In celebration of the 21st European Night of Museums on Saturday, May 17, various cultural establishments along the Côte d'Azur will open their doors to the public for a series of free events.

Guided tours, workshops, exhibitions, and special activities will create a convivial atmosphere, providing an opportunity for visitors to explore museums, collections, and gardens in a different light after sunset.

The Prehistoric Anthropology Museum in Monaco will welcome visitors from 6 PM to 11 PM, offering a journey back in time.

Guests can explore the permanent exhibition _General Prehistory_, watch fire-starting demonstrations, and view the temporary exhibition _Prehistoric and Protohistoric Art_.

Exclusive guided tours are scheduled for 7:30 PM and 9 PM, including rare access to the museum’s scientific laboratory.

Address: 56 bis, Boulevard du Jardin Exotique.

Visits are limited to small groups and prior registration is required by calling +377 98 98 80 06 or emailing map@gouv.mc.

In Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, the Villa and Gardens Ephrussi de Rothschild will have special nighttime openings from 7 PM to midnight.

Visitors can explore the villa’s refined collections and gardens, illuminated by evening light through guided tours.

The restaurant Béatrice will offer a dinner service without reservations until 9:30 PM and a tea salon will operate until 10:30 PM, along with an ice cream vendor on the terrace overlooking the Mediterranean.

More information is available at villa-ephrussi.com.

The National Sports Museum in Nice will focus on engaging the younger audience with tailored programming for children starting from 12 months old.

Operating from 10 AM to 8 PM, families can participate in free workshops centered around the exhibition _ACTION! Sports in Cinema_.

Activities for toddlers include motor skills sessions in the permanent collections, while older children can enjoy storytelling visits or parkour introductions with the association Kelotrampo.

Express tours of the exhibition will also be available in the evening from 6 PM to 8 PM. Location: Stade Allianz Riviera, Boulevard des Jardiniers, Nice.

More details can be found at www.museedusport.fr.

The Côte d'Azur Observatory, located on Mont-Gros in Nice, will open its doors for an evening dedicated to astronomy and science starting at 6 PM. Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in solar observations, including sunset viewing at 8:51 PM, and guided tours of the site alongside discussions at the Universarium about the upcoming exhibition _Elementa 3 – Unda Terrae_.

Night sky observations will commence at 9 PM. Address: Mont-Gros site, Nice.

The event runs until 11:30 PM and is free of charge with prior registration required.

Additional information can be found on oca.eu.

The Charles Nègre Photography Museum in Nice will feature the exhibition _Seas and Mysteries_ by Laurent Ballesta, remaining open from 6 PM to 10 PM for the Night of Museums.

Two guided tours will be held at 7 PM and 8:30 PM, without prior reservation, allowing visitors to engage with both the scientific and aesthetic aspects of Ballesta’s work, which showcases the beauty of the underwater realm.

Finally, the Archaeology Museum in Nice, situated on the heights of Cimiez, invites guests of all ages to delve into antiquity from 6 PM to 11 PM. Visitors can explore the remains of the ancient Roman city of Cemenelum, beginning with a guided tour of the archaeological site from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Other activities include a _Toga Challenge_ for trying on Roman garb from 8 PM to 9 PM and a guided tour of the exhibition _When the Sea Speaks_, focusing on underwater archaeology, starting at 9:30 PM. Throughout the evening, projections of _Gallo Tutorials_ will provide insights into the daily lives of Romans.

Address: 160, Avenue des Arènes de Cimiez, Nice.

For further information, contact 04 93 81 59 57.