Palace of the Prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes, also known as the Palace of the Dukes of Savoy and kings of Sardinia, - the former residence of the kings of Sardinia, set in the old Nice. Facade its imposing building overlooks the pedestrian street, Cours Saleya not notice it is simply impossible.

The exact date of the start of construction of the palace is not defined. We only know that after the siege of the troops of François I and Suleiman the Magnificent in 1543 Duke Emmanuel Philibert, known ironheads decided to build a number with a local Dominican monastery his residence. The project made the Italian architect and military engineer Domenico Ponsello. By 1573 we were willing to seven bedrooms and kitchen, while the gardener Antonio Giordano laid around the garden.

Status authentic palace residence of the monarch gained in 1613 when the Duke of Savoy lived here Charles Emmanuel I. In it significantly expanded house. In the middle of the XVIII century, the rulers of Piedmont-Sardinia, bought part of the Dominican convent to double the size of the building. In 1792 Nice troops captured revolutionary France under the command of General Anselm. The palace was looted and turned into a military hospital, a beautiful garden destroyed.

In 1814, after the fall of Napoleon, returned to Sardinia King Victor Emmanuel I of Savoy decided to restore the residence, raising its rank to the king. The work led the city architect, Jean-Antoine Skofe. The new royal apartments brought furniture from the palaces of Genoa and Turin. The first inhabitants of the royal palace after the abdication of Victor Emmanuel became in 1826 the brother abdicated monarch King Charles Felix of Savoy and his wife Maria Cristina.

In 1860, after the annexation of Nice, the French, the former royal residence became the headquarters of the Prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes. For forty years, the palace is continuously being completed: he was supposed to be a brilliant place for receptions on the French Riviera. It was here in 1864, Emperor Napoleon III met with the Russian Emperor Alexander II.

After all the changes from the old Palace of the Dukes of Savoy were only the lobby and central staircase. In the west wing now houses a magnificent winter garden. The interiors are richly decorated with remarkable frescoes, Corinthian columns, wood carving, gilding. The ceilings are decorated in neo-baroque style. An important part of the palace is a gallery of works by the artist Jules Cheret, who lived and died in Nice.

In 1960, when the celebrated the centenary of the annexation of Nice, France, was a guest in the palace of President Charles de Gaulle - here he gave a gala dinner in honor of this event. In 2001, there was signed a Treaty of Nice that opens the way for EU enlargement. Here in 2008 was held Russia-EU summit to discuss ways of overcoming the global financial crisis. Palace really became the center of world-class events. However, its doors are open to tourists.