Guide to Nice in Russian. The main attractions of Nice and its surroundings with descriptions of routes

Famous all over the world Nice- a real pearl of the Cote d'Azur. This city has earned a reputation as a very popular and prestigious French resort, but Nice has something to offer its guests besides luxurious beaches and clear sea water. Not only Nice itself, but also the surrounding area of ​​the province is full of unique and unforgettable sights, judging by the enthusiastic descriptions of tourists and colorful photos.

Sights of Nice

The city was founded by the Greeks and named after the goddess of war Nike. A little later, the Roman Empire recaptured Nice, annexing it to the County of Savoy, and at the end of the 19th century the city became part of France. Thanks to such a rich and varied history, this place and its attractions, which arose in different eras, are of interest.

Old Nice

Old Nice- The tourist center of the city, which is why it serves as an excellent starting point for a route designed to get to know Nice more closely. Here you can easily find a large concentration of iconic attractions, historical monuments and architectural structures with an interesting history. Palaces and churches, clock towers and an ancient fort create the unique appearance of this place.

The old town, from an architectural point of view, is similar to typical settlements, which have narrow and winding streets, buildings painted in ocher and red colors, as well as numerous churches made in the Baroque style, shopping shops and cozy home-made cafes.

The heart of Old Nice - a miniature square Saint Francois– the central square of the city, made in Italian style. Previously, there was a chapel of the Holy Spirit, a cemetery and a garden that belonged to the Franciscans. When these relics were demolished, a cozy small square with the city hall was built in their place. Today, on Place Saint-François there is a fountain with dolphins, and next to it there is always a fish market where you can buy the freshest seafood.

Another symbol of Nice - Garibaldi Square. The largest square of the city appeared relatively recently. At first, in its place there was a landfill with the rubble of dismantled fortifications, but in 1780 the king of Sardinia ordered the construction of a “triumphal gate of the city” here. Over the many years of its existence, the square has changed names, starting from Perolières and ending with Napoleon Square. As a result, it received its final name thanks to the monument to the Nice-born revolutionary Garibaldi.

Walking from square to square, along the road you can see:

• Catholic Cathedral of St. Reparata and St. Jacques;
• Orthodox Cathedral of St. Nicholas;
• Jesuit Church;

• the old Senate building;
• Ryuska Tower;
• Prefectural Palace.

Palace of Justice Square is another significant point on the route through the Old Town. Here you can get acquainted with the classic building of the Palais de Justice, one of the two clock towers of Nice, as well as a fountain that gives coolness on a hot summer day.

Finally, walking through the Old Town, sooner or later you end up at General de Gaulle Square. It has the city's largest and oldest market, with a tempting array of cheeses, fruits, vegetables, baked goods and unique lavender ice cream.

Promenade des Anglais

The visiting card of Nice is Promenade des Anglais, ready, thanks to its attractiveness and beauty, to compete with the magnificent views that Old Nice offers. This part of the city, stretching for many kilometers along the Cote d'Azur, is designed for long walks and getting to know the vibrant places of the city:

• hotels "Negresco", "Royal" and "Weltmeister";
• pond with caimans;
• flower greenhouses;

• pompous boutiques;
• luxury restaurants.

The history of this embankment began when the wealthy Englishman Lewis Way began to develop this place in the 19th century. A little later, other Englishmen began to buy land and build luxurious villas on it. Since then, the Promenade des Anglais has become a popular place for daytime walks and exploring pompous Nice, as well as for evening and night concerts that are constantly held here.

Deserves special attention in Nice Hotel Negresco- the largest grand hotel, which became legendary thanks to the impressive list of world celebrities who stayed here to live. Among the guests were Coco Chanel, Marlene Dietrich, as well as Ernest Hemingway, Albert Camus, Francoise Sagan.

The appearance and interior decoration of the Negresco Hotel, named after its owner, evokes genuine admiration. The neoclassical six-story building with its pink dome and curvaceous façade is a true work of art. Gustave Eiffel himself worked on creating the glass ceiling of the main hall, and the luxurious chandelier that hangs from under the dome was created by order of Nicholas II.

Despite the status of a prestigious hotel in Nice, where kings, dukes, artists, musicians and other eminent personalities have always stayed, any tourist can admire its luxury.

Museums in Nice

In terms of the number of museums located in the city, Nice ranks second right after. Each of these places boasts an extensive collection of masterpieces to suit every taste.

The clear favorite among them is Matisse Museum, located in Nice on Simeiz hill in an ancient palace of the 17th century. The city inspired the artist throughout his life, resulting in the creation of unique Fauvist paintings, paper collages, stained glass, ceramics, glassware and about 70 sculptures. In total, there are about 200 works by Matisse.

All the fruits of Henri Matisse’s creativity are located in 18 rooms, each of which is dedicated to a specific theme, united into a real ensemble. Also in the museum there are “bibliographical” things of the artist - his furniture, clothes and some other accessories.

Just a 15-minute walk from the Matisse Museum in Nice is another art repository - Marc Chagall Museum. The full name of this place is “Marc Chagall’s Biblical Message”, since it is here that the complete collection of 17 paintings by the author illustrating the Old Testament is located. According to the artist’s will, this collection was to be placed in the Louvre, but it was so priceless that a separate museum was built for it in Nice.

Other famous museums in Nice:

• Museum of Fine Arts, housed in Nice in the luxurious Cochubey Palace, is home to a rich collection of 19th-century paintings and sculptures. Among them are works by Claude Monet and Auguste Rodin.
• Modern Art Museum– repository of an extensive collection of works by more than 300 artists working in the second half of the 20th century.
• Asian Art Museum presents its visitors with delightful exhibits belonging to Indian, Japanese, Tibetan and Chinese culture. These include embroidered fabric, wooden vessels for making tea, and handmade toys.

Finally, on the Cimiez hill is the Archaeological Museum, where you can learn about the rich history of Nice.

roman hill

You can get acquainted with the ancient history of Nice if you go to the outskirts of the city to the Cimiez quarter. Here are the ruins of an old Roman settlement Cemenelum, among which there is a well-preserved amphitheater, residential areas and baths, surrounded by wonderful olive groves. Excavations are still ongoing on the hill, and things found here are sent to the Archaeological Museum.

In addition to Nice, visit other colorful places of European civilization. Here you can read our authors’ travel impressions from the visit or find out what you can see there and where you should go first.

Nice begins to amaze us immediately upon arrival, because the picturesque Promenade des Anglais, covered with palm trees and flowers, meets us at the airport and escorts us to the city center, where the most delightful and varied attractions of this place are hidden.

The article does not pretend to cover all attractions; it reflects the individual experience of our blogger.

And, paradoxically, there are not so few of them here as not to be surprised by something new even during the tenth visit to Nice - the main city and unofficial capital of the French Riviera, located in the Bay of Angels. You can see everything on leisurely walks to your heart's content, you just need to know how to combine routes.

For your convenience, I have divided the sights of Nice into groups, and a walk through the Old Town can smoothly flow into a walk along the port, and from there to the Museum of Modern Art, to Place Massena and then again to the embankment, and so on.

In fact this article isguide to the main interesting places in Nice:

Old Town, Chateau Hill and Limpia Port -

Old town of Nice, Chateau hill, port of Limpia

Old town of Nice (Vieille Ville) is perhaps the most important place in Nice to go to, even if you only have two hours to spare. If you have much more time to get to know it, you will often come here, because this is a favorite place for many locals and tourists, where there are many bars, restaurants, cafes and nightclubs, a huge number of bakeries, pastry shops and private wine shops, souvenirs and antique shops.

In the large pedestrian zone of the Old Town - Cours Saleya A fruit and flower market is open 7 days a week in the morning. After lunch, sellers pack up their goods and make way for tables in restaurants and cafes. Every Monday at the Cours Saleya in Nice there is an Antique Market until lunchtime, where you can buy anything - from cheap old postcards with posters and used jewelry to rare expensive items, the price of which reaches tens of thousands of euros. A kind of symbiosis of a “flea market” and an antique shop. People who offer old things for sale have been in this business for a long time, and if you need to get something very old and rare, even if they don’t provide it to you themselves, they will definitely find someone who has it.

The old town of Nice is in some places a rather confusing labyrinth of streets and alleys, with chaotic medieval buildings, but with several spacious squares. There are many architectural monuments of different periods, the bulk of which were created in the Italian Baroque style in the 17th-18th centuries.

The main Catholic churches of old Nice, which are worth paying attention to and definitely look inside - Cathedral of Saint Reparata(Cathedrale Sainte-Reparate), very elegant Chapel of Mercy(Chapelle de la Misericorde) on Cours Saleya, as well as hiding between tall buildings Church of Saint James-le-Major "Jesu"(Eglise Saint-Jaques-le-Majeurdite de Jesus (Gesu).

The Cathedral of Saint Reparata is one of the oldest churches in Nice. In the 16th century, this temple in the shape of a Latin cross was built on the site of a Benedictine abbey. The magnificent dome of the Cathedral of Saint Reparata, towering over the Old Town of Nice, and its interior decoration are reminiscent of the most important Catholic church in the world - St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

Cathedral of Saint Reparata

Church of St. James

Chapel of Mercy

Palace of Justice, Palace of the Prefecture, Palais Lascari, Nice Opera House, Labor Exchange Building– this is not a complete list of buildings included in the number of protected architectural monuments of the Old Town. Along the “edge” of the Old Town in the Cours Saleya area and the embankment there is Gallery de Ponchette(Les Ponchettes) - neat rows of bright, picturesque buildings converted by the city into galleries.

From the Old Town, through one of the arches of the Galerie de Ponchette, you will reach the famous Promenade des Anglais in Nice(Promenade des Anglais) is a wide promenade that stretches along the sea and the Bay of Angels (Baie des Anges) for seven kilometers. Although, to be precise, in this place the Promenade already has a different name - the United States Embankment, but this does not change the essence.

On your left you will see Hill Chateau(Colline du Chateau), or Castle Hill. Even during the time of the Greek presence in Nicaea (Nice), a guard garrison was located on this high hill, from which there was an excellent overview of the surrounding area. By the way, at exactly noon a cannon shot is heard from the side of the hill. Don't be alarmed - this is a tribute to an ancient tradition. According to legend, a certain Scottish citizen in the mid-19th century bought a cannon with his own money and installed it on Chateau Hill. Either he was a big fan of army rituals (the “midday cannon shot”), or simply an eccentric, but they say that this was his way of letting his wife know that it was time to cook dinner for him. Since 1875, the authorities of Nice have officially established that at 12 noon it is mandatory to fire a cannon.

Unfortunately, there are practically no ancient and medieval ruins preserved here (except a few, in the center of the hill), but today it is one of the main attractions - a picturesque park area with a breathtaking view of Nice, the port, the promenade and the sea. You can climb Chateau Hill either on foot using the stairs (a tedious method) or for free using the elevator (the elevator, of course, does not operate 24 hours a day; it may be closed on holidays, etc.).

Belanda Watchtower, where the composer Hector Berlioz once lived, a beautiful artificial waterfall, an ancient cemetery on the hill and mosaic compositions depicting scenes from ancient Greek life are what you need to see on Chateau Hill.

Descending from the Chateau hill and going around it, you come to Port of Nice Limpia(Lympia) and the prestigious port quarter, built up with majestic buildings of the 18th century in the Genoese style. Nice's main harbor can accommodate the largest cruise ships and mega-yachts, and huge ferries depart regularly from here to the island of Corsica. As you turn from the embankment into the port, on your left you will see the imposing Monument to the Dead (Monument aux morts) in memory of the inhabitants of Nice killed during the First World War.

In the port area there are good restaurants, popular both with tourists (in the part located directly under Chateau Hill) and with sailors and port workers - to do this you need to go around the port and go deeper into the part that is located in the distance.

The port area is also home to another so-called “flea market” of Nice and several stylish art galleries where you can buy contemporary works by artists and sculptors.

Rue Cassini or Rue Catherine Séguran will take you from the port to Piazza Garibaldi- one of the most beautiful and cozy squares in Nice. In the center of it stands a monument to the famous native of Nice, Giuseppe Garibaldi, and carefully restored buildings in the Sardinian style are especially reminiscent of the “Italian trace” in the history of this French city.

In the 19th century, Nice was a winter resort for aristocrats from all over Europe, especially those where the winter was too harsh. Gradually, Nice turned into a fashionable and expensive resort, accessible only to wealthy people from high society. Actually, even today this pearl of the French Riviera is not affordable for everyone.

What to see in Nice? What is interesting in this city, besides fashionable hotels, expensive clubs, restaurants, comfort and excellent service? Many people have heard about the sights of Nice; there are a huge number of them here. Russia has also made a worthy contribution to the history and culture of this wonderful resort.

TOP 15 attractions in Nice and its surroundings

Nice not only has beaches and entertainment, it is an extremely beautiful city where you can find many palaces, temples and museums. Lovers of architectural delights can admire their best Italian and French examples. We bring to your attention a description of the sights of Nice with photos and names.

As you know, Nice has always been considered an English resort, because... Since the 19th century, mostly Englishmen from aristocratic families have vacationed here and purchased property. Therefore, the Promenade des Anglais, built in the British style in the mid-19th century, is considered the most popular in Nice. Back then, English ladies and gentlemen walked along it, and Queen Victoria also visited here.

Later, the Promenade des Anglais repeatedly increased in length and width; magnificent palaces, fashionable hotels, casinos, squares with palm trees were built near it on the odd side - everything that was necessary for wealthy tourists. As a result, today this embankment stretches to the local airport and has turned into the most famous and popular attraction in Nice.

This is perhaps the most famous hotel in Nice. It stands opposite the Promenade des Anglais and is considered one of the symbols of this resort, and indeed the entire coast. The Hotel Negresco (Le Negresco) first opened before the First World War, taking its name from the surname of the first owner of Hungarian origin. Chanel, Hemingway, Dietrich, Camus, Cocteau and other great and famous people once lived here.

The Negresco Hotel has the famous pink dome, which was forged by a student of Gustave Eiffel. The four-meter-high chandelier installed under the hotel's dome is not unique. It has only one analogue, which once belonged to the Russian Emperor Nicholas II, and today is installed in the Grand Kremlin Palace. The hotel's large carpet dates back to the early 17th century and previously belonged to Marie de' Medici.

Each room at the Negresco Hotel is decorated in its own unique style: Gothic, Empire, Baroque, Rococo, Classicism, Art Nouveau, etc. The world-famous Chanticleer restaurant welcomes visitors here, constantly receiving the highest ratings from the best experts in the field of gastronomy and restaurant business. It is also worth noting that the receptionists of the Negresco Hotel are dressed the same as their colleagues dressed in the 19th century.

3. Old Town

This is the heart of Nice, telling the history and culture of this beautiful city. What can you see in the Old Town of Nice? This is a real paradise for architectural historians, because... The area is full of unique architectural monuments, most of which were built in the Baroque style. Also in the Old Town there are many restaurants and cafes offering delicious local cuisine and the best French wines.

Be sure to walk through the Old Town of Nice and see the Museum of Modern Art with a collection of avant-garde paintings, Place Saint-François and its tower with a large clock, Palais Lascari, Place Rossetti, Cathedral of Saint Reparata, Palais de Justice, Palais Rusca, Place Cours Saleya, Chapel Mercy and many other unique attractions of Nice.

4. Russian Quarter

Nice was a very popular resort among the aristocrats of the Russian Empire, who often purchased or built local real estate. For almost the entire 20th century, for obvious reasons, there were significantly fewer Russians in this city. And with the beginning of the 21st century, many wealthy people from New Russia appeared here. Now their number is only increasing every year.

The Russians have left their mark on the architecture of this beautiful city on the Cote d'Azur. It is generally accepted that in the Old Town there is an entire Russian Quarter, which includes the St. Nicholas Cathedral, the monument to Tsarevich Nicholas who died in Nice, the Russian cemetery Kokad, Tsarevich Boulevard, Nicholas II Street, etc. You will probably be interested in wandering among the historical monuments of Russia of the 19th century .

The name of this museum is translated from French as “The Biblical Message of Marc Chagall.” It exhibits 17 illustrations of the Old Testament by this famous artist, which he gave to France. In addition, in the museum you can see several of the artist’s earlier illustrations on a biblical theme, created in the thirties of the last century. This is the Russian cultural landmark of Nice.

The Marc Chagall Museum in this city was opened to visitors in 1973. And it was organized by the French writer Andre Malraux. A one-story building was built especially for the museum. It has three halls, which today house Chagall's works, and one concert hall, where various musical evenings are often held. The famous artist himself created stained glass windows and mosaics for his museum.

Perhaps one of the best attractions in Nice and throughout France is the museum of the famous Fauvist artist Henri Matisse. It is located in a small house built in the 17th century. All of his paintings and almost all of his sculptural works are on display here for visitors to see. Specialists and art lovers can trace all stages of the creative path of this artist and great man.

At the Matisse Museum you can also see books illustrated by Matisse, ceramics, stained glass, tapestries and silk-screen prints of his work. His personal belongings and documents are collected here. For admirers of the artist’s talent, visiting his museum is a real pleasure. Let us note that he lived in Nice for more than forty years, enjoying the beauty of this city; Henri Matisse was buried here in 1954.

This is one of the largest Orthodox churches in Western Europe, located in the Russian Quarter of Nice, not far from Tsarevich Boulevard on Nicholas II Street. Nicholas Cathedral was built in memory of the heir to the Russian throne, Tsarevich Nicholas, son of Emperor Alexander II, who died here.

First, on the site of the villa where Tsarevich Nicholas died, on the instructions of the emperor, a white marble chapel was erected, and at the beginning of the 20th century, construction began on a large Orthodox church. Nicholas II, Prince Golitsyn, Countess Apraksina, Rothschild, the Eliseev merchants, etc. donated money for its construction.

In the 20th century, the temple existed outside of Russia, and only in 2010 the Nice court recognized that St. Nicholas Cathedral belongs to the Russian Federation; later it came under the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church. In 2015, the cathedral was restored, re-illuminated, after which its second official opening took place.

The construction of the Nice sea harbor began in the mid-18th century on the orders of King Charles Emmanuel III. Construction lasted about 150 years. Only after Nice finally became French was a temporary and then permanent lighthouse installed in the port of Limpia, and the port itself took on its current modern appearance and size.

Today, large sea ships and cruise ships moor here. The yachts and fishing boats, of which there are countless in the port, look picturesque. You can always take a ride on ships and boats to see the surroundings of Nice and the entire coast. Passenger and cargo ferries depart from here to Corsica.

The place in and around the port is very beautiful. It is surrounded by 19th-century mansions built in Baroque style and many cafes and restaurants. Near the port there is the Monument to the Fallen in Wars and the Church of the Immaculate Conception. Having been here, you will understand even better the mentality, history and culture of the indigenous people of this city.

The opera house of this city is considered one of the best in France. Back in the 19th century, Berlioz and Massenet performed their operas here, with Strauss conducting. And in the 20th-21st centuries, all the great opera singers of our time sang from the stage of this theater for grateful spectators, and opera premieres were given.

The first building of this theater burned down during the opera, and people tragically died. The city municipality built a new building with excellent acoustics and interior decoration. The New Opera of Nice opened its doors in 1885. Here, lovers of this art form heard the operas of Verdi, Wagner and Tchaikovsky for the first time.

Today, the Nice Opera has been restored and is technically well equipped. The best classical and modern orchestras of France often perform here; every season the theater premieres a new opera and presents more than a hundred performances of the highest directing, musical and performing level to the audience.

This place was first chosen by the ancient Greeks in the 4th century BC, who arrived here by sea and built Nicaea here, which they wanted to make a strategic trade and military center of the entire coast. Today on Castle Hill you can see the ancient remains of the fortress and the ruined cathedral of the 11th century, as well as the Watchtower, built in the first half of the 19th century. From here a cannon fires every day to indicate the time.

Castle Hill has a second name - Chateau Hill. It houses the Chateau Cemetery, where Alexander Herzen, who was once “awakened by the Decembrists,” is buried. Tourists can climb the mountain to look at Nice and everything near it using a special lift or simply on foot. And on Castle Hill itself you can explore the ancient ruins, stroll through the park and botanical garden with a waterfall.