Nice

Spectacular light and beauty...
Stretching out along the Bay of Angels, Nice is regularly chosen as the town where most French people would like to live. It is not hard to see why. Capital of the French Riviera, it is a town of broad palm-fringed avenues and grand hotels, of azure-blue sky and golden sunshine, of beaches and fine museums. Its spectacular light and beauty have long been an inspiration for many artists and musicians. Toulouse Lautrec, Matisse, Chagall, Berlioz and Verdi to name but a few who fell under its spell.

Capital of the French Riviera...
The spectacular Promenade des Anglais curves along the seafront for 6 kilometres and was established by Nice’s English colony in 1822 as a seaside walking path. Strolling along it is a superb way to get your bearings and to take in the magnificenct Bay of Angels. Watch out for the pink domed Hotel Negresco along the way. Built in the Belle Epoque style, it dates back to the 1900s and is classified as an historic monument. Nice has hidden treasures around each corner - from the early 19th century neoclassical arcaded buildings in Place Massena painted in a variety of eyecatching ochres and reds to the fantastic flower market on the Cours Saleya to the winding narrow streets of the old town. The town’s Matisse Museum boasts a fine collection of the artist’s work and is well worth a visit. Don’t miss the Musee d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain which specialises in French and American avant-garde works from the 1960s onwards and the Musee National Message Biblique Marc Chagall.

The attraction of Nice lies in the sheer range of activities it makes possible. Rollerblade along the Promenade des Anglais in the morning, take in a museum in the early afternoon, stop for flowers or fruits glaces (candied fruits) on the Cours Saleya on the way to the beach, dine in the balmy open air until late into the evening. The town also makes a great base for exploring with excellent rail links to the beautiful town of Antibes, the wealthy glittering resort of Cannes and the romantic principality of Monaco. Nice is, quite simply, an unforgettable experience.

France Travel Information