Nice Cathedral

Nice, France

Nice Cathedral was built between 1650 and 1699, the year of its consecration. It is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Saint Reparata.

On the site, the first cathedral was consecrated in 1049. In 1060, relics belonging to St. Reparate (For whom the current cathedral is named) arrived in the city of Nice. By the year 1075 there was construction of a chapel dedicated to St. Reparate. During the later half of the twelfth century, the chapel became the priory of the abbey of Saint-Pons.

The next church on the site was built in the early 13th century on land belonging to the Abbey of St. Pons and became a parish church in 1246.

During the first half of the 16th century a series of acts gradually effected the transfer of the seat of the bishops of Nice from Cimiez Cathedral on the hill of the castle overlooking the city to the church of Saint Reparata which in 1590, after an official ceremony presided over by the then bishop, Luigi Pallavicini, and in the presence of Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy, was recognised as a chiesa-cattedrale.

However, in 1649, judging the building too small, bishop Didier Palletis commissioned the architect Jean-André Guibert to produce a structure more in keeping with the importance of the city. 1650 to 1685, The construction of a new cathedral (The current main building) occurs during this time. In 1699 the new cathedral is officially consecrated but the construction is an ongoing process.

From 1731 to 1759 the now widely recognized bell tower is built. 1900 marked the most recent addition to the cathedral with the construction of new side chapels which replaced the former heavy baroque ornamentation. The cathedral was declared a minor basilica on 27 May 1949.

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Address

Place Rossetti 3, Nice, France
See all sites in Nice

Details

Founded: 1650-1699
Category: Religious sites in France

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Sue Real (13 months ago)
Nice Cathedral, located in the heart of the city, is a beautiful architectural gem. With its intricate design and serene ambiance, it offers visitors a peaceful retreat from the bustling streets of Nice. Whether you're admiring the stunning facade or exploring the interior, the cathedral is definitely worth a visit for its historical and cultural significance.
Steven Webb (13 months ago)
Of course, awesome, inspiring cathedral right in the heart of old town, energetic square right outside. Quiet, calm place but dark, cold and uncomfortable inside...typical of old stone places of worship. Religion was never about life and joy, it was (is) about suffering and redemption. The murals, paintings depict death, blood (including a beheading!), suffering and pain. Impressive for sure.
Andrew Robin - known as Robin Ellwood (2 years ago)
Beautiful Christmas celebration and welcome Sad about the armed guards outside, but very poignant when currently in the Holy Land the Palestinian people are also being hemmed in by soldiers at this time
James Richings (2 years ago)
An incredible venue. The wife and I visited just before Christmas and cathedral was steeped in lovely decor and had a wonderful nativity set. A beautiful place.
Tom O'Sullivan (2 years ago)
Beautiful Baroque cathedral. Well worth a visit. The interior is spectacular! There is a guide leaflet for 1 euro in several languages which is very useful.
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