Roman Ruins of Cemenelum

The Roman archaeological site in Cimiez preserves the remains of ancient Cemenelum, which served as the regional capital of the Roman Empire's Alpine province from the 1st to the 5th centuries AD. The ruins are set in an olive grove adjacent to the Matisse Museum and are freely accessible.

The most impressive structures are the thermal baths — three separate bath complexes of different periods remain partially standing, with mosaic floors and stone pools visible. The amphitheatre, capable of holding 5,000 spectators, is well-preserved and still used as a concert and festival venue today. The adjacent Musée Archéologique contains coins, sculptures, and everyday objects found during excavations that help flesh out what life here looked like under Rome.

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A story
Cemenelum became the capital of the Roman province of Alpes Maritimae under Augustus, governing a territory that stretched from the Maritime Alps to the sea. At its peak in the 3rd century, the city held around 20,000 inhabitants — roughly half the size of modern Nice's old town. The city was abandoned in the 5th century after repeated barbarian raids, and its ruins lay undisturbed under the olive groves of Cimiez for over a millennium.