Nice Attractions

The Fine Arts Msueum houses 15th to 20th C French, Italian and Flemish works. Highlights include 17th and 18th-century French paintings, and 19th-century paintings and sculptures.

The museum also houses the Dufy collection and the Alexis and Gustav Adolf Mossa collections.

Monuments aux Morts, built from white stone, displays over 3,600 names commemorating soldiers that died during the Great War. There is an enormous urn in the center and bas-reliefs by Alfred Janniot. The imposing monument faces the sea.

The Musée Matisse in Nice is located in a Genoese villa on the same ancient site. Its contents (paintings, graphic designs, almost all his sculptures, pottery) derive from a gift by the family to the city of Nice. Especially interesting are the sketches for the decorations of the Chapel in Vence.

Place du Palais-de-Justice in Nice is a renovated town square with colorful stone paving and an attractive fountain. The square is home to the Nice courts, which are the notable architectural highlights. The courts overlook the square with an impressive staircase leading down.

In Nice, the Acropolis is the name given to the Palais des Congrès et de la Musique (center for conventions and other events); the Office du Tourisme also has its office here.

Cathedrale Orthodoxe Russe St-Nicolas was built in 1912 by Tsar Nicolas. The ornamental interior houses many historical and religious objects that were transferred from Russia during its time of turmoil.

There is a beautiful view of the mountains on this scenic rail trip. A long expanse of viaducts and bridges is incorporated into the rail-line's design.

At the foot of Mont Boron (178m/584ft), which bounds the Baie des Anges to the east, lies the Nice Harbor area with Port Lympia and the Avant-Port (outer Harbor). Three- and four-storied plain residential buildings in the Italian style characterize the scene. Adjoining on the north is the district of Riquier, developed in a checker board plan after 1780.

In the Avenue Val-Marie in Nice, is the Musée International d'Art Naëf (Museum of Primitive Art), which originated in a bequest by the art critic Anatole Jakovsky and provides an excellent overview of primitive art throughout the world. Adjoining it there is a research and information center.

This museum displays an international collection of naive art dating from the 18th C to the present day. The collection was donated by Anatole Jakovsky, a Romanian art critic.

To the south of the Acropolis in the boulevard Risso in Nice stands the Musée Barla, a branch of the Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle. It includes collections dealing with fungi, biological evolution, paleontology, geology and mineralogy. The information displays give current information about endangered species.

The Musée des Arts Asiatiques was designed by well-known Japanese architect Kenzo Tange. The museum building appears to be floating upon an artificial lake, which is home to numerous birds. The museum's collection highlights the court and folk or tribal art with contemporary works. Performances of living art forms, such as the Asian Fridays, the demonstrations of the Gestures of Asia, or weekly tea ceremonies are also offered.

In the university district of Les Baumettes in Nice, which adjoins to the west, is situated the Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Chéret. This important art collection includes works by Chéret (d. 1932 in Nice), Fragonard, Braque, Carrière, Chagall, Degas, Monet, Sisley, sculptures by Carpeaux and Rodin as well as pottery by Picasso.

Patinoire Jean Bouin, located on Esplanade Marechal de Lattre de Tassigny, is an Olympic size skating rink. Skates for hockey, beginners or seasoned skaters are available to rent. The rink has night skating as well with music playing in the background.

Exhibits at the Prehistory Museum of Terra Amata include a 400,000 year old prehistoric site with ancient hearths. Items on display include tools, animal bones, and dwellings.

The Royal Salon of the Hotel Negresco has been enshrined as a National Historical Monument. This area is home to a number of boutiques, including ones which house the greatest names in French clothing. Most purchases are duty free.

There is a beautiful view of the Var Valley on this scenic rail trip.