Castle / Ruins Sights in Nice

This 16th century hilltop fort was built in 1557 and is almost perfectly preserved, it looks out over the coastline of the French Riviera all the way to the Italian border. Mont Alban is located in the east of Nice in the Mont Boron National Park area, with Nice on one side and Villefranche-sur-Mer on the other - you can hike up to the fort from either town. The castle was built on the orders of the Duke of Savoy in response to the siege of Nice; when you get up there you’ll understand why he chose this spot - the view in all directions couldn’t be any better.

Guarding the Bay of Angels, this 19th-century tower is where composer Hector Berlioz created the opening of the famous King Lear overture in 1831, whilst staying here.

Chateau Grimaldi may take you somewhat by surprise if you are expecting the usual historical museum experience - it also holds regular exhibitions of contemporary art and isn’t afraid of displaying bizarre and sometimes challenging installations. The artworks are incongruous in such a traditional context and the collection changes regularly, so you never know quite what you’re going to get when you visit!

Opened to unprecedented acclaim in 1929, Le Palais de la Méditerranée instantly became a showcase of luxury and inter-war celebration.

The citadel of Villefranche-sur-Mer looms over the old town; it is open to the public and has a number of interesting features.

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.

Named Castle Hill in French, the ancient Greeks first chose to settle on this site several millennia ago.

This palace is thought to have been built in the early 17th century and was home to the Dukes of Savoy until 1860.