03/10/2016

Exploring Places LXVIII: Nice, France

A great start to the month of October with a nice card from Nice!
Nice. Wikipedia

WHERE IS NICE?

Location of Nice in France. Wikipedia
Nice is located in the Côte d'Azur area on the south east coast of France on the Mediterranean Sea. It is about 13 kilometres from the principality of Monaco, and its airport is a gateway to the principality as well.

NICE IS FAMOUS FOR...

...its natural beauty and its mild Mediterranean climate, which make the area a favourite holiday destination for tourists worldwide.

Baie des Anges. Nice. Wikipedia
The city's main seaside promenade, the Promenade des Anglais ("Walkway of the English') owes its name to British upper classes who spent their winters here in the 18th century seeking relaxation and good weather. The clear air and soft light have also appealed to some outstanding painters, such as Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, Niki de Saint Phalle and Arman. Their work is commemorated in many of the city's museums, including Musée Marc Chagall, Musée Matisse and Musée des Beaux-Arts.

Baie des Anges by Chagall. Rogallery.com

The Bay of Nice by Henri Matisse. Henri-matisse.net

PLACES TO VISIT

Promenade des Anglais

Promenade des Anglais
This walkway extends from the airport on the west to the Quai des États-Unis (United States Quay) on the east, a distance of approximately 7 km. On Sundays, bicyclists, baby strollers, and whole families can be seen out for a stroll along the Promenade. It has also become a favorite place for skateboarders and in-line skaters.

Hotel Negresco

Hotel Negresco. Wikipedia

Hotel Negresco. Wikipedia

Located on the Promenade des Anglais, this beautiful hotel was inaugurated in 1913 and stands today as one of the most amazing buildings in the city. The Negresco has a total of 119 guest rooms plus 22 suites and  was listed by the government of France as a National Historic Building in 2003.

Nice Castle

Nice Castle. Viator.com
The Castle of Nice was originally a citadel used for military purposes. Built at the top of a hill, it stood overlooking the bay of Nice from the 11th century to the 18th century. It was besieged several times, especially in 1543 and in 1691, before it was taken by French troops in 1705 and finally destroyed in 1706 by command of Louis XIV.
Nowadays, Castle Hill is used as a park. It's the most famous public garden in Nice, and a "must see" place for the numerous tourists who visit the city. It offers many amazing panoramas, and provides a beautiful view all day long from sunrise to sundown, highlighting various landscapes depending on where one looks: the Harbor at sunrise, the Promenade des Anglais at sundown. That's why Castle Hill is called "the cradle of the sun".

Nice Cathedral

Nice Cathedral. Wikipedia
Located in the old town, the cathedral of Nice was built between 1650 and 1699, the year of its consecration. It is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Saint Reparata. It has been classed as a monument historique since 9 August 1906.

LIFESTYLE
Apart from being a holiday resort, Nice has a very rich cultural offer. There are numerous museums of all kinds: Musée Marc Chagall, Musée Matisse (arenas of Cimiez containing Roman ruins), Musée des Beaux-Arts, Musée international d'Art naïf Anatole Jakovsky, Musée Terra-Amata, Museum of Asian Art, Musée d'art moderne et d'art contemporain which devotes much space to the well-known École of Nice ”), Museum of Natural History, Musée Masséna, Naval Museum and Galerie des Ponchettes.

Matisse Museum
Chagall Museum
Nice also hosts many festivals throughout the year, such as the Carnaval de Nice and the Nice Jazz Festival and has a diverse cuisine given its geographical location: it is especially close to those of Provence but also Liguria and Piedmont  in Italy and uses local ingredients (olive oil, anchovies, fruit and vegetables).

Floats at the Nice carnival 2010. Wikipedia
Watch this video to find out more about this breathtaking destination:


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