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    Insight Guides Explore Nice & French Riviera (Travel Guide eBook)
    Insight Guides Explore Nice & French Riviera (Travel Guide eBook)
    Insight Guides Explore Nice & French Riviera (Travel Guide eBook)
    Ebook466 pages3 hours

    Insight Guides Explore Nice & French Riviera (Travel Guide eBook)

    By Insight Guides

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    About this ebook

    Insight Explore Guides: pocket-sized books to inspire your on-foot exploration of top international destinations. Now with free eBook.

    Practical, pocket-sized and packed with inspirational insider information, this will make the ideal on-the-move companion to your trip to Nice and the French Riviera
    Enjoy 14 irresistible Best Routes to walk, from Nice and its famous food market, to glitzy Monaco and the exquisite perched villages of ze and Roquebrune
    Features concise insider information about landscape, history, food and drink, and entertainment options
    Invaluable maps: each Best Route is accompanied by a detailed full-colour map, while the large pull-out map provides an essential overview of the area
    Discover your destination's must-see sights and hand-picked hidden gems
    Directory section provides invaluable insight into top accommodation, restaurant and nightlife options by area, along with an overview of language, books and films
    Includes an innovative extra that's unique in the market - all Insight Explore Guides come with a free eBook
    Inspirational colour photography throughout

    About Insight Guides: Insight Guides has over 40 years' experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides. We produce around 400 full-colour print guide books and maps as well as picture-packed eBooks and apps to meet different travellers' needs. Insight Guides' unique combination of beautiful travel photography and focus on history and culture together create a unique visual reference and planning tool to inspire your next adventure.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherInsight Guides
    Release dateFeb 1, 2018
    ISBN9781786712950
    Insight Guides Explore Nice & French Riviera (Travel Guide eBook)
    Author

    Insight Guides

    Pictorial travel guide to Arizona & the Grand Canyon with a free eBook provides all you need for every step of your journey. With in-depth features on culture and history, stunning colour photography and handy maps, it’s perfect for inspiration and finding out when to go to Arizona & the Grand Canyon and what to see in Arizona & the Grand Canyon. 

    Read more from Insight Guides

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    • 5/5
      I bought this, not knowing when I’d be going to Tokyo, but found out I would be going there sooner than I thought. Less that a year after buying this book I found myself in Tokyo for a 4 hour layover. I hadn’t bookmarked anything in this book, and had barely read it, but I had broughtit along with me so when I landed in Japan, I’d know what to do. Thanks to this book I was able to go through the very difficult task of taking all the trains into the city from Narita Airport and rushing to Shibuya, Harajuku and Shinjuku. It was stressful and confusing, but I managed it, and am so happy I did. It totally worth the effort (not to mention money). If this book can guide me in a rush through Japan, then I’m sure it can do its job wonderfully if you actually read the whole book! And the maps Insight Guide includes with numbers, matching with sites being described is so helpful. It also includes a small fold out map (not entirely helpful) with a bunch of restaurants pinpointed on it. Defiantly a necessity for all planning on going to Tokyo.

    Book preview

    Insight Guides Explore Nice & French Riviera (Travel Guide eBook) - Insight Guides

    How To Use This E-Book

    This Explore Guide has been produced by the editors of Insight Guides, whose books have set the standard for visual travel guides since 1970. With ­top-­quality photography and authoritative recommendations, these guidebooks bring you the very best routes and itineraries in the world’s most exciting destinations.

    Best Routes

    The routes in this book provide something to suit all budgets, tastes and trip lengths. As well as covering the destination’s many classic attractions, the itineraries track lesser-known sights, and there are also ex­cursions for those who want to extend their visit outside the city. The routes embrace a range of interests, so whether you are an art fan, a gourmet, a history buff or have kids to entertain, you will find an option to suit.

    We recommend reading the whole of a route before setting out. This should help you to familiarise yourself with it and enable you to plan where to stop for refreshments – options are shown in the ‘Food and Drink’ box at the end of each tour.

    Introduction

    The routes are set in context by this introductory section, giving an overview of the destination to set the scene, plus background information on food and drink, shopping and more, while a succinct history timeline highlights the key events over the centuries.

    Directory

    Also supporting the routes is a Directory chapter, with a clearly organised A–Z of practical information, our pick of where to stay while you are there and select restaurant listings; these eateries complement the more low-key cafés and restaurants that feature within the routes and are intended to offer a wider choice for evening dining. Also included here are some nightlife listings, plus a handy language guide and our recommendations for books and films about the destination.

    Getting around the e-book

    In the Table of Contents and throughout this e-book you will see hyperlinked references. Just tap a hyperlink once to skip to the section you would like to read. Practical information and listings are also hyperlinked, so as long as you have an external connection to the internet, you can tap a link to go directly to the website for more information.

    Maps

    All key attractions and sights mentioned in the text are numbered and cross-referenced to high-quality maps. Wherever you see the reference [map] just tap this to go straight to the related map. You can also double-tap any map for a zoom view.

    Images

    You’ll find lots of beautiful high-resolution images that capture the essence of the destination. Simply double-tap on an image to see it full-screen.

    © 2018 Apa Digital (CH) AG and Apa Publications (UK) Ltd

    Table of Contents

    Recommended Routes For...

    Architecture fans

    Children

    Food markets

    Gardeners

    Modern art lovers

    People-watching

    Superb views

    Yachting and sailing

    Explore Nice and the Riviera

    Geography and Layout

    Town layouts

    Climate

    History and Architecture

    Modern innovation

    Population

    Young and cosmopolitan

    Local Customs

    Language

    Economy and Politics

    Future plans

    Food And Drink

    Local Specialities

    Olives and olive oil

    Vegetable cornucopia

    Fish

    Meat

    Cheeses and desserts

    Cuisine niçoise

    Where to Eat

    What to Drink

    Shopping

    Fashion

    For the beach

    Arts and Crafts

    Food and Wine

    Entertainment

    Theatre

    Dance

    Rock and Pop

    Classical Music and Opera

    Cinema

    Nightlife

    Festivals

    Classical and Opera

    World, Rock and Pop

    Jazz and Electronica

    Theatre and Stand-Up

    Off-Season Festivals

    History: Key Dates

    From Prehistory to the Romans

    Dark and Middle Ages

    Renaissance and Baroque Eras

    Revolution and Empire

    Birth of Tourism

    20th- and 21st-century Riviera

    Vieux Nice

    Development

    Around the Opéra

    Cours Saleya

    Place Pierre Gautier

    Rue des Ponchettes

    Ancien Sénat

    Église Ste-Rita

    Rue de la Préfecture

    Place du Palais

    Place du Rossetti

    Cathédrale Ste-Réparate

    Église du Jésus

    Palais Lascaris

    Place St-François

    Promenade Des Anglais

    Place Masséna

    Carré d’Or

    Promenade des Anglais

    Palais de la Méditerranée

    Musée Masséna

    The Negresco

    West along the promenade

    Musée des Beaux-arts

    Ground floor

    First floor

    Behind the Promenade

    Quartier des Musiciens

    Rue de la Buffa

    Cimiez

    Boulevard de Cimiez

    Musée National Marc Chagall

    Grandes résidences

    Hotel Excelsior Régina

    Remains of Roman Nice

    Musée d’Archéologie de Nice – Site de Cimiez

    Musée Matisse

    Cimetière de Cimiez

    Église Franciscaine

    Promenade du Paillon

    Jardin Albert 1er

    Place Masséna

    Promenade des Arts

    Mamac

    Tête Carrée

    Palais des Congrès Acropolis

    Gallery District

    Théâtre de la Photographie et de l’Image

    Colline Du Château And Vieux Port

    Place Garibaldi

    Colline du Château

    Medieval ruins

    Monument aux Morts

    Vieux Port

    Musée d’Archéologie de Nice – Site de Terra Amata

    Boulevard Franck Pilatte

    Antiques District

    Corniches Drive

    Basse Corniche

    Villefranche-sur-Mer

    St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

    Beaulieu-sur-Mer

    Cap d’Ail

    Grande Corniche

    Roquebrune Village

    La Turbie

    Moyenne Corniche

    Èze Village

    Monaco

    Marché de la Condamine

    Monaco-Ville

    Palais Princier

    Cathédrale

    Musée Océanographique et Aquarium

    Port Hercule

    Monte-Carlo

    Nouveau Musée National de Monaco

    Place du Casino

    Menton

    Modern Menton

    Jardin Biovès

    Promenade du Soleil

    Salle des Mariages

    Halles Municipales

    Musée Jean Cocteau – Collection Séverin Wunderman

    Rue St-Michel

    Musée du Bastion

    Vieux Menton

    Basilique St-Michel Archange

    Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs

    Cimetière du Vieux-Château

    Garavan

    Jardin Botanique Exotique Val Rahmeh

    Vence

    Porte du Peyra

    Cathédrale

    Along the Moat

    Around Place Godeau

    Château de Villeneuve

    Antibes

    Port Vauban

    Porte Marine

    Vieil Antibes

    Musée Picasso

    The collection

    Marché Provençal

    Musée d’Archéologie

    Quartier du Safranier

    Place Nationale

    Towards Port Vauban

    Le Fort Carré

    Cannes

    Palais des Festivals

    La Croisette

    Grands Hôtels

    Around Rue d’Antibes

    Rue du Bivouac Napoléon

    Allées de la Liberté

    Marché Forville

    Le Suquet

    Notre-Dame de l’Espérance

    Musée de la Castre

    Grasse

    Musée International de la Parfumerie

    Rue Jean Ossola

    Around the Cathedral

    Place aux Aires

    Usine Historique de Fragonard

    St-Tropez

    St-Trop on Screen

    Vieux Port

    Musée de l’Annonciade

    Maison des Papillons

    The quays

    La Glaye

    Around the Hôtel de Ville

    Citadelle

    Around Place des Lices

    Massif Des Maures

    All in a Name

    Cogolin and Grimaud

    La Garde Freinet

    Chartreuse de la Verne

    Collobrières

    Col de Babaou

    Bormes-les-Mimosas

    Cap de Brégançon Beaches

    Le Lavandou

    Domaine du Rayol

    Accommodation

    Nice

    The Corniches

    Monaco

    Menton

    Vence

    Antibes

    Cannes

    St-Tropez

    Massif des Maures

    Restaurants

    Nice

    The Corniches

    Monaco

    Menton

    Vence

    Antibes

    Cannes

    Grasse

    St-Tropez

    Massif des Maures

    Nightlife

    Music and Dance Venues

    Theatres and Cinemas

    Nightclubs and Casinos

    A-Z

    A

    Age Restrictions

    B

    Budgeting

    C

    Children

    Clothing

    Crime and Safety

    Customs

    D

    Disabled Travellers

    E

    Electricity

    Embassies and Consulates

    Emergencies

    Etiquette

    G

    Gay/Lesbian Travellers

    Green Issues

    H

    Health

    Pharmacies and Hospitals

    Hours and Holidays

    Public Holidays

    I

    Internet Facilities

    Kids

    L

    Language

    Left Luggage

    Lost Property

    M

    Maps

    Media

    Money

    P

    Police

    Post

    R

    Religion

    S

    Smoking

    T

    Telephones

    Time Zones

    Toilets

    Tourist Information

    Transport

    Arrival by Air

    Arrival by Rail

    Driving

    Car Ferry Operators

    Eurotunnel

    Public Transport

    Taxis

    V

    Visas and Passports

    W

    Websites

    Women Travellers

    Language

    General

    Getting around

    Emergencies

    Shopping

    Sightseeing

    Dining out

    Online communications

    Social Media

    Books and Film

    Books

    Non-Fiction

    Fiction

    Film

    Recommended Routes For...

    Architecture fans

    There’s Baroque in Vieux Nice (route 1) and Menton (route 8); Belle Époque on Nice’s promenade des Anglais (route 2), in Cannes (route 11) and Monte-Carlo (route 7); and modern on Nice’s promenade du Paillon (route 4).

    iStock

    Children

    Antibes (route 10) and the Maures (route 14) have lovely sandy beaches, the Citadelle in St-Tropez is a hit with kids (route 13), and the colourful fish are a winner at Monaco’s Musée Océanographique (route 7).

    Sylvaine Poitau/Apa Publications

    Food markets

    Succumb to the colourful fruit and vegetables at cours Saleya and St-François fish market in Vieux Nice (route 1), and the animated covered markets in Cannes (route 11), Antibes (route 10) and Menton (route 8).

    Sylvaine Poitau/Apa Publications

    Gardeners

    The Riviera’s tropical vegetation is astonishing. Visit Val Rahmeh and the gardens of Menton (route 8), Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild (route 6), Domaine de Rayol (route 14) and Monaco’s Jardin Exotique (route 7).

    Sylvaine Poitau/Apa Publications

    Modern art lovers

    The Côte d’Azur was a hub of the 20th-century avant-garde. Visit Matisse and Chagall museums in Cimiez (route 3), the Musée Picasso in Antibes (route 10) and Matisse’s chapel in Vence (route 9).

    Sylvaine Poitau/Apa Publications

    People-watching

    Enjoy celeb-spotting from a terrace on the Vieux Port in St-Tropez (route 13), the obligatory stroll along La Croisette in Cannes (route 11) and the constant activity on place du Casino in Monte-Carlo (route 7).

    Sylvaine Poitau/Apa Publications

    Superb views

    Get a bird’s-eye view from the perched villages of Èze and Roquebrune (route 6), look down on Vieux Nice from the Colline du Château (route 5) and see the sea from the Corniche des Maures (route 14).

    iStock

    Yachting and sailing

    Admire the luxury craft in Antibes (route 10) and at St-Tropez (route 13), Cannes (route 11) and Monaco (route 7). Learn to sail at Bormes-les-Mimosas (route 14) and Nice’s Vieux Port (route 5).

    Sylvaine Poitau/Apa Publications

    Explore Nice and the Riviera

    From Nice’s Belle-Époque promenade des Anglais to Romanesque cathedrals and medieval hill villages, the French Riviera offers a beguiling mix of the grandiose and the intimate along with a variety of architecture waiting to be discovered.

    It is the colours you notice first: stucco houses of all tones from cream via amber to deep russet; the white limestone crags of the Alpes-Maritimes against the blue of the Mediterranean Sea; and the red sandstones, grey schists, green serpentine and cork oaks of the Var. Together with the Riviera’s luscious vegetation, vibrant flowers, green-grey olive trees and diverse vegetables overflowing from market stalls, these elements create a brilliant palette of hues – offset by the southern sun – which has inspired Signac, Dufy, Matisse and countless other artists over the years.

    The hill town of Èze, with Cap Ferrat in the distance

    Fotolia

    Geography and Layout

    The routes in this guide first explore Nice (capital of the Alpes-Maritimes département), then they focus on the coastal strip between Menton by the Italian frontier to the east and Cannes in the west, before heading inland to Grasse and Vence in the Pre-Alp foothills, and westwards as far as St-Tropez and the rugged Massif des Maures in the neighbouring region of Var.

    Town layouts

    The Riviera’s history and climate have largely determined the layout of its towns. Most are characterised by an Old Town in the centre, where a tight maze of medieval streets and stairways often grew up around a church or defensive keep, and tall houses and narrow streets ensured shade and relative cool even in summer.

    From the 19th century, New Towns developed around them; these were characterised by neoclassical, Belle Époque and Art Deco terraces and villas, whether laid out on a grid as in Nice’s New Town or romantically meandering as in Nice’s Cimiez district and Cannes’ Croix des Gardes.

    Beyond often lies a sprawl of modern public housing estates and suburban apartment blocks and houses. The demands of both permanent residents and mass tourism have sometimes led to seemingly uncontrolled construction, where, beyond a few exclusive peninsulas, the dense bétonisation (concreting-up) of the coast has in places turned the Riviera from an idyllic destination into an urban nightmare of strip development.

    Climate

    A Mediterranean climate of hot dry summers, mild winters and sun that shines for more than 300 days a year has always been one of the area’s attractions, although dramatic thunderstorms in late summer and in autumn, when torrential rain occasionally causes flash flooding, are not unknown. Global warming and overdevelopment have contributed to fears of rivers drying up, shortages of water and the risk of summer fires. While the French Riviera is now chiefly a summer destination, Nice is a great city to visit all year round. In winter or springtime, museums are less crowded, the arts season is in full swing, hotels and restaurants remain open and sunshine is still almost always guaranteed.

    Nice’s famous promenade des Anglais

    iStock

    History and Architecture

    Prehistoric cave dwellers, Phocaean traders, Roman garrisons and medieval monks and warlords have all left traces. However, the French Riviera’s architectural heritage was largely shaped by power struggles between French-ruled Provence and the Italian-dominated Comté de Nice – which has given such an Italianate flavour to Vieux Nice – as well as battles for control of the Mediterranean between France, Spain and Italy.

    The 16th and 17th centuries saw the construction of citadels at Villefranche-sur-Mer and St-Tropez and the star-shaped fortifications of Antibes. The Wars of Religion and Counter-Reformation backlash have left the area peppered with ornate Baroque churches and chapels full of starbursts, loud marble and cherubs intended to reinforce the Catholic faith. Outside Vieux Nice, the city reflects first the planning ambitions of the kings of Sardinia-Piedmont, with the elegant, classical, arcaded place Masséna and place Garibaldi, and after 1860, of its new Second-Empire French rulers, with its grid of streets, train station and the busy thoroughfare, avenue Jean Médecin.

    But the area’s history has also been moulded by its visitors, leaving a legacy of cheerfully eclectic Belle Époque seaside architecture evident in flouncy palatial hotels, extravagant villas, neo-Gothic Anglican churches and exotic domed Russian Orthodox churches, as well as remarkable gardens, created by the green-fingered who introduced an extraordinary array of tropical plants.

    Modern innovation

    If a lot of recent seaside apartment blocks are remarkably banal, clearly caring more about balconies with sea views than aesthetics or innovation, there is also some exciting modern architecture to discover, such as the Musée Chagall and along the promenade du Paillon in Nice, and Menton’s Cocteau museum designed by Rudy Ricciotti.

    At the Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain in Nice

    Sylvaine Poitau/Apa Publications

    Population

    With a population of some 344,000, Nice is France’s fifth city, and lies at the heart of a conurbation of over 1,000,000 of the département’s 1,083,312 inhabitants. These figures reveal a vast difference between the densely populated coastal strip and sparsely inhabited interior.

    Young and cosmopolitan

    Despite its dowager reputation, Nice is actually a surprisingly young city. Fifty percent of its population is aged under 40, with a growing student population. Some 26,000 students are enrolled at the Université Nice Sophia Antipolis, which has a growing reputation, notably for law, social sciences and scientific research. There are also huge seasonal variations in numbers. A resort like St-Tropez swells to over 80,000 in the summer and settles back to a villagey 4,400 in winter.

    The population is also distinguished by its high proportion of incomers, reflecting not just France’s traditional immigration from North and

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