musée Marc-Chagall 🇫🇷

When traveling to Nice in the Alpes-Maritimes region of France, you can visit the Marc Chagall National Museum, also known as the Chagall Biblical Message museum. This French national museum is dedicated to the artistic works of painter Marc Chagall, focusing especially on his religious and spiritual inspirations. Inaugurated in 1973 with support from Minister of Culture André Malraux, the museum offers you a rare look at a space shaped directly by Chagall himself during his lifetime.

Instead of following a strict chronological order, the artist decided the placement of each artwork. You will discover a core series of seventeen paintings illustrating the books of Genesis, Exodus, and the Song of Songs, which Chagall gifted to the French State in 1966. As you explore, you can admire Chagall's mosaic overlooking a peaceful pond, along with his vibrant blue stained glass decorating the concert hall.

The museum's expansive collection features preparatory sketches, sculptures, additional stained glass, drawings depicting Exodus, and the triptych named Résistance, Résurrection, Libération. Surrounded by a garden created under Chagall's detailed instructions by Henri Fish, this site holds one of the largest collections of Chagall’s work in the world, alongside annual exhibitions on spiritual history.

What to see at musée Marc-Chagall

• Seventeen central paintings illustrating Genesis, Exodus, and the Song of Songs
• Custom blue stained glass windows decorating the museum's concert hall
• An original outdoor mosaic created by Chagall that overlooks a pond
• The triptych artwork named Résistance, Résurrection, Libération along with Exodus drawings
• A serene surrounding garden designed by Henri Fish following Chagall's specific instructions

Visiting tips

Take time to step into the concert hall and outdoor grounds to view the custom stained glass, mosaic, and garden layout designed under Chagall's direct guidance.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

musée Marc-Chagall is easy to reach on Nice’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Chéret and Musée Matisse. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Nice travel guide.