Built by Tsar Nicolas in 1912 in a small suburb a half mile west of Nice Ville railway station, the Cathedral offers an impressive architectural sight, and houses treasures of icons, woodwork, and frescos. It was the first church to be designated a Russian Orthodox Cathedral outside Russia, and is a reminder of the long established pre-revolutionary Russian presence on the Riviera at the end of the 19th century, when the Russian fleet used to drop anchor in the deep-water harbour of Villefranche, and the Russian royal family would bury their elderly relatives in the cemetery above Menton.
Occasionally you see groups of local Russian-speakers picnicing in the shadow of the church, but mostly Nice's Russians arrive on frequent direct flights from Moscow. At the airport, if you see lines of prosperous businessmen with surgically-enhanced icy- blondes on their arms, check the flight schedules for Aeroflot. (The most wealthy Russians of course arrive not by plane but in their superyachts, but that is another story)
The cathedral charges a stiff entry fee, as it is not covered by municipal museums free entry policy. If you take a camera with you be very discrete (disable flash!) and be wary of the security staff. Their main purpose in life seems to be preventing anyone taking pictures, rather than stealing pictures. I guess it gives them some sense of purpose but in this digital age its not the way to go. A lot of people on holiday won't even know where they have been until they get back home and download their photos.
Updated Oct 18, 2009
Website: http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=408&category_sakey=178
The cathedral was built under the patronage of Tsar Nicolas II. With its five coloured onion-domed cupolas, it's a stunning example of Russian Orthodox architecture. Inside is stunning too, there are intricate carvings & frescoes.
The cathedral is open daily for a few hours. Be warned, a dress code for visitors applies.
Updated May 5, 2009
There is no need to travel all the way to Russia to take in it's architecture when you can get a small sample of it in the middle of Nice. Built by a rich Russian duke, the cathedral sticks out in comparison to the more modern buildings of Nice. And while it may look like something out of Walt Disney's imagination it was built far before that guy was born!
Written Mar 26, 2008
We read that this Cathedral is one of the most beautiful Russian Cathedrals outside Russia.
Having seen some other orthodox cathedrals in Russia, I must say that this one is definitely beautiful.
It is located in a nice green area of the city, and you cannot see the building untill you're actually in front of it. Its "hidden location" makes it even more isolated from the rest of the city and the Western life style. An oasis!
The façade is in excellent conditions, while the back of the cathedral is a little bit damaged, but still wonderful.
We were lucky to be there while a service was being celebrated: the service is held in Russian, and it is attended by a large Russian community.
The interior is even more impressive than the exterior.
Written Sep 26, 2007
This cathedral display stage of history when Russian aristocrats visited this city and was need for Russian Orthodox Church there. I live in country where Russian Orthodox Church is one of the main churches and so I can aver that Russian Orthodox Church in Nice is really impressive and have true charisma.
There you can by some souvenirs and illustrated material about history of Russian Orthodox Cathedral.
Written Aug 16, 2007
Website: http://www.egliseorthodoxerusse-nice.com/
St. Nicholas Cathedral is one of the most beautiful structures in the French Riviera. There are lots of icons inside.
Some of them are:
Our Lady of Korsoun
The Sacred Face of Jesus
The Apostle St. Peter
The Archangel St. Gabriel
St. Nicholas the Miracle Worker
Our Lady of Kazan
The Archangel St. Michael
The Icon of the Resurrection
St. Alexander Nevsky
The residence where the crowned prince, the son of Emperor Alexander II, Grand Duke Nicholas, became a commemorative chapel.
There was a smaller church before, but since on rue Longchamp in the mid 1800's, but because of the increase of the faithful, there was a need to build the Cathedral.
The Cathedral was inaugurated on Dec. 17, 1912 and is considered one of the most maginificent Russian Orthodox Cathedrals outside Russia.
Updated Jul 1, 2007
The Russian orthodox church near the central station is worth to stroll by.
From the promenade, walk up Boulevard Gambetta and to the left after the undercrossing of the Highway. After a few meters you will see the playfull rooftops of the church to your right.
It's really nice, just sit down on one of the benches around and enjoy the look.
Updated Aug 21, 2006
St. Nicolas Church was built between 1903 and 1912, and was donated by and dedicated to Tsar Nicholas II. It has 6 onion domes and is built in the form of a Greek cross . The exterior is richly decorated in mosaic. The style is based on the Laroslavl church in Moscow. Particularly striking is the large representation of the Turin Shroud held aloft by an angel. Before this made its way to Turin it was one of the holiest relics of the Russian Orthodox Church, kept in the city of Odessa on the Black Sea. There is a small charge to go inside. The interior is also richly decorated, with icons in silver gilt cases and jewel-encrusted treasures. There are no chairs for in the Orthodox Church the congregation stands. Note the commemorative chapel to Grand Duke Nicholas Alexandrovitch who died in Nice in 1865. The east transept is closed off by an ornate screen, separating the 'Holy of Holies' from the rest of the church.
Russians began arriving in Nice in the 1850s. There is still a large Russian population here.
Info taken from here:
http://www.passports.com/trips/cityfact/cityfact.asp?city=Nice
There is an entrance fee 3 euros. I've heard that they dont charge the orthodox believers...
Generaly I came from orthodox country but I get annoyed with fees to enter the churches. I haven't seen chatolich church with a fee...
Written May 4, 2006
Address: Boulevard du Tzarévitch
Picture Group #2
This is a very interesting site to see.
The Russian Orthadox Church in Nice
is one of the finest we have ever seen.
The inside is really beyond description,
and your not supposed to take pictures,
but we snuck in just one to share with
those who might want to see it ....
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Open Times:
May 1st - September 30th:
9 am to 12 noon / 2:30 pm - 6 pm
October 1st - October 31st :
9:15 am to 12 noon / 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
November 1st - February 15th:
9:30 am to 12 noon / 2:30 pm - 5:00 pm
February 16th - April 30th
9:15 am to 12 noon / 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Updated Feb 4, 2006
Address: Avenue Nicolas II - Nice
Phone: 04 93 96 88 02
Website: http://www.egliseorthodoxerusse-nice.com
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Picture Group #1
This is a very interesting site to see.
The Russian Orthadox Church in Nice
is one of the finest we have ever seen.
The inside is really beyond description,
and your not supposed to take pictures,
but we snuck in just one to share with
those who might want to see it ....
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Open Times:
May 1st - September 30th:
9 am to 12 noon / 2:30 pm - 6 pm
October 1st - October 31st :
9:15 am to 12 noon / 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
November 1st - February 15th:
9:30 am to 12 noon / 2:30 pm - 5:00 pm
February 16th - April 30th
9:15 am to 12 noon / 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Updated Feb 4, 2006
Address: Avenue Nicolas II - Nice
Phone: 04 93 96 88 02
Website: http://www.egliseorthodoxerusse-nice.com
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~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Picture Group #1This is a very interesting site to see.The Russian Orthadox Church in Niceis one of the finest we have ever seen.The...
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