The Garibaldi Crypte Museum
The Garibaldi Crypt is an underground surprise that you would never suspect is hiding just below Place Garibaldi… and new for 2025 they are now open to the public with no reservation or tour required, and feature audio-guides in English!
Years ago, while jack-hammering up Place Garibaldi for the new tramway, the workers noticed some strange stone structures just 10 centimeters below the asphalt… that turned out to be the remains of the ancient city dating back to 1380! Mandated by law to uncover the ruins (and delaying the tramway by a year), the city-sponsored dig slowly uncovered the mysteries of a Medieval Nice long-forgotten. Place Garibaldi, it turns out, was the site of the entry to the walled fortress that was the Chateau, complete with turrets, a moat, a drawbridge, exterior walls, an aqueduct and outbuildings.
Once all the studies were completed, after the massive delay and expense of the dig, the most cost-effective route would have been to fill it all back in and let the tramway work continue. But no! At great cost, the Ville de Nice did not fill it back in, but found a way to just cover over the top, and continued to dig under Place Garibaldi for another several years, trying to preserve this unprecedented historical find and make the resulting archaeological crypt accessible to the public.
Up until recently, the Crypt was only accessible by reservation for a small guided tours in French… which has kept this marvel not only off the tourist radar, but off the local radar as well… even most locals have never been to see it!
But new for 2025, the Garibaldi Archaeological Crypte is now open to the general public, no reservation or tour required, and they now have audio-guides… in English!
Descend down the 31 steps to see the 600 year old ruins of the entrance to the ancient city. They have really done a fantastic job with interpretive drawings and images; you can clearly see the entry to the walled fortress that was the Chateau, the guard tower, the moat, the drawbridge, exterior city walls, a roman-style aqueduct and outbuildings. It takes around 30 minutes to see, and is totally worth it.
Cost: The ticket for admission including audio-guide is 5€ for adults, and 3€ for students, seniors over 65, and handicapped persons. Free for kids under 18, and holders of the French Riviera Pass. Flat shoes required, and no children under 7 for security reasons.
Hours: Open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am-1pm and 2pm-5pm, and Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am-1pm and 4-5pm. Closed Mondays, May 1, Easter Sunday, Christmas and Jan. 1.
You can also buy tickets at the entry (credit cards only), online, or at the Centre de Patrimoine in Old Nice, at the top of Cours Saleya and to your left. I recommend this as the people at the desk speak English, are passionate about Nice’s history, and have lots of brochures and other tours in English.
The Garibaldi Crypt is located at Square Toja, which is the flat area to the left of the Monoprix, just off Place Garibaldi, tram stop Garibaldi. As the crypt is entirely underground, the only landmark is the elevator sticking up in the middle of the pavement.
Related page on the History of Nice: Fascinating Facts About Nice
- Back up to main History and Science Museums page
Photo credits: Crypt photos from Centre du Patrimoine and NiceTourism.com from the Ville de Nice