An atypical Russian house on the Valrose estate will receive financial support for its restoration from the Heritage Foundation backed by Stéphane Bern.
The isba on the Valrose estate, nestled in the heart of the University of Nice campus, has been selected by the Heritage Mission led by Stéphane Bern. It is the only site in the Alpes-Maritimes chosen for the 2025 Heritage Lottery. Its restoration, estimated at over 750,000 euros, can finally be considered.
The history of this isba begins in the 1870s. Baron Paul Von Derwies, a Russian businessman, commissioned a traditional wooden house on his lands in Ukraine. The construction was then dismantled, transported by train from Kiev, and rebuilt on his estate in Nice. The building became a reception venue. Guests, among the gardens of the Cimiez hill, discovered a typical dwelling from the Russian countryside.
The isba is distinguished by its architecture of fir logs assembled and decorated with carved motifs. Inscriptions in old Cyrillic adorn the facade. It is located near the Valrose castle, built by the baron and renowned for its social gatherings. However, since that time, the house has never undergone a complete restoration. The wood, exposed to the elements, has slowly deteriorated.
Classified as a historic monument in 1991, the isba is now weakened. Its slate roof and structure threaten its stability. Visits are no longer possible, and the university does not have the necessary funds to ensure its preservation.
The Heritage Lottery to the rescue
The project was presented by the Heritage Foundation and selected by the selection committee of the Bern Mission. For the tenth time, a site from the Alpes-Maritimes is included in this national operation. After the Matisse house in Vence, the Fort Royal on Sainte-Marguerite Island, and the citadel of Villefranche, it’s the turn of the Valrose isba to receive support.
“There’s work to be done,” explains Franck Blanc, director of sustainable development for the university sites. “It’s now its structure that is affected, its foundations. There is urgency.” The need assessment shows a budget of at least 750,000 euros. The university cannot handle such an amount alone. Proceeds from the Heritage Lottery should allow the initiation of the first works.
Jacques Joncour, departmental delegate of the Heritage Foundation, confirms the importance of this selection: “The Heritage Foundation was absolutely determined to support the isba because it’s already an exceptional heritage and it’s especially in great danger. It was truly indispensable to intervene, especially since the funding is difficult to finalize.”
Toward a New Life for the Isba
The restoration is scheduled to begin in late 2025 for a duration of one year. Clémence de Sorbier, architect at the French Buildings, recalls that “the logs constituting the building’s structure came from the baron’s estate in his country. They were dismantled piece by piece and numbered to be reassembled here in Nice.” The work will aim to preserve these old materials while restoring some lost decorative elements, such as balustrades or ridge galleries.
Once renovated, the isba will house offices for international students. Franck Blanc is delighted with this prospect: “We will be able to quickly launch the initial urgent works. Then, the isba will come back to life, and most importantly, we will be able to reopen it to a university life geared towards welcoming and international exchange. We have plenty of projects for it!”
This restoration is part of a broader plan to enhance the Valrose estate. In February 2024, the lake, bridges, and gazebo were restored thanks to funds from the university and private sponsors. The regular opening of the park to the public already allows this heritage, listed in the UNESCO World Heritage perimeter, to be discovered.
A Witness to the Riviera’s History
The isba is not just a picturesque building. It embodies an episode of the history of Nice in the 19th century when the Riviera attracted European nobility and artists. Baron Von Derwies, a wealthy industrialist and patron, established a place of culture and social life there. Valrose castle and its isba became a social gathering spot until the tragic death of the baron and his daughter in 1881.
Today, the house is a rare remnant in France of traditional Slavic housing. It also symbolizes the cultural exchanges that have marked the French Riviera for over 150 years.
Its selection by the Heritage Lottery thus serves as a reminder that monument preservation is not limited to castles or churches. More modest but equally unique buildings deserve safeguarding.
Preserve and Transmit
The isba of Valrose’s construction project will be closely monitored by the university and heritage stakeholders. A private fundraising effort has also been launched to complete the funding. The goal is clear: to avoid permanent loss and pass on to future generations an original testimony of local history.
As emphasized by Dominique Larédo, historian at the university: “This isba was designed in Ukraine, then dismantled and reassembled in Nice.” A sentence that sums up the impressive journey of a peasant house, transported over two thousand kilometers, and now an integral part of Nice’s university landscape.
At a time when built heritage is facing multiple threats, the example of the isba of Valrose shows that collective initiatives can bring life back to endangered places. Once again, the Heritage Lottery will be the catalyst.
