Place Masséna

The current Place Masséna is the result of the merger of two places, long separated by the Paillon River. Between 1824 and 1882, the Charles-Albert Bridge connects the two shores. In the south, the semi-circular Charles-Albert square was opened in 1832. In the north, the portico buildings with turino were erected between 1840 and 1860. They delineate a square square square square that takes the name of the marsh Masséna in 1852. In order to gain spaces, the Paillon is covered and the two places are connected in a single esplanade in 1883. As early as 2007, the work of line 1 of the tram led to a redevelopment of the whole with a damier pavement surmounted by the statues of Spanish artist Jaume Plensa, “Conversation in Nice”.

The Saviour?

Nice as an Apollo!

On the Place Masséna stands the fountain of the Sun. Created by sculptor Alfred Janniot (First Prize of Rome in sculpture) and inaugurated in 1956, it represents the god Apollo surrounded by five planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars and Saturn. The Marble Apollo was removed in the 1970s for questions of modesty and transferred to the Charles- Ehrmann stadium, before making his triumphant return in 2011.