Nice Cruise & Stay

Vieux Nice, also known as Old Nice, is the historic heart of the city of Nice, located on the French Riviera. It’s a charming area full of narrow, winding streets, colorful buildings, and picturesque squares.

Vieux Nice is a vibrant district, brimming with cultural venues, shopping opportunities, and restaurants. It’s an ideal setting for a sightseeing tour, a shopping spree, or a gastronomic experience. The area is dotted with remarkable buildings that recall Nice’s eventful history.

A visit to Vieux Nice often begins in the Cours Saleya, the sensual center of life in the Old Town. The daily morning market is thronged with locals and tourists alike, and no sooner do the shoppers clear out than the restaurants set up their outdoor tables for lunch. It’s a buzzing square all day and into the night when popular clubs open their doors.

The district is also home to several religious edifices, museums, and galleries. The Lascaris Palace and Galleries des Ponchettes are among the most notable ones. The Opera de Nice, both a historical monument and a crucial institution on the artistic and cultural scene of the city, should not be disregarded either.

Located west of the Port of Nice, Vieux Nice is a place where the past and the present coexist harmoniously, offering visitors a unique blend of traditional charm and modern vibrancy. 

The Colline du Château, also known as Castle Hill, is a significant landmark in Nice, France. It is situated on the eastern end of Nice, looming over Vieux Nice from a height of 92m. By day, the park offers unforgettable views over the Baie des Anges, and by night, the illuminated hill cuts a striking figure against the sky.

Much of the top of the hill is a vast playground and sports center. With its spacious parkland, sweeping views, and evocative ruins, the Colline du Château is a great place to visit with kids. Despite its name, there’s very little of the medieval defensive fortress that remains, which is a shame considering the Chateau’s importance in Nice history.

The story of the hill begins at least as far back as the Bronze Age around 2100BC. Around the third century BC, the hill became a Greek colony trading with the Greek settlement of Massalia (now Marseille). The hilltop settlement became known as Nikaia.

From the time that Julius Caesar conquered the region in 49BC to the fall of the Roman empire in 476, the hill was continuously occupied. By the 11th century, the settlement expanded to include churches, convents, a market, and towers. A second Cathedral was built as well as the first walls to protect the new town.

For the best views over Nice’s red-tiled rooftops, climb the winding staircases up to this wooded outcrop on the eastern edge of the old town. At the top, you’ll find plenty of green space and a wealth of stunning views over the old town, the port, and inland to the Provençal hills all the way to the Alps. The shady trees offer welcome respite on a blazing hot day, and there’s also an artificial waterfall built during the 18th century.

In summary, the Colline du Château is a place where the past and the present coexist harmoniously, offering visitors a unique blend of traditional charm and modern vibrancy.

The Promenade des Anglais is a world-renowned promenade along the Mediterranean coast of Nice, France. It extends from the airport on the west to the Quai des États-Unis on the east, for a distance of approximately 7 km (4.35 miles).

The Promenade des Anglais was built in 1820 at the initiative of the Englishman, Reverend Lewis Way. It starts between Parc Phoenix and Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, extending to the Quai des Etats Unis, at the foot of the Colline du Château. The promenade provides an unlimited and uninterrupted view of the Mediterranean Sea on one side and palm trees and stunning architecture on the other.

For the local inhabitants, the Promenade des Anglais has simply become the Promenade or, for short, La Prom. It is popular with bicyclists, baby strollers, and families, especially on Sundays. It has also become a favorite place for skateboarders and in-line skaters.

Along the way, you run into the most beautiful luxury hotels, such as the Palais de la Méditerranée, the Hôtel West End as well as the legendary Hôtel Negresco. Also along the way is a succession of works of art, pergolas and blue chairs, which have become a real symbol of the city of Nice.

In summary, the Promenade des Anglais is a place where the past and the present coexist harmoniously, offering visitors a unique blend of traditional charm and modern vibrancy.

The Musée Matisse is a municipal museum in Nice, France, devoted to the work of French painter Henri Matisse. It is located in the Villa des Arènes, a seventeenth-century villa in the neighborhood of Cimiez.

The museum gathers one of the world’s largest collections of Matisse’s works, tracing his artistic beginnings and his evolution through his last works. The museum houses 68 paintings and gouaches, 236 drawings, 218 prints, 95 photos, 57 sculptures and 14 books illustrated by Matisse, 187 objects that belonged to the painter, and prints, tapestries, ceramics, stained glass, and documents.

The museum was created in 1963 and occupied the first floor of the villa, the ground floor being then occupied by a museum of archaeology. In 1989, the archaeological museum was moved to the nearby ancient site of the city, allowing the Musée Matisse to be expanded. It was closed for four years during renovations, and reopened in 1993. With a new modern wing as well as renovated spaces, the museum could exhibit its entire permanent collection, which has continued to increase since 1963 through several successive acquisitions and donations.

The museum’s permanent collection is made up of a variety of donations, primarily those of Matisse himself, who lived and worked in Nice from 1917 to 1954, and those of his heirs, as well as works contributed by the State.

In summary, the Musée Matisse is a treasure trove for art lovers and a must-visit for anyone interested in the life and work of Henri Matisse.