Musée d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain (MAMAC)

The Musée d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain, known as MAMAC, stands at Place Yves Klein on the edge of the Promenade du Paillon, the long green strip that runs through the middle of Nice. The building, opened in 1990, is made of four marble-clad towers joined by glass walkways, and its rooftop terraces give wide views over the old town, the hills and the sea. Its name is more than a label: the square is named after Yves Klein, the Nice-born artist who made blue his signature, and the museum has long been a showcase for the artists connected with the city.

According to the museum's own announcements, the building is closed for renovation, and the staff have kept its work going through outreach projects, including shows in other museums in Nice, tours of the collection around the country and abroad, and online material. This means that the physical visit may not be possible at the time you travel, so check the official channels for the current situation and reopening date before you plan around it.

What the museum holds is among the most distinctive collections of postwar art in France. Its core is the group of artists known as the Nouveaux Réalistes, who in the 1960s took everyday objects, rubbish and industrial materials into art, among them Yves Klein, Arman and César. Niki de Saint Phalle, whose colourful sculptures of women and animals are known worldwide, is represented by an important group of works connected to Nice. The collection also includes the École de Nice, a loose group of local artists, pop art, Fluxus works and pieces by American and European artists of the same period, so the story of Nice is placed in an international context.

Nice has several other museums that are easy to combine. The Musée Matisse, in a villa at Cimiez, the Musée Marc Chagall, and the Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Chéret, in a villa on the avenue des Baumettes, are separate sites with their own collections, and the Musée d'Art Moderne is one of the names sometimes used for MAMAC itself. The Promenade des Anglais, the Place Masséna, the Cathédrale Saint-Nicolas, the Colline du Château and the flower market on the Cours Saleya are all within reach.

Once open, it suits visitors who enjoy modern art, and anyone who wants to see the creative side of the city beyond the beach. Allow around two hours. Always confirm opening status first.