Musée d'Art Moderne

The Musée d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain of Nice, known as MAMAC, is the city's museum of modern art, and it stands on the edge of the old town beside the Place Garibaldi, in an area that was redeveloped as a cultural quarter. The building opened in June 1990 and was designed by the architects Yves Bayard and Henri Vidal. It is an imposing structure of four square towers of white Carrara marble, linked by glass walkways that bridge the river Paillon, which flows beneath, so that the museum seems to span the water. The lines of the building are strict and monumental, with a neoclassical sense of proportion that contrasts with the more fluid forms of the art that it holds.

The museum covers about 4,500 square metres, spread over several levels, and has a series of galleries. The upper floors house the permanent collection, and the first floor hosts temporary exhibitions. Its holdings concentrate on the avant-garde of the 1950s and 1960s, particularly on the movements that emerged in the south of France and in Europe, among them Nouveau Réalisme, the New Realism, a group formed in 1960 whose artists used everyday objects and industrial materials as art. Works by Yves Klein, who was born in Nice and who painted in a deep blue of his own invention, Arman, who made accumulations of objects, César, who compressed cars into blocks, Martial Raysse and Niki de Saint Phalle are the highlights. The museum also shows American Pop Art, with works by Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, and later movements such as Minimalism, Fluxus and Support/Surface.

The building's roof terraces are among the best viewpoints in Nice, with a panorama over the old town, the sea, the hills and the Castle Hill, and many visitors go up just to enjoy the view. Outside the museum, the Place Yves Klein and the Promenade des Arts, a path that connects the museum to the nearby theatre, are decorated with outdoor works.

Opening hours and admission arrangements are set by the museum, and it is closed on Mondays and public holidays, so check ahead. The museum is part of the Musée de France network. Allow one to two hours.

It suits lovers of modern art and anyone who wants a view of the city. The Musée Matisse and the Musée Marc Chagall are also in Nice, and the Promenade des Anglais and the old town are within walking distance.