Nice, the undisputed capital of the
French Riviera (cote d’Azur), is a home to over three hundred and fifty
thousand inhabitants and a year-round holiday destination as well. As the
city joined France in 1860 it is an exciting mix of the French, Greek,
Italian and British cultures. French Riviera, recognized for its astounding
scenery, is visually breathtaking and this is coupled with the background of
magnetising villages perched on lush green mountains.
The city evokes an image of the rich and famous enjoying themselves amongst
the palm trees, the crystal blue sea and beautiful sandy beaches. Being
situated at a convenient junction along the Cote d’Azur (French
Riviera) it is an excellent base for exploring the rest of this region
including Monaco, St Tropez and Cannes.
Nice stretches along eight km of pebbly beach and is a home to an opera,
numerous museums, bustling markets where the Paillon River divides the city
into two, west of the river being the more modern district and the east
conversely being the more traditional.
Fact File
Country : France
Population : 345,892
Languages : French, English
Climate : Nice is famous for its long, hot summers and mild winters.
In January, the temperatures usually fall between 6 and 13 degrees Celsius
(43 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit), whilst in August they range from 20 to 27
degrees Celsius (68 and 81 degrees Fahrenheit). On the coast, sea breezes
keep the temperature cool enough to need a light jacket on summer evenings.
Official Currency : Euro; 1 Euro = 52.443 Indian Rupee = 1.2047 US $
= 0.678141 GBP(subject to change)
Location :Nice is in the southeast of France, perched on the
Mediterranean coast halfway between Monaco (of Grand Prix fame) and Cannes
(home to the International Film Festival). Paris is 931km (580mi) away, and
it's 30km (18mi) to the Italian border.
Getting
There
By Air : The Nice International Airport is the second busiest
airport in France, with direct flights to America, Britain and the rest of
Europe. It has 2 terminals. Terminal 1 is used for international flights and
terminal 2 is for domestic flights. There is a free airport shuttle between
the terminals. Nice Riviera Airport or Nice Cote d'Azur airport (NCE) is a
10-minute (6 km)drive from Nice's town center.
By Trains : Nice railway station is the railway station providing
easy transport from neighbouring cities to the Several railway stations
connect the French Riviera to all French and European cities. Nice's main
train station is Gare Nice Ville. Every day, over 150 trains leave the Nice
Ville station towards major cities in France and Italy. The hi-speed TGV
train connects Paris to Nice.
By Roads : The public road transport system is efficient and
provides connections to all parts of the city. There are fairly regular and
inexpensive bus connections available into town. There are also nearby
regional train within walking distance. Estimated transfer time into city
centre is about 35 minutes from flight touchdown (if travelling by bus).
There are also bus services to remote destinations including London, Madrid
and Lisbon.
Getting Around
By Road : there are buses and taxis available for a smooth movement
in the city.
By Sea : Boats are available to move around and go from one place to the
other.
Accommodation
The city houses some of the most elegant hotels which provide a comfortable
stay to the tourists. Here is a list of some of the hotels in the city:
Hotel monte-carlo
Hotel beau soleil
Hotel royal riviera
Hotel seaside park
Hotel la perouse
Major tourist attractions
The
city is famous for some of the most renowned museums and is the main tourist
attraction. Some of them are stated below:
The Naval Museum : This museum is located in the Bellanda Tower,
which is a historical monument and overlooks the city. Among the items
exhibited are navigational instruments, ancient arms, scale models, boats,
paintings, and engravings.
Cimiez Museum of Archeaology : A variety of temporary and permanent
displays are showcased at the Cimiez Museum of Archeaology. The museum is
intended to illustrate this time, and the area's life and history. Among the
exhibits are items such as jewellery, sculptures, ancient pottery, coins,
tools, models and more. The museum closes annually from mid-November until
the beginning of December.
Fine Arts Museum : The vast collections at the Fine Arts Museum
cover the 18th to 20th centuries. A great deal of the collection here
focuses on the French 19th century, and both impressionism and post
impressionism is covered here. Among the artists works displayed are pieces
by Rodin, Monet, Carpeaux, Chéret, Boudin, Vuillard, and many others.
The Franciscan Museum and Cimiez Monastery : The church displays
several documents and works of art, and among these are a large gilded wood
Baroque alter piece with a fallen Jesus on it, three paintings by Louis
Brea, and a Seraphic Cross from 1477.
The Mark Chagall Museum : The museum carries the artist's life and
work. Among the pieces of the permanent collection are a number of his
paintings, as well as his stained glass windows, which decorate the concert
hall, and a mosaic which he created specifically for the building.
The Matisse Museum : The museum is housed in a 17th century Italian
villa, which has unique red walls and showcases the collection of works
inside include those lent from the State, his heirs, and Matisse himself,
who was a resident of Nice from 1917 to 1954.
Other attractions :
Musée International d'Art Naïf Anatole :
Jakovsky (Museum of Naïve Art) : Located in the Fabron district of Nice
is named after the art critic and houses Jakovsky's personal collection.
Over 600 drawings and canvases are displayed here, and the works are an
overview of artists from over two dozen countries, and from primitive to
recent pieces.
Musée National Message Biblique Marc-Chagall : This
structure is devoted to Chagall's treatment of biblical themes where over
400 pieces of his work are displayed , and among these are his oils,
pastels, drawings, lithographs, gouaches, ceramics, sculptures, mosaics, and
more. Several stained glass windows designed by Chagall are also displayed
here.
The Natural History Museum : The museum is made up of four
rooms, each focusing on a different area of natural history where each of
the areas include the studies of birds, fungi, mineralogy, and geology.
