After eighteen months of closure for a complete renovation, the city of Nice’s oldest museum is reopening its doors. With modernized scenography, enhanced accessibility and triple the number of specimens on display, the museum is experiencing a true return to its roots.
It is a major landmark reopening for Nice’s heritage. Closed since April 1, 2025 for a long-awaited rejuvenation, the Museum of Natural History of Nice has welcomed the public again since this Wednesday, October 14. An event celebrated in the presence of elected officials, scientific teams and enthusiasts who came to rediscover a completely transformed institution.
“I want to salute here the rebirth of the Museum of Natural History of Nice, rich with its collections bearing illustrious names such as Antoine Risso, Jean-Baptiste Barla and Jean-Baptiste Vérany, Eric Ciotti emphasized during his inauguration speech, stressing that we are committed to the preservation of these specimens that allowed this museum to receive the French Museum label.”
Funded almost entirely by the city of Nice for an amount of just under 1.3 million euros with support from the Caisse des Dépôts of 35,000 euros, the project has restored all its shine to the building. The main façade has been restored, the entrance redesigned and an elevator installed for people with reduced mobility.
From the depths of the seas to the peaks of the Alpes-Maritimes
Beyond structural improvements, the exhibition route has been completely rethought under the direction of Olivier Gerriet. Where the old exhibition was limited to the coast (0 to 1,000 meters altitude), the route now highlights all regional biodiversity, from the abyssal depths (-3,000 m) to the summits of the highlands (over +3,000 m).
“In terms of presentation, you should understand that we have more than tripled the number of specimens presented to the public, explains the Museum’s director. What is uncommon in museums is that we chose to mix fauna, flora, mushrooms and geological diversity at the heart of each ecosystem. We have much airier display cases and a brighter exhibition.”
This new interactive route will also allow Nice schoolchildren to “take a closer look at the living world, present and past, that surrounds them”, supported by a brand new room dedicated to educational activities and lectures.
Target of 60,000 visitors per year
Founded in 1846, the Nice Museum is the city’s oldest museum. While its reserves house numerous specimens, the permanent exhibition room now reveals more than 650 of them. Historically visited by approximately 20,000 visitors per year, the establishment is now aiming for a change in scale.
“The exhibition was designed to be able to welcome much more public. I dare hope that we will reach at least 60,000 visitors in the first year“, concludes Olivier Gerriet.
A new ambitious start for this bicentennial institution, which continues to combine the preservation of scientific memory with transmission to future generations.
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