December 29, 1854 Earthquake: Cagnes, Bar, St Paul, Grasse, Menton, Nice, France

1854, Dec (possibly Feb) 31. Ligurian Sea, France and Italy. 43o45' N, 7o50' E, earthquake intensity VIII. An earthquake occurred in the night of December 29; it was only about 10s long. Its focus was apparently in the Ligurian Sea, near the shore. The strongest shocks took place on the part of the coast from Cagnes up to the Cape Bordighera. A hollow frightening noise was heard from the sea side in Cagnes. Vessels were shaken as if they had struck against the rocky bottom. Significant damage was done to the town. Shocks were very strong; the Castle of Grimaldi fell completely and the beautiful frescoes of Cimabue suffered. Underground shocks in Antibes occurred at 02h40m. The town suffered damage (from other data, the town did not suffer). Shocks in Grasse lasted 15 s and were directed east-to-west, according to eyewitnesses. The church bells rang by themselves. Cracks were noticed in the walls of 2 - 3 houses (from other data, many walls were cracked). The towers of the Castle of the Admiral de Grasse constructed in the gothic style collapsed, a painting of Carlo Dolci split in two, the walls of many houses cracked. Houses and two mills were damaged in St. Paul to the east of Grasse; bells rang. None of the buildings stood fast in the village of Comba near Nice. (ref #2130)

1854, Dec 29. France and Italy, Grasse, Cagnes, Var, Saint Paul, Menton, Ventimiglia. Bordighera, S. Remo and other places in Western (Liguria). Intensity I which corresponds to an earthquake of intensity sufficient to crack walls, break chimneys, to shatter old buildings or to produce cracks in the ground. (reference #1055)

1854, Dec 29. Intensity IX 1/2. At Menton and Ventimiglia reversed many homes. At Oneglia, Taggia and Diano: dislocated some houses people slept three nights outdoors. Damage in Grasse, Antibes, Cannes, Nice, Bordighera and S. Remo. Felt in Milan and even up to Bex (Switzerland). (reference #1093)

1854, Dec 29. At sea, near the Ligurie. Nice, intensity VI-VII, some buildings damaged. The population of Nice was tires of sleep and its safety by a violent shock of an earthquake ... concussion ... had. at once. A wave motion and another directed upwards. Accompanied .. some usual incidents ... such as underground noises. Fall and derangement of some furniture. Bells set in motion. Partitions and walls more or less cracked. The sea ... became choppy. Witnessing and the commotion of the ground until it was propagated. (reference #1159)

1854, Dec 29, 02h45m. 43.8 N, 7.9E, epicenter in the sea, intensity IX-X. A disastrous shock in Liguria, in France at Cagnes the castle was injured, at Bar the gothic tower fell and several houses fissured, at Saint-Paul several houses damaged, at Grasse walls fissured, at Menton and Vintimille many houses thrown down, at the village at Comba all houses thrown down, considerable damage at Cannes, Grasse, Antibes, minor damage at Nice (walls and ceilings fissured), in Italy Oneglia, Poggio, Taggia, Bussana and Bordighera were much damaged, VIII, felt also at Draguignan, Mandelieu, Toulon, Brignoles, Torino, Milano, Pavia, Porto-Maurizio, Rogliano in Corsica, Chambery. (reference #1099)