TRAVEL NICE
GENERAL INFORMATION- Nice is the capital of the Riviera/ Côte d’Azur and fifth largest city in France. It has blue skies, sparkling sea and sub-tropical greenery. Nice is beautifully curved round the Bay of Angels, popularized by English aristocrats in the eighteenth century. During the late 18th century the city became the Europe’s most fashionable winter retreat. The beaches of Nice consist entirely of pebbles.
Distances- i-Cannes to Nice =35kms
ii-Nice to Monaco =20kms,
iii-Cannes to Monaco =55kms
FRENCH RIVIERA (COTE d AZUR)-It is the coastal line of France and Monaco along the Mediterranean Sea. Meaning of Riviera in Italian is “coastline”. The French Riviera has 300 days sunshine per year. It has 115kms of beaches with other entertainment world class centres. Due to its temperature in winters and summers, it became the playground of rich and famous. Royal families and Noble families from Britain, Russia and other countries came here for vacation. The French Riviera was frequented by wealthy Americans and Europeans and so many artists and writers. It became a major tourist destination for rich people. The coastal areas like- Toulon-Saint-Tropez-Grasse-Cannes-Nice-Monaco are famous places along the Riviera. Nice is the largest place on the Riviera. It is home to world 50% super yachts. TGV service reaches to Nice-Ville Station in 5.5 hours from Paris. The main development of the city took only after the railway reached to Nice in 1864.Then Tsar Alexander II of Russia, Napoleon III - Leopold II, the King of the Belgians and Queen Victoria visited the Riviera. About 16 million tourists come here each year.
Distances- i-Cannes to Nice =35kms
ii-Nice to Monaco =20kms,
iii-Cannes to Monaco =55kms
FRENCH RIVIERA (COTE d AZUR)-It is the coastal line of France and Monaco along the Mediterranean Sea. Meaning of Riviera in Italian is “coastline”. The French Riviera has 300 days sunshine per year. It has 115kms of beaches with other entertainment world class centres. Due to its temperature in winters and summers, it became the playground of rich and famous. Royal families and Noble families from Britain, Russia and other countries came here for vacation. The French Riviera was frequented by wealthy Americans and Europeans and so many artists and writers. It became a major tourist destination for rich people. The coastal areas like- Toulon-Saint-Tropez-Grasse-Cannes-Nice-Monaco are famous places along the Riviera. Nice is the largest place on the Riviera. It is home to world 50% super yachts. TGV service reaches to Nice-Ville Station in 5.5 hours from Paris. The main development of the city took only after the railway reached to Nice in 1864.Then Tsar Alexander II of Russia, Napoleon III - Leopold II, the King of the Belgians and Queen Victoria visited the Riviera. About 16 million tourists come here each year.
HISTORY- The history of the Beautiful Nice goes back to around 350 BC, when the Greeks founded a settlement on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea and called it Nikaia, after Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. For several centuries, Nice swung between the French and the Italian dominion. It was only in 1861 that Nice ultimately became part of France. The rich Englishmen discovered, somewhere around the mid 18th century, that Nice was an ideal winter retreat. They suggested and initiated the construction of the promenade on the former derelict stretch of sand which delineated the seashore. The Englishmen too have left their mark on Nice. This is very evident from the Promenade des Anglais, built with financial sponsorship from the part of the English aristocracy. Nice earned the reputation of an exclusive vacation destination affordable only to the rich. After WWII, the tourist profile of Nice changed, the resort becoming accessible to a budget travellers. But it did not affect the high quality standards of the tourist scene of Nice, the city being one of the top-of-the-range vacation destinations in international level.
GEOGRAPHY- Nice is situated in Mediterranean Sea on the eastern side of France. The main area of the city lies between the old port city and the Aeroport de Côte d'Azur, across a big bay. Other is Ville franche-sur-Mer sits on an enclosed bay.
CLIMATE-
GEOGRAPHY- Nice is situated in Mediterranean Sea on the eastern side of France. The main area of the city lies between the old port city and the Aeroport de Côte d'Azur, across a big bay. Other is Ville franche-sur-Mer sits on an enclosed bay.
CLIMATE-
MONTH JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC
AV.HIGH 13 13 15 17 21 24 27 28 25 21 17 14
AV.LOW 5 6 8 10 14 17 20 20 17 14 9 6
ATTRACTIONS & SIGHTS AT NICE-
AV.HIGH 13 13 15 17 21 24 27 28 25 21 17 14
AV.LOW 5 6 8 10 14 17 20 20 17 14 9 6
ATTRACTIONS & SIGHTS AT NICE-
001-CASTLE HILL (COLLINE DU CHATEAU) - The castle is on the top of this high rock hill overlooking Nice old town and the port. There are cool walks in the shade of the trees, great views out over Nice and the Mediterranean, a large grassy park, playground, Roman ruins and a waterfall. You can walk up the stairs at the front, from the Quai des Etats Unis and have a great view as you climb; there are 213 steps from the bottom to the observation platform on top of the Naval Museum and then more steps and various walkways on to the top. An elevator is available
002- PROMENADE DES ANGLAIS - It is a long seaside walkway that stretches along the Mediterranean coast in Nice France built in the 1830s.The promenade stretches about 7 km around the Baie des Anges, a favourite for leisurely "promenades". The boardwalk-like area, often referred to as The Promenade, or simply La Prom, is usually crowded with people strolling along the seafront. Carnival celebrations, flower shows and various other events take place along La Prom. Bicycling, rollerblading and skateboarding are popular alternatives to walking. Many of Nice's most elegant hotels, restaurants and shops are situated along the roadway that runs adjacent to the pedestrian promenade. There are tourists relaxing in the royal blue chairs lining the shore.
003-MATISSE MUSEUM/ MUSEE MATISSE-This museum in the Cimiez area features a variety of art by the famed French artist Henri Matisse. The famed artist moved to Nice in 1917 and died here in 1954. A part of his artistic legacy was donated to the city of Nice by Matisse himself and by his heirs. At present, the heritage, which consists chiefly of the works created during Matisse’s stay in Nice, can be admired at the Matisse Museum. There is a nice diversity of art, with drawings and paintings, for which Matisse was best known. The entrance is free.
004-MASSENA MUSEUM- Built between 1898 and 1901, the palace became home to the Museum of Art and History in 1921. The more than 20 exhibition rooms retrace the history of Nice by displaying collections of all sorts of items, such as furniture, decorations and artworks amounting to more than 15,000 exhibits. It is one of the main sights along Promenade des Anglais, and it’s beautifully laid out colourful gardens.
005-MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY AND MODERN ART- The permanent collections of the museum consist of works by top pop art and new realism artists. The building of the museum is a sight in itself, a very original structure with 4 square towers, rooftop terraces and glass passageways between the sundry sections of the building.
006-LASCARIS PALACE- Located in Vieux Nice, Palais Lascaris is a historical monument and a museum. Palais Lascaris is an aristocratic house from the first half of the 17th century, which belonged to the Lascaris-Ventimiglia family. The baroque building features a beautiful façade with balconies on consoles and pilasters decorated with capitals and garlands of flowers .The museum displays a collection of musical instruments, retracing the history of their making and use. However, the palace is usually appreciated for its architectural and decorative qualities. The lush interior decorations, including frescoed walls, tapestries and pieces of furniture, the monumental ceilings and stairs lined with sculptures, which lead to the intimate rooms located at the second floor of the building.
007-THEATRE DE LA PHOTOGRAPHIE ET DE L'IMAGE-This unique museum is housed in a historic building that was once a theatre. Admission is free. The Theatre is a must for photography fans since the exhibits include the works of photographers form around the world, including some of the most well-known artists and photojournalists. Exhibits change regularly, so there is always something new to see.
008- CATHEDRAL OF SAINTE REPARATE/ NICE CATHEDRAL-Located in old town approximately halfway between Palais Lascaris and Opera de Nice, in the centre of Vieux Nice, the Cathedral of Sainte Reparate or, the Nice Cathedral, dates back to the 17th century. It is dedicated to Sainte Reparate, a martyred virgin whose mortal remains are sheltered here. It took almost 50 years for the construction works to be completed from 1650 to 1699. The building is an exquisite expression of the Baroque style and it is overtopped by an 18th century bell tower. Inside the cathedral, visitors can admire 10 chapels and three organs, as well as the altar which shelters the remains of the patron saint.
009-BASILICA OF NOTRE DAME DE NICE- It was built in 1868. It is located in the centre of Nice and it overlooks the area by its two 65 meters high towers which frame an impressively large rose window on top of the entrance. The basilica is, at the same time, the largest places of worship in Nice.
010-RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL- The cathedral was built in the early 20th century and consecrated in 1912 by order and with the support of Tsar Nicholas II, in view of servicing the constantly growing Russian community of Nice. The ornate exterior of this onion domed building is a clear mark of the Russian architectural style, the cathedral being easily distinguishable in Nice as an atypical structure. The inside contains a vast collection of icons, decorative woodwork and items of huge historical value, in part moved from Russia to Nice during the troubled times of the Russian Civil War. It is the largest Russian orthodox place of worship outside the administrative and political confines of Russia.
011-PERFETURE PALACE- The present Prefecture Palace has played a leading role in the administrative and political history of the city since the early 17th century. The building was used as residence by the Dukes of Savoy during their constant visits and stays in Nice from 1610 to 1860. So, it was called the Royal Palace, the Palace of the Dukes of Savoy or the Palace of the Kings of Sardinia. Since 1861 until now it has been accommodating the headquarters of the Prefecture of the Maritime Alps Department of France.
012-CITY HALL-Located in Vieux Nice, the current headquarters of the Nice City Hall was built in the first half of the 18th century .The building was bestowed to public in 1860, but until then it sheltered a hospital, a seminary and it was also used as barracks.
013-OPERA DE NICE- Located in the historical district of the city. The current opera house was built in 1882 and inaugurated under the name of Municipal Theatre. Opera de Nice is a cultural institution the reputation of which is substantiated by the popularity and appreciation of the artistic performances given here since the opening of the opera until now. It offers three types of performances- operas, ballets and classical concerts and houses the Ballet Nice Méditerrannée and the Nice Philharmonic Orchestra.
014- NATIONAL THEATRE OF NICE- The National Theatre of Nice (Theatre National de Nice) is an important venue for music and other presentations in Provence, France.
015-NICE OBSERVATORY- The Nice Observatory was built in 1878 with the financial support of Raphael-Louis Bischoffsheim. Each of the four facades is flanked by an Ionic column and the base structure evokes the techniques employed in the construction of the ancient Egyptian pyramids. The impressive rotating 100-tons dome (designed by Garnier) overtops the entire edifice. At the moment of its opening, Observatoire de Nice was fitted with the largest astronomical telescope in the world, which amounted to 76 meters in length. The cupola which shelters the telescope is the work of Gustave Eiffel.
016- JARDIN ALBERT I-It is a municipal park, named for Albert I, Prince of Belgium, Duke of Saxony, Prince of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. The garden can be is located between Avenue des Phoceens & Avenue de Verdun. Its major attraction is Arc de Venet, a monumental contemporary sculpture. Jardin Albert I is amongst the oldest gardens in Nice. The park boasts large lawn, fountains and palm trees. A romantic place to unwind and relax. The gardens extend north to Place Masséna.
017--NICE CONFRENCE CENTRE-Nice France is a popular location for national and international conferences. Conference delegates are able to escape the cold winter weather north of the Alps and enjoy the warm Mediterranean climate. Many conferences are held each year at the Acropolis Conference Centre in Nice.
018-CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE-One of the most attractive buildings in Nice France is the Chamber of Commerce (Chambre de Commerce). The architecture found in Nice reflects both French and Italian influences.
019- BAY OF THE ANGELS -The city of Nice France is located on a large bay in the Mediterranean Sea called the Baie des Anges (Bay of the Angels).Visitors to Nice can enjoy fishing, swimming, sailing and boating in this beautiful Mediterranean bay.
020- MUSEE ET SITE ARCHEOLOGIQUES DE CIMIEZ-This archaeological site boasts Roman ruins from an ancient settlement that was once thrived during the age of the Roman Empire. An on-site museum helps to put the ruins in a historical context. Entrance is free.
021-VIEUX NICE (NICE OLD TOWN) -The "vieille ville" is the most "Beyond" part of Nice. With narrow streets curving in irregular fashion between old buildings with red-tile roofs, this could be almost any medieval village of the region. The streets are packed with shops and shoppers. Small restaurants, food, meat, produce, pasta, clothes, gifts, anything and everything.
022-ANTIBES- The Mediterranean town of Antibes is a relatively quiet community locate west of Nice. Here is the Europe’s largest yacht harbour and the Picasso Museum. Antibes has a lovely sandy beach and an interesting old town that dates back to the 5th century.
023-BEACHES-The beaches of Nice and beaches along the coast to Antibes, are shingle (smooth stones) making barefoot frolicking an uncomfortable experience, nonetheless, plenty of people come to suntan and swim every day, creating a lively beach scene from Antibes-Juan-les-Pins to Cannes. Nudism is far from being encouraged on the beaches in Nice. In fact, it is completely forbidden. On the other hand, the policy is entirely different when it comes to sunbathing topless.
PRIVATE BEACHES-There are 15 private beaches in Nice. They are the best sunbathing venues in the capital of the French Riviera. The cost of spending a day on one of these beaches can amount to tens of Euros (per person), depending on what facilities one needs to resort to in order to make the best of their moment at the beach. Besides the admission price, tourists must pay for the lounge chairs, sunshades, lockers and all the other amenities they intend to use. Moreover, bringing food on the private beaches of Nice is not allowed, since the authorities who manage the respective venues expect visitors to buy or have their meals at the eateries set up on the beach.
i-Neptune Beach-The Neptune Beach is one of the most popular private beaches in Nice. It is located in front of Hotel Le Negresco and it is fitted with a kids’ playground. The Neptune Beach Restaurant is located here.
ii-Castle Beach-The name of the Castle Beach comes from its being located at the foot of the Castle Hill in Vieux Nice. It is one of the most crowded beaches in Nice.
iii-Blue Beach-Blue Beach enjoys being located, in front of Hotel Le Negresco, a landmark of the luxury accommodation solutions in Nice. The all-season Blue Beach Restaurant boasts about its wonderful menu and shaded terrace.
PUBLIC BEACHES-Visitors come here and lie on their own towels or can rent a lounge chair in order to increase the comfort and the quality of their moment at the beach. They are less expensive and confine only with basic facilities (toilets, showers).
i-Voilier Beach -Neighboring on the Neptune Beach and on the Blue Beach, Plage Poublique du Volilier is also close attractions like the Massena Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts of Nice.
ii-Lenaval Beach- Located in front of the Lenval Hospital, the Lenval Beach is a reasonably high rated public beach in Nice. It is fitted with the basic facilities (toilets, showers) and visitors have the opportunity to practice windsurfing. Motorized water crafts are completely forbidden.
i-Voilier Beach -Neighboring on the Neptune Beach and on the Blue Beach, Plage Poublique du Volilier is also close attractions like the Massena Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts of Nice.
ii-Lenaval Beach- Located in front of the Lenval Hospital, the Lenval Beach is a reasonably high rated public beach in Nice. It is fitted with the basic facilities (toilets, showers) and visitors have the opportunity to practice windsurfing. Motorized water crafts are completely forbidden.
024- NICE FLOWER MARKET-The Cours Saleya Flower Market is a huge daily market in Vieux Nice. It features rows and rows of stalls selling flowers of every shape, color, size and scent. Saleya also features fruits, spices and even fresh seafood. On Mondays, the Cours Saleya has a large flea market, the Marché a la Brocante et Antiquités . It operates six days a week, replaced on Mondays by a flea and antiques market.
025- THE PORT AT ANTIBES-Antibes is not far from Nice and can be reached easily by bus or train. If you are seeking a more traditional suntan-and sand beach experience, this is a great alternative to Nice’s pebble-strewn shores. It is also an ideal spot for getting a taste of the opulence of the French Riviera: Antibes is the port of choice for the Riviera’s multimillion dollar yachts.