Chateau & Parc Valrose, Nice

19th-century gothic castle in a 10 hectare parkland

featured in Sights & sites

This lovely 10 hectare park is home to a Neo-Gothic 19th-century castle, built for a Russian aristocrat with the most luxurious interior of painted frescoes and chandeliers.

Baron Paul von Derwies, entrepreneur and counselor of tsar Alexander II built one of the most extravagant properties on the Riviera, designed by architects David Grimm and Antonio Crocci. The most spectacular room is the concert hall made by Mikhail Makaroff in 1869, which can host up to 400 people. The baron hired the services of an orchestra with 70 musicians.

Its gardens are full of rare and interesting species as well as a traditional Russian wooden dwelling known as an izba. Today the park is also the location of the University of Nice's Faculty of Science.

Visitor comments

"Chateau and Park Valrose lay inside the campus of University of Nice Sophia Antipolis. It's a beautiful place with a chateau, park, and a pond with some water birds strolling around. Well worth a visit but note that you can't get there on weekends since the university campus is closed." - Trip Advisor