Monastère de Cimiez, Franciscan monastery in Cimiez district, Nice, France
The Monastery of Cimiez is a Franciscan monastery in the hilltop district of Nice with gardens containing Mediterranean plants, citrus trees, and a central well. The buildings themselves form the core of this complex set on elevated ground above the city.
The monastery was founded in the 9th century and later heavily destroyed, before Franciscan monks rebuilt it in the middle of the 16th century. This restoration marked the start of its role as a Franciscan center in Nice.
The church here displays three important paintings by Louis Bréa, including a Pietà and a Crucifixion, plus a carved wooden baroque altarpiece. These artworks shape the interior and show the religious art that visitors can see inside.
The site is open daily with free admission for all visitors. The location sits on a quiet hillside and can be explored on foot, with elevated paths offering good views around the grounds.
The adjacent cemetery holds the graves of notable artists like Henri Matisse and Raoul Dufy. This makes the grounds a destination for those wishing to pay respects at the final resting places of these creative figures.
Location: Nice
Address: Place Jean-Paul II Pape, 06000 Nice, France
Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 08:00-19:30; Saturday-Sunday 08:00-18:00
Phone: +33493810004
Website: http://stemariedesanges.free.fr
GPS coordinates: 43.71990,7.27908
Latest update: January 3, 2026 20:08
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Musée Matisse
244 m
Palais Regina
485 m
Arènes de Cimiez
303 m
Cemenelum
742 m
Abbey of St Pons
660 m
Thermes de Cimiez
214 m
Musée archéologique de Nice-Cimiez
279 m
Chapelle Sainte-Anne de Nice
302 m
Ancien groupe épiscopal de Cimiez
285 m
Vieux mur ligure
146 m
Croix séraphique de Cimiez
69 m
Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption de Cimiez
22 m
Scenic viewpoint
127 m
Tronçons de la Turbie et du vallon de Laghet de la Via Julia Augusta
301 m
Bonsai
584 m
Totor
673 m
Pont René-Coty
790 mGénéral Estienne
78 mBuste de Louis Armstrong
261 mBuste de Lionel Hampton
236 mLe 109
494 mStatue, Work of art
385 mTombe de Henri Matisse
96 mThermes du Nord
189 mThermes de l'Est
236 mThermes de l'Ouest
280 mJean-Paul II
62 mStèle commémorative Marius FANTINO
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