Places to Visit - page 6

Vieux Nice/Old Town

Art & Museums

For centuries Nice has drawn writers and artists; Dumas, Nietzsche, Apollinaire, Flaubert, Victor Hugo, George Sand, Stendhal, Chateaubriand, and Mistral amongst them. Present day artists have taken over many of the little shops of old nice for studio and exhibition space. Feel free to wander in and watch them at their work.

"Though the light is intense, it's also soft and tender."

Henri Matisse, on the beauty of Nice...

Given the intense colours and the quality of the light it's no wonder that so many artists have come to this corner of France. Monet, Matisse, Chagall and Picasso are just a few who have celebrated its beautiful coastline in unforgettable masterpieces. Nice's museums are richly endowed and include the Musèe des Beaux Arts; the Massèna, housed in an Empire style palace; the Chèret, for Impressionists (notably Renoir), and the Musee Matisse, which houses the personal collection of this great Fauvist painter who made Nice his home from 1917 until his death in 1954. It includes famous works like the Blue Nude IV and Woman with Amphora. The museum is in the grounds of a spectacular villa surrounded by olive trees, a great place for a leisurely stroll.

The Musee National Message Biblique Marc-Chagall (Marc Chagall Museum) is worth a visit. Chagall’s Biblical Message Cycle, is a collection of 17 enormous canvases inspired by the Old Testament. This museum is also located in a wonderful natural setting.

Nice also has a thriving Opera house and music buffs may choose to plan a trip when Opera de Nice is offering one of its lavish productions.

Street theatre is alive and well and performing in Nice and International musicians and performers visit Nice throughout the year to play in the many little bars which offer a nightly rotation of bands from 9pm – 2am winter and summer.

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