Stylish Resort on the French Riviera, Nice
Old Provence, Glamour & Culture on Cote d'Azur, Chagall & Matisse
Jul 11, 2009
Once home to Chagall and Matisse, Nice greets casual visitors and stars with superb scenery and nearly 3000 hours of sunshine a year. It’s sheltered by the Alps, easy to explore on foot and the French rank it top of their list for quality of life.
Nice is the fifth city in France yet life moves at a leisurely pace, blessed by one of the most beautiful bays along the Cote d’Azur. It’s just a ten minute drive into town from the international airport or high speed train station.
Glamour on the Cote d’Azur, Stylish Resort of Nice
Once the exclusive haunt of crowned heads, artists and writers, the elegant Promenade des Anglais sweeps around the 7km long Bay of Angels, lined with spotless beaches, both private and public. It’s a pebble shore but in Nice, one sees this as a sign of distinction. It’s a great place to have a dip in the Med., chill out on extra plush sun beds and enjoy the traditional food of Provence right at the water’s edge.
The seafront boulevard is all palm trees and flowers, grand hotels and luxury shops. Fortunes are made and lost in the casino and colourful shows staged in Moulin Rouge style.
Old Provence, the Vieux Nice
Beyond the stylish seafront, the Vieux Nice, or old town, is a maze of ochre-coloured lanes where washing hangs from the balconies among potted plants and half closed shutters. There are hidden squares, quiet café terrace and craft shops selling perfumes and local fabrics. The flower market is a feast of colour anf fragrance alongside vegetables stalls, fruit, olives and cheese.
In the 18th century harbour, fishing boats still land their catch, unperturbed by the cruise ships or ferries to Corsica. Up on the hill is the old fortress, accessed by lift, road or steps, and well worth the climb for what has been dubbed the most beautiful panorama in the world. The promontory offers a double treat, sunrise on one side, sunset on the other, and there’s a lovely park, perfect for picnics.
Culture on the French Riviera, Chagall and Matisse Museums in Nice
With a total of 19 museums and galleries, Nice comes second only to Paris in matters of culture. Some are found in restored mansions, such as the Fine Arts Museum in the former home of a Ukrainian princess, others reflect the new Nice and its avant-garde spirit. Among the favourites are the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art and the Chagall Museum, built under the artist’s direction for his monumental Biblical Message. The Matisse Museum on Cimiez Hill exhibits paintings, drawings and sculptures as well as personal items.
The Orthodox Cathedral has exquisite wood panels, frescoes and icons and is said to be the finest in Western Europe. It was built in the early 1900s for the Russian aristocracy who flocked to Nice for the winter.
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