8 of the best places to visit in and around Nice
Musee Marc Chagall
At Avenue Docteur Menard this new museum is well worth a trip to the quartier of Cimiez in Nice. Musee Matisse is a little further up Boulevard Cimiez at 164 Avenue des Arenes de Cimiez
St Paul du Vence
The beautiful medieval village perched on a hill with views to the coast. Packed full of little art galleries, can be quite touristy in the summer but it is really beautiful. There is a very good restaurant on the way into the village called Le Saint-Paul; it is a relais chateau property so definitely not cheap but worth the extra expense. Very near the village is the Fondation Maeght, a small art gallery and garden in a beautiful setting with art and sculptures by Bonnard, Braque, Calder, Chagall, Giacometti, Léger, Miró to name a few.
Opening times from October to June are 10 – 12.30 and 14.30 – 18.00 and 10 – 19.00 in July and August. In Vence the town next door to St Paul du Vence there is a chapel that was painted by Matisse, Chapelle Matisse
http://www.fondation-maeght.com/
The Fondation Maeght
Getting there
By car drive out of Nice to Cagnes Sur Mer then take the road from the centre of town up to the right and follow the signs to St Paul du Vence.
Eze Village
Another village perche this time above Eze, quite small but worth a detour if you are driving past.
Michelin star restaurant le Chevre d’Or is in the centre of the village. A meal for two with wine can set you back 300euros! The restaurant is open between November 16 – March 1
http://www.chevredor.com/fr/chateau-chevre-d-or-eze-official-site.php
Getting there
Take the moyenne Corniche out of Nice and drive through Eze; Eze Village is to your right. There is probably a bus that stops at the village but it is probably only worth a detour in a car as it is quite small and there are not many things to see around the village
Villefranche old town
A beautiful little village, best time is to walk around it is in the evening, although it also has a lovely beach. There is a fantastic restaurant in the first square you come to called Le Cosmo. The fois gras starter is really great and you are unlikely to have room for a main course after this starter
Getting there
By train take the train to Villefranche. By car take the Basse Corniche until you reach Villefranche then turn right into the old town and follow the road down turning right at the mini roundabout and then follow the road down into the old town. You can park in the car park just before you reach the village to the right or carry on past the main front to the car park at the end near the beach. You may find a parking space on the road if you are lucky
St Jean Cap Ferrat
Also mentioned above for its great beaches, I would also highly recommend a visit to the Ephrussi de Rothschild Foundation, with its lovely house and gardens. The village is also very pretty
Mercantour
Mercantour National Park is an outstanding example of a mountainous area with its peaks exceeding 3,000 m, but also has a Provencal facet, with its olive trees and fields of lavender. This area of 685 km2 in Alpes-Maritimes and Alpes de Haute-Provence include the high valleys of Ubaye and Verdon. The park is virtually uninhabited and protects some 2,000 plant species, hundreds of animal species and majestic scenery such as Allos lake, the largest high altitude lake in Europe. Wolves have also recently returned to the park
Getting there
The national park is an hour’s drive from Nice by car
Mougins
Up in the hills above Cannes this picture postcard village with winding streets and galleries and little cafes and spectacular views. If you are heading up here it is well worth booking a table at L’Amandier, 48 Avenue Jean-Charles Mallet, 06250 Mougins, France +33 4 93 90 00 91
No comments yet.