The Cannonball

The cannonballs of Nice

An unusual stop on the Nice audio-guided tour, at the corner of rue Droite and rue de la Loge, a cannonball is embedded in the wall. It was fired by the Turkish fleet in 1543, during the siege of Nice.

The siege of 1543

Other cannonballs are visible in the city, in memory of this battle, notably three on the facade of the chapel of the Holy Sepulchre, on Place Garibaldi. The siege of Nice is a major event, at the heart of the Italian Wars. At that time, Charles III of Savoy ruled over Nice, almost all that remained to him after losing most of his lands.

What to see

These cannonballs, witnesses to a painful episode in the city's history, recall the resistance of the people of Nice, including the legendary Catherine Segurane. Observe them with interest as you wander the alleys of old Nice, in search of these traces of the past.

Practical information

The cannonballs can be discovered along the alleys of old Nice, notably at the corner of rue Droite and rue de la Loge. Freely accessible, they can be seen at any time.

When did the siege of Nice take place ?

In 1543, when the Turkish fleet bombarded the city, then governed by Charles III of Savoy.

Where can cannonballs be seen in the city ?

Embedded in walls of old Nice and on the facade of the chapel of the Holy Sepulchre, on Place Garibaldi.