, here are ten activities still available not to miss during the European Heritage Days in Nice.
The must-see exhibitions
“Writing the City”
This exhibition is aimed at lovers of the capital of the Côte d’Azur. On the occasion of the 850th anniversary of the first charter recognizing the inhabitants of Nice as an autonomous community, the exhibition “Writing the City” traces the major stages of Nice’s history. Through archival documents, you will be able to discover the written memory of the city, from the Middle Ages to the present day. An opportunity to discover among other things its oldest document: the charter of 1176, the founding act of the Nice community. On the program: visit of the exhibition, the villa Les Palmiers and calligraphy workshops.
This exhibition will take place at 9 Avenue de Fabron. It is available without reservation, Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Photo exhibition “70 Years of Nice La Belle”
Open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., this exhibition traces 70 years of the life of the Nice folkloristic group Nice la Belle. Costumes, dances, travels… The entire world of the group created by Francis Gag will be revealed to you.
Meet at 4 rue de la Croix, at the Francis Gag Theatre to enjoy traditional Nice culture.
Discovery of the photographic collection “Victor de Cessole”
Here is a new exhibition that will delight lovers of Nice culture. You will be able to discover the place where more than 10,000 glass plates made between 1896 and 1927 are preserved and meet the librarians who ensure their preservation. You will also be able to admire a selection of photographs from one of the most important photographic heritage collections of Nice and its surrounding area.
This exclusive event will take place Sunday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., without reservation, at Cessole Library, in the Masséna Villa.
The guided tours not to miss
Visit to the Book Binding Workshops
During this visit, you will discover the different stages of the restorer’s profession, not the one who cooks, but the one who restores. On the program, visit to the workshop, demonstrations and explanations of the steps in making a traditional leather binding. In one hour, you will become an expert on the techniques that preserve posters, leather bindings and brochures over time.
This visit is available by reservation. It will take place Saturday at 9:45 a.m., 11 a.m., 1:45 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4:15 p.m., and Sunday at 11 a.m., 1:45 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. Meet at 5 rue Desboutin.
Visit to the Town Hall and the Mayor’s Office of Nice
If you enjoy discovering behind-the-scenes secrets, you’re in for a treat. This visit traces the history of the Town Hall, which has continuously transformed, going from a seminary to a prison then to a hospital that became the mayor’s office in 1868. You will also be able to access “Clic Clac Côte d’Azur”, an exhibition celebrating 200 years of photography with archives.
Visits will take place Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., then from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Departures will occur every 30 minutes, without reservation, but within the limit of available spaces (very limited number) at 5 rue de l’Hôtel de Ville.
Visit to the Chapel of Mercy
An emblematic building of Nice’s heritage, the Chapel of Mercy integrates harmoniously into the urban fabric and color tones of Old Nice. It stands out for its remarkable artistic and architectural quality, constituting one of the most representative examples of Nice Baroque style.
Sometimes difficult to visit, it opens its doors for free Saturday at 10 a.m., 11 a.m.,
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