March 31, 2009
insider tips: Nice
Sunshine all year round
Whether it's for business or leisure, you can always heat things up in France's second largest city
By deepika shetty
With its blue-green sea, gorgeous coastline, splendid dining options, lovely Art Deco facades and great shopping, the French city of Nice has everything to offer visitors, says Mr Frederic Meyer, 39.
Mr Meyer, director of the French tourism board in South-east Asia, is currently based in Singapore.
It takes 1-1/2 hours to fly from Paris to France's second largest city, which is considered the undisputed Queen of the French Riviera or Cote d'Azur, located in the south-east of France.
From Nice, you can explore cities such as Cannes, Antibes, Grasse, Menton, St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Vence and St-Paul, all of which are synonymous with sunshine, good living and great cuisine, he says.
With 300 days of sunshine a year, Nice is a popular destination for leisure and business travellers. Here are his tips to exploring the city:
PUT ON YOUR WALKING SHOES
Start your Nice trip bright and early with a walking tour of the Cours Saleya Flower Market. The best time to visit is around 6am but no later than 8am, as there is nothing like catching the early-morning market buzz. On Mondays, this area becomes a flea and antique market. Make sure you have plenty of small change because stall owners have been known to turn down a sale when potential customers are carrying large notes.
Then stroll along the world-famous Promenade des Anglais (Walk of the English), a celebrated promenade along the Mediterranean at Nice.
If you are not tired, explore the old town with its typical alleyways, artists and craftsmen before heading up to the Colline du Chateau for a panoramic view of the Baie des Anges (Bay of Angels).
MUSEUM-HOPPING
Visit the Matisse and Massena museums.
Musee Matisse (164 avenue des Arenes, tel: +04-9381-0808, web: www.musee-matisse-nice.org) features drawings and paintings by celebrated French artist Henri Matisse. Two of his famous paintings, Still Life With Pomegranates and Flowers And Fruits, are displayed here.
The museum's permanent collection is displayed in a red-ochre 17th-century villa overlooking the olive-tree-studded Parc des Arenes. Its temporary exhibitions are held in the futuristic basement of the building.
Musee Massena (65 rue de France et 35 Promenade des Anglais, tel: +04-9391-1910, web: www.nice.fr) traces the history of Nice. On the first floor are three main galleries devoted to Nice from 1792 to 1914. The second floor hosts temporary exhibitions and has rooms devoted to musicians, writers and painters who had lived and worked in Nice.
Also, visit the Maeght Foundation (06570 Saint-Paul, tel: +04-9332-8163, web: www.fondation-maeght.com), a museum of contemporary and modern art. Situated at the foothills of the Alps, it combines natural scenic beauty with the whimsical works of artists such as Alberto Giacometti and Joan Miro. It houses one of Europe's most important collections of paintings, sculptures, drawings and graphic works from the 20th century.
DAY OUT AT CIMIEZ HILL
Cimiez is an upper-class neighbourhood in Nice. In Roman times, it was called Cemenelum. The area is home to the Henri Matisse Museum and the Roman Ruins, which include an arena, an amphitheatre, thermal baths and a basilica.
If you visit in July, do not miss the Nice Jazz Festival, which is held at the Roman Ruins.
SHOPPING
Nice has more than 600 shops, art galleries and craft studios.
Traditionally, all shops are closed on Sundays, with some closing on Mondays too. Unlike Singapore, shops do not open all day. Shopping hours are from 10am to noon and 2.30 to 7pm. For luxury brands and boutiques, head to Place Massena and Avenue de Verdun. Here, you can find department stores such as Galeries Lafayette and big brand names such as Hermes, Cartier and Armani.
If you prefer shopping in a mall, there is Nice Etoile, which has more than 100 shops.
Mr Meyer says that shopping packages to France and especially to Paris and Nice are available from Singapore as part of the Shop Till You Drop campaign.
Visit www.franceguide.com/sg for details.
FOOD
'You will be spoilt for choice when it comes to food. There are hundreds of restaurants in Nice and more than 3,000 in the French Riviera, many of which are world famous,' he says.
Do not leave without trying pissaladiere, which is an onion flan topped with anchovies and black olives. You should also try socca, a pancake made with chickpea flour, water and olive oil and baked over charcoal. Finally, do not miss bagna cauda, which is a dish of raw vegetables dipped in a blend of warm olive oil, garlic and anchovies.
'Go for the best of Nice's specialities prepared by chef Dominique Le Stanc. You will be in exceptionally good hands,' says Mr Meyer of the restaurant Keisuke Matsushima (La Merenda, 4 rue Raoul Bosio). Expect to pay about 90 euros (S$181) for a meal for two.
SUNDOWNERS
'You can't visit France and not enjoy the fine wines. I appreciate local wines such as Bellet, Villars-sur-Var and Cotes de Provence. You can enjoy your wine by the beach all day or choose one of the many bars in the city,' he says.
Opera Plage (30 quai des Etats-Unis), Beau Rivage (107 quai des Etats-Unis) and Castel (8 quai des Etats-Unis) are great places to enjoy your drinks.
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