Nice for Beginners - essential logistics
by NiceLife
The secret of travel happiness is triangulation.
Transportation termini inwards and outwards, Accommodation location, things to see and do.
I have tried to put the bare bones together on one map, to enable you to judge the best fit. the fonts are not great at this size.
Nice Tip
by Janina_B.
PROMENADE DES ANGLAIS never ceases to amaze newcomers or to rekindle the fond memories of faithful guests.
Maurice Chevalier said: 'When you count the wonders of the world, never forget to include the Champs-Elysees and the Promenade des Anglais into whose turquoise coloured bay angels come to frolic'.
The promenade is almost 8 km long and stretches from Albert I gardens to Nice-Cote d'Azur airport and the floral gardens at Arenas.
Christmas in Nice
by allaboutnice
Nice is a lovely city in December. The weather is usually crisp and cold with blue skies and sunshine so that it is quite possible to eat outdoors but with a coat on.
Many Christmas activities take place in Place Massena, a large square in the centre of Nice. In the summer this is a pleasant place to stroll and watch the beautiful fountains.
For Christmas, however, the square is completely transformed. There is an enormous Big Wheel - 'le grand rou' which is lit up at night (plus wonderful views from the top of the wheel during the day so don't forget your camera) and an outdoor ice-skating rink so remember to take gloves.
Surrounding the fountains of Place Massena a 'Christmas Market' of about forty wooden chalets sell decorations, food and gifts. There is also a 'Creche' (Nativity) to admire. All the flower beds of the summer have been replaced by a 'Christmas wonderland' consisting of a short walk through a 'forest' of Christmas trees.
Across the road towards the sea and left a bit, in the medieval Old Town of Nice you will find red carpets laid out on the narrow pedestrian roads and the shops all beautifully lit and decorated for Christmas. At the centre of the Old Town, outside the Cathedral St Reparate in Place Rossetti, for a few days around Christmas, there is a 'living crib' with real people and animals taking part in the Nativity. A programme for this (in French) can be found here.
The main road that follows the sweep of the sea, the Promenade de Anglais, is lined with Palm Trees and in December they are covered in Christmas lights and rather svelte Santas.
See my December 2002 page for photos from last December. I need to sort out my 2003 photos soon...
To see a short video of the Christmas Village in Nice last December please click here.
Take a trip to lovely Moustiers
by angiebabe
Only one and a half hours away is lovely Moustiers, nestled below rocky mountains that border west of the Gorges du Verdon - the 'Grand Canyon of Europe' nearby (also a lovely day trip or make a 2 day circuit to include that lovely drive and a visit to Moustiers and back to Nice).
I was there in February - the weather was nice and the spring flowers were out - and it was a lovely enough time of year to drive around and visit. In the summer is when the place shows its enormous popularity deluged with hordes of tourists - flocking to see the picturesque village with its quaint buildings with old stone bridges with waterfall and creek running down through the place.
Theres also the challenge of the 45 degree hike up to the little church of Notre Dame de Beauvoir above and a sight of a gold star that has been hanging over the town strung between two rocky outcrops.
And many go to shop for the pastel and pretty but expensive Moustiers faience (hand painted ceramics)
Parc and Chateau Valrose
by NiceLife
The Parc Valrose is really part of the University of Nice school of sciences. Set in a large estate, high-tech modern buildings blend sensitively with the splendid monumental Chateau Valrose, accompanied with greek mock ruined temple and grotto, and a lovely small lake with japanese water feature. Late afternoon is a great time to enjoy the park as the students are all off home. The Parc is in southwest of Cimiez, glimpses of whose superb belle epoche granduer can be seen in the background. It is accessible on foot some two kilometres northeast of the railway station.