RSS

What To Do And See in Nice France

As one may expect the full array of holiday accommodation is available in Nice ranging from budget hostels to top quality hotels. Many choose the area of Old Nice to stay in for its atmosphere and proximity to shops and bars, whilst others prefer the area of the Promenade des Anglais for its views over the water. The lower end of the spectrum sees 2 star hotels starting at around 35 euros per night, with 4 star hotels ranging anywhere from 110 euros to several hundreds of euros.

Nice is a town where one may stroll the streets, take in the Promenade des Anglais and its vantage point along the water's edge and views over the Baie des Anges, and feel like as much has been achieved as if one went running around museums. It is a laid back town with a holiday feel and for this reason many visitors do prefer the leisurely walks and long lunches in water front cafes. However, should you prefer a more structured holiday, or like ticking things done off of lists Nice will not disappoint you. With 19 galleries and museums, 32 historical monuments, hundreds of hectares of gardens, parks and woodlands and more than 150 ornamental lakes and fountains, there is more than enough to make up a holiday list in Nice.

Henri Matisse, the revolutionary twentieth century French artist drew much inspiration from the colors and beauty of Nice, clearly visible in many of his balcony views. In honor of his respect and love of the French Riviera, the French Riviera pays respect to him with the Matisse Museum, a wonderful collection of his works spanning his early years, following his bold experimentation with color and reinvention of beauty to his later years when he had unusually found fame in his own life time and his death in Nice in 1954.

The Cours Saleya Flower Market is renowned not just in the area but across France and is one of the biggest attractions of the city for flower lovers and non-flower lovers alike. The market itself is surrounded by cafes and boutique shops creating a phenomenal atmosphere and bustle of people that really should not be missed especially as it runs every day except Mondays when the flowers move aside for antiques, also worth a visit.

The Russian Cathedral architecturally stands out like a sore thumb against the French Riviera, but is a beauty in and of itself. A reminder of the days of Russian aristocracy to whom Nice was a favorite play pen, it is the best example of the many Russian structures in the area with particularly beautiful iconography, frescoes, and of course the stylized 6 onion shaped domes.

The archaeology museum in Nice gives visitors the opportunity to envision the city in Roman times by viewing the remains of the bathhouse and the Roman Arena as well as playing host to various other exhibitions highlighting the lustrous and rich history of the area. Last but certainly not least Old Nice is an area rather than a specific attraction but an absolute must for a whole day visit. Its narrow streets are jam packed with boutique shops selling everything from household wares to wine to fashion. A maze of streets dotted with cafes, ice cream bars, restaurants, and bars, Old Nice will enchant you with its atmosphere.

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS

0 comments:

Post a Comment