Popular attractions in Nice
First-timers to Nice should try to book an early visit to the Colline du Chateau above the Baie des Anges. It’s an amazing vantage point for admiring the city. This old castle is now nothing more than crumbling walls but it sill provides a breath-taking view 90 meters above Nice.
The following are some of the city’s most popular tourist attractions.
Musee et Site Archeologiques de Cimiez
Nice is famous for hosting several remarkable museums and none of them is more impressive or famous than the Musee Cimiez. This museum and archaeological site focuses on the ruins and documentation of an ancient Gallo-Roman settlement. The ruins include public baths, paved streets and an amphitheater which regularly hosts outdoor concerts such as the Nice Jazz Festival. The relics include tools, ceramics, coins and glass. Located at 160 ave des Arènes de Cimiez, Cimiez, the Musee et Site Archeologiques de Cimiez is just behind the Museé Matisse
Musée Chagall
This art gallery/museum contains the biggest collection of works by Marc Chagall, who is famous for his flying animals, kissing couples and violinists. Some of Chagall’s most exuberant artworks are displayed here, including his rendering of Old Testament themes. The 12 giant paintings at the main hall depicting Genesis and Exodus are prominent, but it is Chagall’s passionate paintings on the Song of Songs that can take your breath away.
Musée Matisse
Housed in a 17th century Genoese villa, this art gallery/museum features a wide range of works by Henri Matisse, who spent many winters in Nice because it was close to his friends Picasso, Bonnard and Renoir. Among his most popular works displayed here are the Blue Nude IV and Woman with Amphora. A huge painting called Flowers and Fruits dominates the reception hall. Musée Matisse is located at 164 ave des Arènes de Cimiez, Arenes.
Musée des Beaux-Arts
Located at 33 ave des Baumettes, Les Baumettes, the Musée des Beaux-Arts is just as famous for its building as it is for its vast assortment of paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries. The museum is housed in a cream and apricot villa built in 1878 with six columns at the rear overlooking a lush garden. Among the most popular displays here are the paintings of Sisley, Monet, Bonnard, Jan Brueghel and Raoul Dufy and the sculptures of Rodin. The works of French painters Jules Chéret and Alexis Mossa are also featured here.
Cascade Donjon
This artificial waterfall dating back to the 18th century is a favorite place for picnics and open-air concerts. A viewing platform provides excellent views, especially during summer. It’s located at Parc Du Château, Vieux Nice.
Château de l'Anglais
Located at Mont Boron, the residence of celebrities like Elton John, the Château de l'Anglais stands out in this sea of villas and buildings. The pink façade of this old castle is visible all the way from Nice’s port. Constructed in 1859, it was ridiculed as “Smith’s folly” in reference to Robert Smith, the English engineer who built it. He was the only foreigner to have permanent residence in Nice at that time.
Cathédrale Orthodoxe Russe St-Nicolas
Dating back to the 17th century and consecrated in 1912, this cathedral has icons and frescoes that are more fitting to ancient Moscow. That’s because the Cathédrale Orthodoxe Russe St-Nicolas is the largest Russian Orthodox Church located outside Russia. It’s located at Ave Nicholas II, W Gare Nice Ville. People dressed in sleeveless shirts, shorts and miniskirts are not allowed inside.
Parc du Château
Located in Castle Park at Vieux Nice, this old castle is a towering structure that flanks Nice on the East and provides a breath-taking view of the Nice landscape and the Baie des Anges. It dates back to the 12th century and was destroyed by Louis XIV in 1706. Fortunately, one tower remains: the 16th-century Tour Bellanda.
Locarno Hotel
