Nine Oblique Lines

The nine oblique lines

A stop on the Nice audio-guided tour, this imposing steel sculpture was commissioned by the city to celebrate the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the annexation of Nice to France. Installed in 2010, it is the work of the French artist Bernard Venet.

The nine valleys of the county of Nice

Each of its lines represents the nine valleys that formed the county of Nice when it was a state of Savoy. Bernard Venet is a pioneer of conceptual and minimalist art. He uses here corten steel, a particular steel that resists weather conditions and stabilises over time, taking on its emblematic rust colour.

What to see

Standing on the Promenade des Anglais, the sculpture stands out in the seafront landscape. As art is subjective, it is up to you to judge its aesthetics, but its symbolism links Nice to its Savoyard history. An essential work of contemporary Nice.

Practical information

The nine oblique lines stand on the Promenade des Anglais, in Nice. Freely accessible, the sculpture can be seen at any time.

What do the nine oblique lines represent ?

The nine valleys that formed the county of Nice in the Savoyard era.

Who created this sculpture ?

The French artist Bernard Venet, a pioneer of conceptual art, in 2010.