Au temps du grand-maître Jean-Paul de Lascaris – Nice, Malte et la Méditerranée
Exhibition
From 06 May to 03 November 2025
From 06/05 to 03/11/2025
Opening hours on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday between 10 am and 6 pm.
Exploring Mediterranean connections in modern times: the city of Nice and its county, a strategic crossroads between Europe and the Mediterranean. Exhibition as part of the Biennale des Arts et de l’Océan.
The history of Nice and its County is closely linked to the Mediterranean Sea and the Order of the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem, better known as the Order of Malta.
The exhibition will highlight the Lascaris family and more particularly the Lascaris-Vintimille branch. A major focus will be on the figure of Jean-Paul de Lascaris (1560-1657) who was Grand Master of the Order of Malta (1636-1657), then at its peak. Through the history of the Lascaris, the question of nobles in the County of Nice and their relationship with the Order of Malta, in the 17th and 18th centuries, will be discussed more broadly.
The exhibition will also highlight the maritime and hospital aspect of the Order of Malta in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Sections such as "Serving the Sea" with the battles of Lepanto and the squadron war and "Becoming a Knight" will be discussed.
The Malta-Nice relations are important at this time, especially since Nice has been a free port since 1612, which considerably increases its maritime openness, Malta serving as a stopover for Nice merchants to the ports on the south bank.
