Marc Chagall National Museum

Musée national Marc Chagall

A national museum that Chagall helped design himself during his lifetime, with 17 huge paintings from the Biblical Message series, plus blue mosaics and stained glass in a music hall, all set in a Mediterranean garden.

The Marc Chagall National Museum was the first national museum in France to be built during the artist's lifetime. Chagall chose the site himself in 1973 and took part in its design. It sits in a garden of olive and cypress trees at the foot of Cimiez hill. The core of the collection is 'Biblical Message' (Message Biblique), 17 large oil paintings Chagall created between 1954 and 1967: twelve drawn from Genesis and Exodus, and five in red tones from the Song of Songs. Floating lovers, goats and violinists, his signature dreamlike motifs, appear throughout. The museum also features stained glass in the auditorium (a blue 'Creation'), a large mosaic 'Elijah' beside the garden pool, and many prints and sketches. The galleries are softly lit and not large, so allow about an hour. Renting an audio guide (€3) helps you match the Bible stories to the paintings. Admission is about €10 (€12 during temporary exhibitions), and it is free for under-18s and on the first Sunday of every month. It is not included in the Nice municipal museum pass. Opening hours are 10:00–18:00 (until 17:00 from November to April). Closed on Tuesdays, 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. Getting there: walk uphill about 15 minutes from the train station, or take bus line 5 to the Musée Chagall stop. From here, continue uphill for 15 minutes to reach the Matisse Museum and the Roman ruins. The museum has a quiet café in the garden.

Marc Chagall National Museum

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby