The Best Things to See and Do in Nice, France

You’ve not really been to Nice unless you’ve taken a stroll along the Promenade des Anglais, the pedestrian walkway that stretches for seven kilometres (4.3mi) along the coast, separating the sea from the city. Built in 1820 at the instigation of a group of British residents, la Prom, as it’s known, has become a favourite place to stroll, cycle or simply watch the world go by. It’s also one of the best places to gather on big public occasions – New Year’s celebrations here are something else.

With onion domes and colourful spires that look like they’ve been lifted straight from Red Square, the Russian Orthodox Cathedral cuts a strange silhouette among the stereotypically French apartment blocks of Nice’s Le Piol neighbourhood. But while it might look slightly out of place, the church actually predates many of the surrounding buildings. It was consecrated in 1912, and dedicated to the memory of Nicholas Alexandrovich, son of Tsar Alexander II, and heir-apparent to the Russian throne until his tragic death. He passed away in 1865, at the age of just 21, in a villa not far from this spot. As the largest Russian Orthodox cathedral in Western Europe, it’s a sight worth seeing, but also testament to the long tradition of Russians spending time on the Riviera, one which continues to this day.

With the novelist Roger Martin du Gard, the painter Raoul Dufy and, of course, Henri Matisse having been laid to rest here, it would be worth making a pilgrimage to the Cimiez monastery for its cemetery alone. But the rest of the site, which has been used by monks since the 9th century (a brief break following the French revolution aside) is well worth a visit. The Franciscan Museum provides you with fantastic insights into monastic life down the centuries, and the stunning 15th-century church features three paintings by the Renaissance master Ludovico Brea.

Right in the middle of Nice, just across the Promenade des Anglais from the Centenary Beach sits a pleasant oasis of green, filled with palm trees and fountains. This is the Jardin Albert 1er, a lovely place to sit and watch the world go by after a long day of sightseeing. Named after the man who was King of Belgium when the First World War broke out, it boasts an open-air concert venue, the Théâtre de Verdure, which has hosted everyone from Edith Piaf to Iron Maiden down the years.