Monastère de Cimiez

The Monastère de Cimiez, located at 1 Place Pape Jean-Paul II, 06000 Nice, France, is a historic monastic complex situated on Cimiez Hill. Founded in the 9th century by Benedictine monks from the Saint-Pons Abbey, it has been occupied by the Franciscans since 1546. The complex includes the 15th-century Church of Notre-Dame de l'Assomption, featuring three major paintings by Louis Bréa: Pietà, Crucifixion, and Déposition, as well as a monumental gilded wooden altarpiece. Adjacent to the church is a 16th-century cloister with frescoes under the arcades. The surrounding gardens, once the monks' vegetable garden, offer panoramic views of Nice and the Mediterranean Sea. The site also includes a cemetery where notable figures such as Henri Matisse and Raoul Dufy are interred. The Monastère de Cimiez was classified as a historical monument in 1993.