Poste Thiers

On December 7, 1931, Nice unveiled its new central post office, a project led by state architect Guillaume Tronchet. Dominated by a 27-meter clock tower and constructed from roughly 300,000 bricks brought from Sarzana in Italy, the building quickly became a talking point. Its architectural language stood in sharp contrast to its surroundings, and many found its severe, almost строг appearance unsettling at first glance. Yet a closer look reveals a sophisticated composition: carefully varied brick shapes, rounded corners, elongated formats, and beveled edges, combine to create depth, rhythm, and movement across the surface.

The exterior is further animated by sculptural elements created by Martel, whose lighter tones break against the darker brick, as well as three remarkable stained-glass pieces by Grüber that add an artistic flourish. At the same time, the design was highly practical. A cleverly engineered underground passage linked the building directly to the PLM railway platforms, making it possible to move mailbags efficiently by trolley. Inside, the vast sorting hall benefited from an innovative ozone-based ventilation system, reflecting a forward-thinking approach to hygiene and workflow. In recognition of its architectural and historical value, the building received the “20th Century Heritage” designation from the Regional Commission for Heritage and Sites, CRPS, on November 28, 2000.