- Attractions in Nice
- Nice museums
- Shopping on the French Riviera
- Russian Nice
- Delicious points on the map
- Nice theaters
A famous resort on the Cote d'Azur and the administrative center of the Alpes-Maritime department in France, Nice has been especially loved by Russians since the middle of the 19th century. In 1852, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna went ashore in the Bay of Villefranche, and her visit marked a new stage in the development of the city. After the revolution, more than three thousand representatives of aristocratic families who left Russia settled on the Cote d'Azur. Going on vacation to the Cote d'Azur, be sure to include visits to attractions and museums in the excursion program. The list of places to visit in Nice certainly includes the Negresco Hotel, where world celebrities have stayed.
The climate in Nice is Mediterranean, with relatively little precipitation, and its peak occurs in the period from October to April. A good time to visit the city is late spring, summer and the first half of autumn.
Attractions in Nice
Guests of the famous resort on the Cote d'Azur are invariably fascinated not only by the mild climate and views of the seascapes, but also by the numerous attractions that Nice has been famous for for many decades. Famous architects worked on the creation of its architectural appearance, and the results of their work now delight all tourists in the south of France.
The Promenade des Anglais is the main street of the resort. She surprisingly fits into the surrounding landscapes and is not in vain called the hallmark of Nice. The history of the street began in the 19th century, when English aristocrats began to explore the Cote d'Azur, buy land there and build luxurious mansions. The seaside in Nice has turned into a fashionable promenade, where it is still customary to stroll slowly, showing the world new clothes, jewelry and life partners. On the Promenade des Anglais, you can experience the excellent cuisine of the best restaurants in Nice and look at the architectural monuments. The most famous - hotels "Negresco" and "Veltmeister" and villas that belonged in the past to the powers that be and their families.
Castle Hill is another attraction of the resort, where its guests will certainly make excursions. It is an area of the city that was built and developed during the Middle Ages. On the Castle Hill, you will find ancient monuments, towers and ruins of temples, and the local park is one of the favorite recreation places for both citizens and guests of Nice. The park on Castle Hill is famous for its views of the Mediterranean Sea, the harbor and the Promenade des Anglais and is an example of the skillful work of European landscape designers.
Even more ancient ruins will appear in front of you in the city of Cimiez, which originates from the settlement of Tsemenelum. It was founded by the ancient Romans, who built an amphitheater, thermal baths, residential buildings and a forum on the territory of modern Nice, where public life was boiling. The picturesque ruins are today surrounded by a grove of olive trees.
Nice museums
The Mediterranean resort is ready to offer a rich educational program to any guest interested in history or art. There are several museums in Nice, whose expositions have real masterpieces of painting, sculpture and historical rarities:
- The exposition of the Museum of Fine Arts contains dozens of priceless paintings by the greatest European artists. The collection includes a collection of paintings by Degas, Monet, Sisley and Fragonard. Among the sculptural masterpieces, the famous work of Rodin "The Bronze Age", installed in the winter garden, stands out. The exposition occupies a mansion on Avenue Baumette, built in the 17th century, and the museum itself bears the name of Jules Cheret - the founder of the art movement, which is called modern poster today.
- An exposition of 17 canvases related to the biblical theme and belonging to the brush of Marc Chagall is presented in the museum of the same name. If you love the artist's work, it is worth going to the Chagall Museum for the stained glass windows and a mosaic panel depicting the ascension of Elijah.
- Henri Matisse, who spent every summer in Nice, stayed in a hillside mansion in the historic city. Now a museum is opened in the building, where the works written in it are exhibited. In addition to paintings, including Flowers and Fruits, in the collection of the Matisse Museum you will find stained glass windows, ceramic masterpieces, blue collages and numerous sketches, from which the immortal canvases of the famous Frenchman were then born.
- The Massena Museum displays about one and a half thousand objects of art and everyday life dating from the period from the 11th to the 19th centuries. In the exhibition you will see weapons, sculptures, paintings, ceramics, clothing, jewelry and much more.
Even in Nice, you can go to the Naval Museum and get acquainted with the history of the development of maritime affairs, visit the Natural History Museum and see rarities recovered from the land in the Museum of Archeology.
Shopping on the French Riviera
Nice is an expensive resort even by European standards, and most often only wealthy tourists dare to shop in city boutiques. Shops on the main shopping street Jean-Medsen and on the Promenade des Anglais are clearly distinguished by extra zeros on the price tags, and therefore budget travelers prefer outlets in the vicinity of Nice, souvenir shops in the historical part of the city and the Cours Saleya market.
The most prestigious boutiques are concentrated on the Avenue de Verdon and the surrounding streets. You can try your luck at sales in large department stores Virgin Megastore, Go Sport and the analogue of the Parisian Galeries Lafayette, beloved by shopaholics all over the planet. Sales in Nice shops traditionally start in the second half of summer and during the Christmas holidays.
Russian Nice
The development of Nice for the Russians began with the visit of the Dowager Empress Alexandra Feodorovna in the middle of the 19th century. Soon after her arrival, land was purchased on the Cote d'Azur for the construction of an imperial house, and then an Orthodox cathedral was erected. Today, the resort has organized several excursion routes of Russian theme, during which guests get acquainted with the monuments and places of worship:
- The Russian cemetery in Nice is called Cocade. It was opened in 1867 in the western part of the city and soon, by the highest will of Emperor Alexander II, it was decided to call it Nikolayevsky in memory of the deceased heir to the throne, Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich. Many famous Russian emigrants - writers, officers, priests and artists - found their last refuge at the Kokad cemetery.
- St. Nicholas Cathedral is the largest Orthodox church in Western Europe and one of the most famous sights of Nice. The history of the temple began in 1865, when the heir to the Russian throne, Tsarevich Nicholas, died in Nice. In memory of him, on the territory of the villa, where the last days of the heir passed, a chapel was built, and in 1903 a temple was laid. The construction was carried out with donations from Emperor Nicholas II and the Russian nobility. The cathedral was erected on the model of the Moscow five-domed temples. Its height is about 50 meters, the facades are decorated with multicolored tiles, and the iconostasis was made in Khlebnikov's jewelry workshop. The revered image of the church is the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, which was at the bed of the Tsarevich at the time of his death.
- The Church of Saints Nicholas and Alexandra is the first Orthodox church in France, built in Nice in the middle of the 19th century. Work began in 1856 at the initiative of the Dowager Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. The iconostasis of the church is made of oak by St. Petersburg carvers according to the sketches of Professor Gornostaev. The throne is decorated with a tabernacle in the form of a cross of fine work, which was donated to the temple by the Don army.
In 2012Another Russian landmark of Nice appeared in the garden of St. Nicholas Cathedral - a monument to Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich.
Delicious points on the map
Nice is one of those resorts where everything is great! Go for dinner at a luxurious restaurant or have a modest lunch while enjoying the culinary skills in an unassuming cafe? Here you can arrange a feast for the soul and stomach, by any means at your disposal.
CHANTECLAIR at the Negresco Hotel has always topped the list of famous restaurants. Classic Provencal-style cuisine is generously seasoned with luxurious interiors overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and the Promenade des Anglais. Foie gras and juicy herbal lamb are served in silver cutlery, each dish looking like a true work of art.
Le Padouk restaurant is decorated in all shades of red. Its cuisine and interiors amaze visitors with its elegance and sophistication, and the favorable location of the establishment on the Côte d'Azur embankment allows its guests to additionally enjoy the views from the windows and from the terrace.
Oriental cuisine is richly represented in KEI'S PASSION, whose chef was born in Japan. The restaurant's list of dishes includes not only seafood, but also French classics: truffles, gorgonzolla, young pigeon meat, tiramisu and almond sorbet. The menu is crowned with a well-earned Michelin star.
To round off an evening spent at the opera house, head to Le Grand Balcon. All local and visiting celebrities gather here for dinner, and therefore it is important to book a table in the restaurant in advance. The main features of the menu are bright, spicy and unusual dishes of southern Mediterranean cuisine: seafood, lamb, spices and desserts.
A good option for Nice's signature salad can be found at Le Safari. "Nicoise" here can be set off with a roast rabbit and a glass of fantastic wine. The prices are quite affordable, and therefore it is worth booking a table at least a couple of days before the visit.
Nice theaters
Fans of classical opera will enjoy an evening at the theater. The history of Opera Nice began in the 70s. XVIII century from the home wooden theater of Maccarani, rebuilt half a century later in stone. Contemporary performances take place in a building designed by a student of Eiffel and accommodating about a thousand spectators. The Nice Opera gives up to a hundred performances annually. The theater also hosts the Philharmonic Orchestra, which is called one of the best ensembles in France by music critics.
In Nice, you can also go to performances at the Comédie de Nice and Athena, the National Theater and the Francis Gag troupe.
