The Tour de France, the French Open and Les Bleus all show the love of the French for competitive sport and are on display in the National Sport Museum. Started in 1963 and originally located in Paris, the museum and its more than 40,000 objects were relocated to Nice in 2014, spread out over a huge modern space in the Allianz Riviera stadium. Visit the National Sport Museum before or after a game or make a special trip to get a sense of both the breadth and depth of French sport.
Be guided through the exhibits by the Olympic relay torches since 1936, which are interspersed throughout the museum’s four parts. Explore each themed section, which reunite different sports under the headings of the Challenge of Oneself, the Challenge from Man to Man, the Collective Challenge and the Challenge Above Limits. Start with a history of different sports including tennis going back to the 16th century, when games allowed royals opportunities to pass the time.
Peer at the taut strings of Yannick Noah’s tennis racket, which he used to win the Roland Garros French International title in 1983. Get excited about the French national soccer team, familiarly called “Les Bleus” (The Blues), in the expansive section celebrating French victories past and present. See the ball that led them to victory in the 1998 World Cup, alongside the first Olympic trophy, and, of course, monumental images of the team that won in 2018.
The National Sport Museum, located inside the Allianz Riviera Stadium, is west of central Nice, close to the banks of the Var. Travel here from the main Nice train station in about an hour by train or in 25 minutes by car. Drive from Nice’s passenger port in about half an hour. Free parking is available nearby, though it can be limited on game days.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from midmorning to early evening. During the winter, the site opens on a slightly restricted schedule. Admission is free for visitors under age 18.
