Author: Jean-Marc Foulquier

How do you find the Côte d'Azur or French Riviera rental that suits you best? There are plenty of hotel and apartment rentals in Nice and on the Riviera, including in the hinterland. We offer you a vast choice, depending on the town, with a few quick notions to help you in your choices.

Your rental on the French Riviera

The French Riviera or Côte d'Azur is a part of southeastern France. The Riviera stretches from Cannes to Menton. Originally referred to as the French Riviera for the coastal towns, the term now includes both coastal towns and the hinterland.

Coastal towns on the Côte d'Azur or French Riviera

From Cannes to Menton, some fifty kilometers as the crow flies, France's most attractive towns await you. All have their own Provencal charm, atmosphere, relics of the past, museums, quality of life, etc.

We present them here. Our pages on the Côte d'Azur are not yet complete, so vast and attractive is this area.

• Visit Antibes
• Visit Nice
• Villa Kérylos in Beaulieu-sur-mer
• Visit Menton
• Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

The hinterland of the French Riviera

The hinterland of the French Riviera abounds in natural beauty, small perched villages, artists' studios, towns with typical districts and much more. There are so many different places to visit, you'll never be able to do it all.
We'd like to introduce you to some of them, with more in the pipeline.

• Visit Grasse, the city of perfumes

See the whole Riviera

Old Grasse dominates the region as far as the sea and the Bay of Cannes. Perched on a promontory, the old town, still inhabited, is made up of narrow streets and small squares with a certain charm.

Lanes and squares to discover

The alleyways, often steep, go up or down and at times turn into staircases. Most of the traffic is pedestrian, which makes for easy strolling and window-shopping. Indeed, there are many shops selling local products, from olive oils to perfumes.

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Promise yourself along the main axis (east to west) rue Droite, rue Marcel Journet, rue Jean Ossola. They lead to the Place du cours Honoré-Cresp, where children can stretch their legs or take a ride on the merry-go-round, and from which you can enjoy a magnificent panorama. These are the shopping streets of Vieux Grasse.

Also worth knowing is the beautiful rue du jeu de ballon, west of the old town. La rue Napoléon. The little rue de l'amiral de Grasse which leads to the very pleasant place de l'Aire. Or the rue du Grand Puy, adjoining the cathedral, which opens onto a breathtaking panorama.

Sites and museums to visit in Vieux Grasse

Grasse boasts a number of museums, not only of perfume, but also of fine arts and Provencal folk traditions. The painter Jean-Honoré Fragonard spent a long time in Grasse. Several sites are dedicated to him. Here's a list:

• Musée international de la parfumerie
• Fragonard Perfume Museum
• Molinard Perfume Museum
• Parfumerie Galimard
• Fragonard Museum
• Villa Fragonard
• Provençal Museum of Costume and Jewellery
• Musée d'art et d'histoire de Provence
• Musée de la marine Amiral de Grasse

Finally, still in the wonderful historic center, the Cathédrale Notre Dame du Puy.

The Provence Museum of Art and History evokes Provence from prehistory onwards, with a focus on the arts from the 17th to the early 20th century.

Provence Museum of Art and History

This is both an archaeological museum, a museum of popular traditions and a fine arts museum.

Musée des Beaux-Arts

Among the works on display are Berthe Morisot's La Cueillette des oranges à Cimiez, or numerous works by Charles Nègre, painter and photographer, who used photography to reproduce famous paintings, such as Titian's Assumption (exhibited at the Basilica of the Frari in Venice). Also of note are numerous paintings of local landscapes.

Museum of popular traditions

Presented here are numerous folk objects and furnishings: a tricycle-horse, porcelain objects, a sedan chair, various musical instruments, the interiors of a typical folk home or those of a wealthier family, etc.

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Archeological museum

The area devoted to local archaeology features pottery and a skeleton under a batière grave, a rudimentary burial under flat tiles forming two slopes.

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The garden of the Musée d'Histoire et d'Art de Grasse

Visitors can enter the museum's small garden. It's a very pleasant place to stop.

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Practical information

Musée d'art et d'histoire de Provence
2 rue Mirabeau
06130 Grasse

Opening
September 1 to June 30: 10am to 6pm.
July 1 to August 31: 10am to 7pm.
Closing: May 1, 1st Monday of January, February, March, October, November, December, December 25 and January 1.

Official website

This Provençal costume and jewelry museum is the brainchild of Hélène Costa, wife of Jean-François Costa, head of the Fragonard perfumery.

See also the Fragonard perfume museum, the Jean-Honoré Fragonard museum

Provencal Museum of Costume and Jewelry

This museum preserves a wealth of Provencal clothing and jewelry, from the 18th to the late 19th century.
Colorful garments, jewelry and ornaments take us back to the past of the Provence region.

Practical information

Musée provençal du costume et du bijou
2 rue Jean Ossola
06130 Grasse

Opening
Open daily from 10am to 1pm, then from 2pm to 6:30pm

Official website

The Villa Fragonard in Grasse is a late 17th-century bastide. It preserves works by Jean-Honoré Fragonard and other artist members of his family.

You enter via a staircase featuring stunning frescoes by Jean-Honoré Fragonard. They are in grisaille, showing an enlargement of the real door by a trompe-l'oeil door. Masonic and revolutionary symbols are also featured.
Several rooms make up the interior of the bastide, exhibiting copies of important works by Fragonard.

What works and why copies?

Some of the works on display were commissioned by Mme du Barry, mistress of Louis XV, but she refused.
A few years later, her cousin, the enlightened Alexandre Maubert, owner of the bastide, welcomed Jean-Honoré Fragonard.
The artist exhibited the 4 rejected works, Progrès de l'Amour dans le cœur d'une jeune fille, and completed the salon's decoration with other paintings.
Unfortunately, a descendant of Alexandre Maubert sold the paintings, which are now in New York. They are known as the Fragonard de Grasse.
Thankfully, the seller had taken care to have very faithful copies made, which are now on display.

Other exhibits at Villa Fragonard

Since the acquisition of the villa by the city of Grasse, the museum has been enriched. On display, for example, are works by other members of his family (his son Alexandre Fragonard, his sister-in-law Marguerite Gérard, his grandson Théophile Fragonard), the painter's paint box, among others.

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Practical information about the Villa Fragonard in Grasse

Villa Fragonard
23 boulevard Fragonard
06130 Grasse

Opening
School vacations (zone B): 1pm to 5:45pm.
July 1 to August 31: 1pm to 6:45pm.
Closing: May 1, December 25 and January 1.
The villa is currently closed.

Official website

The Fragonard Museum in Grasse brings together works by several renowned Grasse painters. You don't have to do it with the Musée de la Parfumerie Fragonard, nor with the Villa Jean-Honoré Fragonard, which we present elsewhere.

The Fragonard Museum in Grasse

The Musée Jean-Honoré Fragonard celebrates the 18th-century painter, but not only.

Jean-Honoré Fragonard

One floor is devoted to the Grasse-born painter Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732-1806).
A score of canvases are on display: a few portraits, religious scenes or more flighty subjects. The paintings on display may change from year to year.
They come from the Hélène and Jean-François Costa collection, former directors of the Fragonard perfumery.

Marguerite Gérard

Fragonard's paintings are complemented by those of the Grasso-born Marguerite Gérard (1761-1837). Marguerite Gérard was the sister-in-law of Jean-Honoré Fragonard, who taught her the art of intimate portraits and genre painting. She became a recognized painter and was able to live independently.

You need to be familiar with the play of light and shadow in these canvases, the realism of her materials (the silk dresses are models of the genre), the elegance of the scenes. In short, an artist worth (re)discovering.

Jean-baptiste Mallet

The Grasse-born Jean-Baptiste Mallet (1759-1835) painted many delicate, elegant and realistic genre scenes. He also painted more committed scenes, bearing witness to his Directoire and then First Empire era.

Exhibitions at the Fragonard Museum

The museum regularly organizes major exhibitions: Jean-Daniel Lorieux: photographer bienheureux, Mme de sévigné, etc.

Practical information

Musée Fragonard
Hôtel de Villeneuve
14 rue Jean Ossola
06130 Grasse

Open daily from 10am to 1pm, then from 2pm to 6:30pm

Official website

The Galimard perfumery in Grasse is the oldest perfumery still in existence. Its origins date back to 1747.

Parfumerie Galimard

The Galimard perfumery was founded by Jean de Galimard, supplier to King Louis XV. But it was in the mid-20th century that Grasse's first distillery was created. And the first vast space for perfume creation, open to all.

Everyone can visit the museum and the factory, with its laboratory where Galimard perfumes are created.
But they can also sign up for a personal perfume creation workshop.

Practical information

cours Honoré Cresp
06130 Grasse

Opening
Every day, 9:30 am to 6 pm. Saturday and Sunday, closed between 1pm and 2pm.

Guided tours, without reservation, every 20 minutes, every day.

Official website

The Molinard Perfumery Museum in Grasse is established in the Bastide, their former perfume factory.

The Molinard perfume museum in Grasse

This perfume museum takes visitors on a journey through all the stages of perfume production, from raw materials to the final product.
Visitors come face to face with an array of bottles, utensils, copper vats and other machines, a legacy of Molinard's past. But visitors also enter the soap factory, for Molinard does not restrict itself to perfumes alone. It develops a whole range of hygiene and beauty products, always based on subtle fragrances.

Practical information

Musée de la parfumerie Molinard à Grasse
La Bastide
60, boulevard Victor Hugo
06130 Grasse

Opening times
- October to March: Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm.
During school vacations, open Sundays, 10 am to 6 pm.
- April to September: Monday to Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm.
July and August: daily, 10 am to 7 pm.
Guided tours every 20 m.

Official website

The Fragonard Perfume Museum presents a fine overview of the development of perfume, not just those from Fragonard. A museum of perfume through history and the world.

The Fragonard Perfume Museum

The Musée du Parfum exhibits around a hundred perfume objects: perfumers' vials, bottles and jewelry, seeds (myrtle, benzoin), amber, sandalwood, etc. This museum presents objects dating back to antiquity, sometimes astonishing as pommanders (round boxes containing different perfumes for prophylactic purposes) or bergamot boxes, (a box made from bergamot bark) a specialty of Grasse in the 18th century.
This exhibition is complemented by numerous paintings, often of women at their toilette.

The Fragonard perfume factory

The Fragonard factory, opened in 1926, can be visited by appointment on a guided tour. See the huge copper retorts and alembics used to distill perfume. Or the small bottles containing the active ingredients of the perfumes. You'll also see how perfumes are packaged in bottles. Or other objects dating back to antiquity.
This is the whole manufacturing process that you can see, as a happy complement to the museum.

Practical information

Fragonard perfume museum
20 boulevard Fragonard
06130 Grasse

Open daily, 9 am to 6:30 pm

Official website

The international perfume museum in Grasse is a vast, modern space for learning about perfume and its historical, aesthetic, hygienic and social role.

 

 

Grasse International Perfumery Museum

This museum is one of the few on the subject. It cleverly highlights one of the local specialities: luxury perfumery. It features a large number of exhibition rooms, with a particular focus on

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• the various trades involved in the perfume industry,
• the history of perfume and perfumery in Grasse and around the world,
• the production of objects related to perfume,

Visitors admire the beauty of perfume bottles through the ages. They are surprised by the interest in perfume in ancient times. A small garden, or rather a greenhouse, gives visitors a glimpse of some of the perfume plants on display.

Perfumery in Grasse

Thanks to its climate, many species of flowers have been cultivated in the Grasse area. This has been the case since the 17th century. These include tuberose, jasmine, iris, geranium and roses such as Centifolia.
This activity is still very much alive, despite a certain decline, due in particular to synthetic odors. There are still around thirty small producers. Fortunately, the Musée de la Parfumerie preserves, if not the ancestral know-how of the growers, at least their memories and some of their techniques.

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Practical information

Musée international du parfum
2 Boulevard du Jeu de Ballon
06130 Grasse

Opening
From September 1 to June 30: 10am to 6pm.
From July 1 to August 31: 10am to 7pm.
Closed May 1, 1st Monday of January, February, March, October, November, December, December 25 and January 1.

Official website 

Visit Grasse is to enter a world apart, one of elegance, luxury and refinement. Grasse is the city of perfumes. But we mustn't forget the history that has contributed to the development of the town of Grasse and its famous figures, the Admiral of Grasse or Jean-Honoré Fragonard.

Visit Old Grasse

This is where you'll discover Grasse's typical alleyways, which sometimes end in staircases, charming little squares, local produce, artisan workshops and more. Vieux Grasse can be synonymous with quality of life.
And all the more so as the main museums open their doors in this part of the old town.

• Old Grasse, le Vieux Grasse
• International perfume museum
• Fragonard Perfume Museum
• Molinard Perfumery Museum
• Galimard perfumery
• Fragonard Museum
• Villa Fragonard
• Provençal costume and jewelry museum
• Provence Museum of Art and History
• Museum of the navy Amiral de Grasse
• Cathedral of Notre Dame du Puy in Grasse

See also Wikipedia article

The museum of the navy Amiral de Grasse will appeal to lovers of old boats, history buffs and the curious.

Museum of the navy Amiral de Grasse

This museum is located on the first floor of the Villa Fragonard. It evokes old sailing ships and the Marquis de Grasse Tilly, Count of Grasse.

A beautiful museum in the making

This small museum features numerous models of old boats, all linked to Admiral de Grasse. Visitors will also discover paintings of naval battles and representations of Admiral de Grasse in the company of La Fayette and George Washington. A cannon, a costume, various objects and a bust of Admiral de Grasse complete the museum.

Who was Admiral de Grasse

François-Joseph Paul de Grasse (1722-1788) was an officer in the French Royal Navy. He distinguished himself in several European wars. But he is best known for his actions during the American War of Independence. He led a decisive action in Chesapeake Bay (5 September 1781) against Admiral Thomas Graves' English fleet. Destroying enemy ships and preventing any resupply, he was responsible for the surrender of Yorktown (Battle of Yorktown, September-October 1781), which led to the independence of the American colonies and the founding of the Federal Republic of America. Since then, he has become famous in the United States, often depicted in paintings of naval battles or war camps, alongside illustrious men of American independence.

Bust of Admiral de Grasse

A bust of Admiral de Grasse is located near the staircase leading to the museum. Another full-length statue can be found nearby, on the Place du Cours Honoré-Cresp.

Practical information

Musée de la Marine Amiral de Grasse Villa Fragonard, 25 Boulevard Fragonard 06130 GRASSE SUMMER Tuesday to Saturday: 10am - 12pm then 1pm - 6pm WINTER Monday to Friday: 10am - 12pm then 1pm - 5pm Official website

An apartment for rent in Nice near the sea, at a reasonable price ? Find it is not easy. But except with us.
Declared renter 06088009774SM

And moreover, we use organic products.

Location of the apartment for rent in Nice near the sea

Our apartment for rent in Nice near the sea is located at 53 rue de France. So it is 2 minutes walk from the Promenade des Anglais and the sea. Less than 200m.
But also 3 minutes walk from the pedestrian area rue Massena, 10 minutes walk from Old Nice. More central and quiet, you will not find. Accessible from the airport by tram.

• Reception between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• Departure before 11 a.m.
• Luggage store, luggage depot 2 minutes' walk away

In red, our apartment for rent in Nice. In green, points of interest.

Equipment of the studio for rent in Nice

The studio can accommodate 2/4 people for short stays as well as a student in long-term student rental. Fully equipped, it has, among other things:

• small fitted kitchen
• cooking equipment, cutlery
• hotplates
• refrigerator and small freezer
• microwave/oven/grill
• Table, 4 chairs, 2 armchairs
• air conditioner
• washing machine
• small dishwasher
• hair dryer
• necessary for coffee, tea, etc.
• armored entrance door and security closure
• built-in safe
• free fast wifi
• wardrobe, storage
• etc

We provide bed linen and bath towels for summer visitors. For information: the double bed is 140cm wide.

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⚠ Please note: Double bed on the mezzanine with 8 high steps. Height under the mezzanine: 130 cm. Special but acceptable just for bedtime.

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Transport to and from the studio for rent in Nice

The studio is served by all means of transport in Nice. The airport tram stops 7-8 minutes walk from the apartment.

Cabs

We can recommend a number of flat-rate cabs to take you to and from your apartment. This recommendation is completely disinterested on our part, and we receive no commission.

Bus

The bus lines serve the different districts of Nice. Most pass by the Promenade des Anglais, 2-3 minutes on foot.

Trams

The trams make it possible to connect the airport to the center of Nice, the port to the East, then to the north, such as the Museum of Modern Art or Place Garibaldi, for example.

Trains

The central station, the Thiers station is only 15 minutes away on foot. But you can also use the buses to get closer.

Airport

Nice-Côte-d'Azur airport is accessible by tram or taxi.
In addition, be aware that all the precise information is given to you at the time of booking, according to your personal conditions of arrival.
Stop of the tram 7 or 8 minutes on foot from our appartment.

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Hend works with ceramics in Nice, first as a passionate amateur, then as a professional artist. Hend is now a well-known artist based in Nice.

Hend and ceramics in Nice

His material of choice is sandstone, with its diverse colors and textures reminiscent of nature.

Hend's artistic inspiration comes mainly from the sea, that beautiful sea in the Baie des Anges. Sea urchins, octopuses, shells, pebbles, Hend transcends them to give them a singular, original life.
His works each possess a great deal of personality and sensitivity.

Octopuses series

Other production

Who is Hend

Hend Mokrani has followed an atypical and highly versatile career path. Indeed, we find her in international economics, then in youth protection. This didn't stop her, in parallel, from training in the ceramic arts in Sèvres, then in Vallauris.
In 2015, she opened her own studio, first in Vallauris then in Nice.
She has taken part in numerous international exhibitions (Italy, Spain, France).

Practical information

Hend céramique
6 rue de Rivoli (near Villa Massena and Hotel Negresco)
06000 Nice

Open from 3pm to 7pm, Tuesday to Saturday.

Visit by appointment preferred

The Musée Jean Cocteau in Menton has been celebrating the Prince of poets, since 1966.

Musée Jean Cocteau in Menton

The term museum displeased Jean Cocteau, who feared that his exhibited works would take on "an air of habit". For this reason, he himself oversaw the choice of works to be included in the museum's collections, and proposed a rotation of works on display.

The Musée Jean Cocteau collections

It's difficult to describe the collections of the Musée Jean Cocteau in Menton, as the works on display are regularly changed.
Note that in addition to the museum's rotating collection, there are the lesser-known works of the Séverin Wunderman donation.
Paintings, drawings, ceramics add up to an ensemble of over 2000 pieces, including famous major works alongside lesser-known ones. It's one of the great attractions of this museum that it keeps us discovering Jean Cocteau, the man who dabbled in everything

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Practical information

Le Bastion - Musée Jean Cocteau
Quai Napoléon III - Bastion du Vieux Port

Open daily from 10am to 12:30pm and from 2pm to 6pm, except Tuesdays and on January 1st, May 1st, November 1st and December 25th.

Not suitable for people with reduced mobility, as located in a former 17th-century military fort.

official website

The castle cemetery dominates the Vieux Menton. The cemetery sits atop a belvedere. It replaced the ruins of the old Grimaldi castle. A remarkable place. Flaubert and Maupassant, among others, celebrated this cemetery.

The Vieux Menton castle cemetery

The cemetery is divided into several floors.

On the lower level, the sober tombs are those of the Anglo-Saxons, Protestants.
Not far away is the German part of the cemetery.
Further on, the Italians, further still the Russians, etc.

Famous graves in the cemetery

There are many remarkable tombs with outstanding sculptures. We can't list them all here.
Note the tomb of William Webb Ellis, the inventor of rugby.
Note also the Lentz tomb. Ernest Lentz, suffering from tuberculosis, had come to Menton for treatment. In vain, he died on November 27, 1910. His young wife refused to leave him and committed suicide the same day. They were 24 and 22 years old.
And above all, the Tombeau Lewandowska, of Polish princess Janina Jelowickich Lawandowska. The statue depicts the flight of a young woman, leaving her tomb, turning her back to the sea and rising towards the sky.
Many of the tombs date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, belonging to prominent local families.

As you make your way along, you'll also come across enamelled plates. They are brick-colored. They bear handwritten maxims, in French or other languages.
These plaques support the meditation necessary for this place, and accompany the suffering of those who have lost a loved one.
The plaques are the work of artist Jacqueline Verdini.

The Russian cemetery

Within the Vieux Château cemetery, a section is dedicated to the Russian Orthodox cemetery. As in Nice, many Russians stayed in Menton in winter.
As early as 1880, a Russian square was laid out, around the Russian chapel of Notre-Dame-des-Affligés.

Practical information

Cimetière du Château du Vieux Menton
unu, Mnt du Souvenir, 06500 Menton

Open daily, 7 am to 7 pm

More info about this cemetery

Old Menton, the Vieux Menton, is the original town, situated on a hill overlooking the Bay of Garavan.

Visit Old Menton

Stroll through the narrow streets and squares of Vieux Menton, look up at the bell tower of the Basilica of Saint-Michel Archange, look down at the pavement, take a passage under the houses, climb up to the castle cemetery.
The old white stones, ochre facades, green plants and blue sky combine to create a festival of colors. Stroll slowly through Vieux Menton, soaking up the old-fashioned atmosphere.

The forecourt of the Basilique Saint-Michel Archange

The façade of the basilica and its bell tower dominate the forecourt of the Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel. See the floor, it is paved with pebbles depicting the Grimaldi family coat of arms. To the west, the chapel of the White Penitents. To the east, the stairs of the Saint Michel ramp lead down to the coastline and the Sablettes beach.
It's a 360° experience.

The Basilica of Saint Michel Archange

The Basilique Saint Michel Archange was built in 1639. It has a baroque interior, with numerous chapels, each housing paintings and sculptures. The vaulted ceiling is a trompe-l'oeil by the Cerrutti-Maori family (possibly Carlo Cerrutti-Maori, the father, and painted or restored by Guillaume, the son).
The façade of this basilica is also in the Baroque spirit, but was completed in 1819. It is adorned with statues of (left) Saint Maurice, patron saint of the House of Savoy, (right) Saint Roch, healer of the plague, and (center) Saint Michael the Archangel.
The steeple is 53m high and dates from 1701.

See also the castle cemetery.

Le Nomade in Antibes is a monumental sculpture, some ten meters high and representing the bust of a giant figure.

Nomade in Antibes

The most striking feature of this monumental work is its hollow structure made up of letters of the alphabet. In fact, this monumental work is made up of white letters, linked together and leaving a gap between each one.
A partly transparent statue takes pride of place on the Saint-Jaume bastion.
The public can enter inside. It's a play on light, transparency and brain stimulation, thanks to the multitude of letters it's composed of.
This work belongs to the Musée Picasso in Antibes.

Where is Jaume Plensa's Nomade

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The port of Antibes was once protected by the Tour Saint-Jaume, destroyed in the 17th century. a fortification that would become part of the Vauban walls. Then came the Basion naval building, which was destroyed after 1985. Since then, and after restoration, the old Vauban fortifications remain.
On this military bastion stands one of Antibes' now emblematic sculptures: the Nomade.

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Who is Jaume Plensa

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Jaume Plensa is a Catalan-born artist. He is the author of Conversation, the sculptures of seated men in Nice's Place Massena, among others. https://nice-riviera.com/place-massena-a-nice/
He creates works, mostly figurative, that are meant to be exhibited outdoors, in plain sight and most (not all) destined to travel from city to city.

Practical information

Le Nomade, by Jaume Plensa
Quai Henri Rambaud
06600 Antibes

Open daily except Monday
From September 1 to May 30: 10 am to 8 pm
From June 1 to August 31: 10 am to 11 pm

The Picasso Museum in Antibes is housed in the Grimaldi Palace. It houses works by Pablo Picasso, but not only, as it also has a collection of modern art, among others.

Picasso's works

Picasso stayed in Antibes. During his stay, he worked in this Grimaldi palace. He left a legacy of 23 paintings and 44 drawings to the town of Antibes. These works are currently on public display.
Later, the museum was enriched by ceramics by Picasso, produced in Vallauris. Other works from the Jacqueline Picasso donation will follow.
Thus, a series of rooms will present a representative part of Picasso's oeuvre.

Works by Nicolas de Staël

Nicolas de Staël also lived in Antibes. Some of his works were donated by his widow, and the town itself enriched its collections, acquiring other important works by Nicolas de Staël.
The works are not always on public display.

Modern and contemporary art

In 2001, two rooms were opened at the Musée Picasso to house donations from the Hans Hartung and Anna-Eva Bergman Foundation.
But the modern art collections had been in preparation for a long time. Works by famous artists such as Arman, Balthus, Calder, César, Ernst, Hartung, Klein, Modigliani, Picabia, Schiller, etc.

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Practical information about the Musée Picasso in Antibes

From September 16 to June 14: 10am - 1pm / 2pm - 6pm
From June 15 to September 15: 10am - 6pm
Open every day except Monday, January 1, May 1, November 1 and December 25

The Picasso Museum is free for all, two weeks a year:

from the first Tuesday after November 1 to the following Sunday.
from the first Tuesday in February to the following Sunday.

Official website

The Antibes Fort Carré reflects the town's position, facing both the sea and Nice. A place with a double border, we explain why.

The Antibes Fort Carré on a border?

The Antibes Fort Carré is a Renaissance fort. Henri II (1519-1559), King of France, had it built to protect the town. Indeed, Antibes was under attack from looters from the sea. Above all, the fortress protected the population from the County of Nice. Antibes was located on the border between the Kingdom of France and the County of Nice. The latter was then under the domination of the Duchy of Savoy, against which Henry II was fighting several battles further north. It was therefore necessary to protect the town.

The Fort Carré in Antibes

The Fort Carré dominates a promontory. High ramparts with sentry walkways and watchtowers surround the central edifice. It is shaped like a four-pointed star. The interior contains a round structure, the Saint-Laurent Tower.
Star-shaped, round structure, but why is it called Fort Carré? It's hard to find a square structure in this fort. But it is. Inside the central building (which can also be square), the courtyard is square, with a pointed extension at each corner. It is from this inner courtyard that the name Fort Carré is said to have originated.
It is a handsome, solid edifice, with the watchtower rising 43 meters above sea level. Numerous rooms, designed to accommodate troops or spaces for defense and combat.
It's worth visiting, both for its authentic fortress appearance and for the sublime panorama seen from the top of its walls.

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A preserved natural site

The Fort Carré is surrounded by a vast park of protected nature. It is home to typical Mediterranean flora and fauna. It is criss-crossed by paths that allow you to discover and appreciate a typical natural environment.

Practical information

Fort Carré in Antibes
Avenue du 11 Novembre
06600 Antibes
The entrance is around the fort. Enter from the east of the fort.

July 1 to August 31: 10 am - 6 pm
September 1 to June 30: 10 am - 5 pm
Please note: It remains closed during bad weather, as the stones become too slippery.

Open every day except Monday, January 1, May 1, November 1 and December l25.

Official website

The Provencal market in Antibes

The Provencal market in Antibes features stalls full of colorful spices, mouth-watering cheeses, fragrant charcuterie, fruit and vegetables, and, depending on the season, artisan stalls. And, depending on the season, artisan stalls as well.
This market offers local products in part, but not exclusively.
Nowadays, the loud voices of the merchants are less audible, as they hail passers-by, boast about their wares or scratch neighboring vendors in a friendly and jocular manner.
This market is replaced in the afternoon by the artisans' market.
See days and times in the Practical Info section.

The artisans' market

The market welcomes artisans in the same hall. The artisans and artists set up shop, and it's a different kind of enchantment, in a quieter atmosphere.
Painters, jewelry designers, potters, etc., present their handicrafts. Unlike the food market, these are not always the same artisans from one day to the next. Unlike the food market, these are not always the same artisans from one day to the next.
See days and times in the Practical Info section.

Provencal market in Antibes Practical info

Provencal market
Halles du cours Massena

Provencal market
Open Tuesday to Sunday, 6am to 1pm
Open daily in June, July, August, 6am to 1pm
Craftsmen's market
Open 3pm to 6pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday
In summer, open 3pm to 6pm Tuesday to Sunday

There's nothing revolutionary about this free commune of Safranier in Antibes. No spirit of independence is claimed by its creators. This neighborhood is all about maintaining a certain quality of life. The area is pedestrianized. Numerous gatherings and parties are organized, to strengthen ties between members of the neighborhood and preserve their tradition.

The Safranier free commune in Antibes

The commune libre stretches around the Place du Safranier, in old Antibes, between Rue de la Tourraque and Rue du Haut Castelet.

Some Safranier events, among others

• Giant aioli
• Square ball competition
• Pistou soup
• Harvest festival
• Chestnut Festival
• Log festival = Fête de la bûche
• and many more.

The Safranier free commune in Antibes came into being in the 1960s, in old Antibes.
Commune libre is therefore understood as a neighborhood free not to be devoured by the modern world, free not to lose its past.

To visit Le Safranier

This is an area to visit on tiptoe, with the deepest respect for its inhabitants. Visit as if you were entering a guest's apartment.

Of course, Old Antibes, the Vieil Antibes, is the original inhabitant of the modern town. Perfectly preserved and restored, it's a particularly pleasant place to stroll.

The Old Antibes, Le Vieil Antibes

There are charming little streets with a certain architectural unity. Stone, plants growing right on the street, soft green shutters and the pedestrianization of the area encourage you to take an idle stroll.
Restaurants welcome you on their terraces or in their gardens. You'll discover artisan stalls, stalls selling local produce, etc.

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What to see in Old town

Amateurs won't want to miss the Rue de la République, towards the port, where they can discover craftsmen, such as glassmaker Didier Saba, or artists who visit from time to time.
This is where you'll be immersed in a friendly, colorful atmosphere. You can also visit the Picasso Museum, the Peynet Museum, the Postcard Museum, etc.

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We must visit Antibes for

• its history,
• and old streets,
• its museums,
• its quality of life.

Visit Antibes in 1 day

Needless to say, to discover the essential of Antibes, one day won't be enough. Depending on your individual tastes, you may want to focus on Old Antibes and the ramparts:

• Old Antibes, le Vieil Antibes
• Safranier in Antibes, a free commune
• Provencal market in Antibes
• Antibes Fort Carré

or, for art lovers:

• Old Antibes, le Vieil Antibes
• Antibes Fort Carré
• Picasso Museum in Antibes
• Nomade in Antibes

See Antibes in 2 or 3 days and more

In a few days, you'll visit more calmly and enjoy the town's atmosphere, both in Old Antibes, the port and the modern town, not forgetting its beaches and coves.

• Old Antibes, le Vieil Antibes
• Safranier in Antibes, a free commune
• Provencal market in Antibes
• Antibes Fort Carré
• Picasso Museum in Antibes
• Nomade in Antibes
• and other suggestions below.

In preparation
The washhouse
Beaches and creeks of Antibes
Other visits to Antibes
Cap d'Antibes
Jazz à juan festival

Official Tourist Office website

The Nice guide for kids, written by Jean-Marc Foulquier, is aimed at 7-14 year-olds. It helps young readers discover and love Nice, so they can become guides for the adults who accompany them.

Nice guide for kids

This Children's Guide to Nice presents the must-sees of Nice, but also topics that will be of interest to young readers: Promenade des Anglais, hill and waterfall, museums, parks and games, little electric train, and more.

Worth noting: The Top secret section establishes a complicit tone with young readers, delivering "secrets" as they visit.

What's more, this guide is enhanced by little games: riddles, intrusions. Everything is done to encourage the pleasure of visiting Nice.

Practical information about the Guide

90 p. Color illustrations.
Ages 7-14.
ISBN-13: 979-8329034059
Paperback $10
Digital format $8,05

See the Guide on Amazon.COM
or Amazon.FR.
See the digital version

The Rauba Capeu sundial measures a dozen meters in diameter and is painted horizontally on the ground. It is therefore located just a few metres from the #IloveNice sculpture. Users can find out what time it is by looking at the shadow of their head.

Sundial, quai Rauba Capeu

You can't miss it, it's just a few meters from the sculpture #IloveNice. The Sundial, quai Rauba Capeu is right at the foot of the Château hill, it was set up on June 21, 1981, the day of the summer solstice. It is inclined and has 24 branches indicating the hours. But only 12 are numbered from 7 to 18 and extend to the end of the dial. In addition, between lines 12 and 13, the North Pole is indicated. It uses the user's shadow to deliver the time. The 1.70 m tall person must stand on the rosette, the shadow of the head indicates solar time.

Plaques under the sundial, quai Rauba Capeu

As you can see from the photos, three metal plates beneath the sundial give us important indications.

The first indicates the date of its installation 21 06 1981, the position 43°41'22'' north latitude and 29 m 11 s. 29 being a time scale.
This sundial is the work of B Milet Cal, P Février Cog, and R Capron Fec.
The Société astronomique de France has found the meanings of the abbreviations Cal. Cog.Fec. Either:

• Cal = Calculavit: "calculated... " from Latin calculare
• Cog = Cogitavit: "was conceived by..." from the popular Latin cogitare
• Fec = Fecit: "was made by ... " from classical Latin facere.

Bernard Milet , well-known astronomer, made the calculations (Cal). Roger Capron, a renowned ceramist, designed the dial artistically.
As for the second plate, it shows the operating instructions. It reads:
Solar Dial The solar time determined by the shadow of the head of a 1m70 observer, placed on the rosette, must be corrected according to the date by the number of minutes indicated on the graph.

The third is more complex.

You can read, at the bottom horizontally the months and at the left vertically the correction to be applied in minutes...

A correction is necessary because the inclination of the globe's axis of rotation is different in each season.

Solar time and GMT

The sun's path is always from east to west. To find the solar time of a town in France, you first need to locate the town in relation to the meridian that sets France's time zone, because fortunately there's only one.
This means knowing whether the city is east or west of the meridian, and then adding or subtracting minutes. For example, Strasbourg: add 31 minutes, Nice: add 29 minutes, Lyon: add 19 minutes, Amiens and Paris: add 9 minutes and Bordeaux: subtract 3 minutes.
Remember, of course, that solar time is different from Greenwich Mean Time.
GMT time was created to harmonize, quite useful when traveling to several cities and countries. In simple terms, it's the local mean time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, from midnight onwards.

Roger Torrenti and the Sundial, Quai Rauba Capeu

Roger Torrenti is an engineer at École centrale Paris and President of the Sundial Commission of the Société Astronomique de France since 2021.

Only someone 1.7 m tall can get the time right. Smaller or taller people will note an approximate time.
Many people wonder why this choice and design!
Roger Torrenti, on the other hand, performed the calculations and says it would be easy to add stars based on height.

He is also, the author of Les cadrans solaires : histoire, théorie et construction, it is free to download. The paper version can be purchased online.

In short, the time indicated by a sundial is solar time and is specific to its location. Your watch, on the other hand, indicates legal time, based on the Greenwich meridian.
The dial and the watch never give the same time.
In Nice, once you've discovered the time on the sundial on the Quai Rauba Capeu, you have to look up. And look, admire the magnificent scenery all around, including the view over the Baie des Anges.

Useful information

Sundial
Quai Rauba Capeu
near #ILoveNice
Nice

Please note that there are different spellings for Rauba Capeu, Rauba Capèu or Rauba Capeù...

See also our pages :
I love Nice
Rauba Capeu quay
War memorial of Nice
Sundial Rauba Capeu

#ILoveNice was born after the July 14, 2016 tragedy in the city of Nice. The aim was for everyone to post a publication to explain why they love Nice.
The sculpture was inaugurated in 2016, in front of the water mirror on the Promenade du Paillon.

#ILoveNice

#ILoveNice is a 3D autolithic metal structure from France Festivités.
Measuring around 8 meters wide, 3.5 meters high, it changes color frequently. Usually in traditional blue, white and red, it leaves its colors for, for example :
- The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in 2021, for the story's 75th anniversary.
- the colors of OGC Nice in 2022
- a cyclist's silhouette, to mark the passage of the Tour de France
- during the exhibition of Orlinski's work, a gorilla over three meters tall was attached to the base of the ILoveNice building
- a pink ribbon for October, for breast cancer screening
- in orange in support of the fight against violence against women for World Day, November 25, 2023.
740,000 posts on Instagram. The #ILoveNice is intended to federate and spread positive energies around Nice and its gentle way of life," says Nice town hall, which regularly incorporates the structure's image into its communications media (excerpt from France3-régions).
At its current location, on the Quai Rauba Capeu, the hashtag is in the colors of France, blue, white and red, ideally placed with the Baie des Anges in the background.

In 2017, a partnership between Decathlon and the city of Nice to create a T-shirt featuring the #ILoveNice logo saw the light of day. Profits from the sale were donated in full to three associations helping the victims of the July 14 attack.

#ILoveNice or J'aime Nice

#ILoveNice, the star of selfies isn't unanimous, it has its detractors.

The Observatoire des libertés would like to replace the #ILoveNice with J'aime Nice. He hopes to enforce the 1994 law prohibiting the use of the English language for trademarks and service marks whenever a French word exists.
"It makes perfect sense in this place and with this language" asserts Gilles Povigna, who had participated in its manufacture with France Festivités. He also adds, "Before you want to start a revolution over a word, you need to find out because there are strong symbols for some people, and the hashtag resonates for many, especially for those who lost a loved one that day. "
The reality is that foreign tourists love ILoveNice and they find it more international.

#ILoveNice replaced by #FreePalestine

At the end of last year, a new twist, protesters were planning to replace the structure at midday, a month after the genocide on the people of Gaza began, BFM Côte d'Azur article.

Technical specifications of the #ILoveNice

Total length: 8m
Total height: 3.50m
Base width: 1.20m
Weight: nearly 2 tonnes
Material: car body sheet metal
Paint: body paint in the exact colors of the French flag
Cost: €9,000 inc.

La Maison de Nice #ILoveNice

Note that La Maison de Nice, which is the official store of the city of Nice, declines the ILoveNice in different forms. Caps, aprons, hats ...branded ILoveNice.

Information

#ILoveNice
Quai Rauba-Capeu
Nice

Please note, there are different spellings for Rauba Capeu, Rauba Capèu or Rauba Capeù...

See also our pages :
I love Nice
Rauba Capeu quay
War memorial of Nice
Sundial Rauba Capeu

The war memorial of Nice is located on the route of the first path, the old chemin des Ponchettes. From Cours Saleya, it was possible to reach the Lympia port. It is dug directly into the rock of an old stone quarry.

The war memorial of Nice

This quarry was used to build the harbor quays in the 18th century, as well as the pier in the 19th century. Construction of the memorial was completed in 1927, after 3 years of work.
The architect of this Art-Deco style monument is the Niçois Roger Séassal, Grand Prix de Rome in 1913.

This Nice war memorial is 32 m high, the niche carved into the stone is framed by an arch.

The reliefs present on either side, symbolizing war and peace, but also violence and appeasement. They are sculpted by Alfred Janniot. The Sun Fountain on Place Masséna is also one of his creations.
And between the two reliefs is inscribed the following words: "The City of Nice to its sons who died for France: Remember the works that your fathers accomplished in their time and you will receive an immortal name and glory". Just above this inscription is the eagle, the symbol of Nice.
To reach the niche, you have to climb five steps. They represent the five years of the 1st World War. In the middle is an enormous urn on which are engraved the names of the main campaigns of the war, such as Somme, Marne, Verdun, Artois... On the wall below, the names of 4,000 Nice residents who died for France are inscribed.

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On either side of the forecourt are steles adorned with bas-reliefs representing the artillery, air force, cavalry, engineers, infantry and navy.

Inauguration of the Nice War Memorial

It was inaugurated on January 29, 1928 by Marshal Foch, but also by English, American and Italian naval officers.
During the ceremony, the families of the victims placed the identity plaques in a bronze reliquary, itself sealed in the funeral urn.

In late October 2018, a bronze eagle-shaped reliquary was discovered in the Monument aux Morts in Nice. This reliquary weighs 31 kg 500 and measures 28 cm high and 42 cm wide. After being cleaned, it was not opened for ethical reasons, but scanned. And it revealed what was inside: rings, bracelets and almost 2,000 plaques of soldiers who fell at the front in the First World War.

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The bronze eagle was exhibited at the Nice town hall on November 9 and 10, then placed on the forecourt of the war memorial. Thus, after the November 11, 2018 ceremonies, the eagle-shaped reliquary was returned to the place of its discovery.

Distinctions from the Nice War Memorial

On November 28, 2000, it was awarded the "Patrimoine du XXe siècle" label. But also first prize at the Trophées de l'aménagement urbain in 2004. It has also been listed as a historic monument since May 24, 2011.

Information

Monument aux morts de Nice
Quai Rauba-Capeu
Nice

Beware, there are different spellings for Rauba Capeu, Rauba Capèu or Rauba Capeù...

See also our pages :
I love Nice
Rauba Capeu quay
War memorial of Nice
Sundial Rauba Capeu

The Rauba Capeu quay is a continuation of the Promenade des Anglais and the Etats-Unis quay. On this quay, you'll find the war memorial, the giant hashtag #ILOVENICE, as well as the sundial and Notre Dame des fonds marins.

Why Rauba Capeu ?

Quite simply because this name, comes from the Nicoise language and translates as "hat fly". It's the windiest spot due to its geographical location. Indeed, the tip of Rauba Capeu quay juts out into the sea, and the combined east and south-west winds blow and circulate unstopped by any element...

Rauba Capeu quay

It stretches 300 meters long and extends the Promenade des Anglais and the Quai des Etats-Unis towards the Port Lympia.

It offers a view not only of the Promenade des Anglais, but also of the Mediterranean.

From this quay, walkers admire the whole Promenade des Anglais and even the airport, is visible from this spot. When you stop for a moment, you can feel like the captain at the bow of a ship sailing on the open sea. Strollers' eyes are delighted by the spectacle of waves crashing against the rocks.

Modernization of Quai Rauba Capeu

In 2003, Quai Rauba Capeu underwent a number of transformations.
Marseille-based StoA Architecture, the 3 architects Thierry Ciccione, Charles Bové, Pascal Urbain elaborate and design the project. The Quai Rauba Capèu project won the 2004 Prix de l'Architecture in the Urban Development category.
Every effort is made to make the quay a place that is used and visited. These include level pavements, a cycle path following on from the Promenade des Anglais, and a long stone bench. Spotlights have also been installed to illuminate the path at night.

Monument aux Morts

The Monument aux Morts (war memorial) of the city of Nice is located on the first pathway, the old chemin des Ponchettes. It is carved directly into the rock.

#ILOVENICE

#ILOVENICE came into being following the tragedy of July 14, 2015, in the city of Nice.
With the aim that everyone can post a publication to explain why they love Nice.

Solar sundial Quai Rauba Capeu

This horizontal sundial on Quai Rauba Capeu measures a dozen meters in diameter and allows whoever stands on the small star to obtain the time thanks to the shadow of their head.

Our Lady of the Deep

Notre Dame des fond marins is a statue immersed 15 meters below the surface of the water. It was blessed in 1968 by Monseigneur Jean Mouisset, Bishop of Nice, and immersed by the Nice fire brigade. The Virgin watches over divers.
50 meters from the shore, Our Lady of the Deep in Nice rests 15 meters below the surface of the sea. The Virgin sits on a large rock (Seiche de Nice), the work of sculptor Alfred Gualtierotti.

Photos from the following site: http://dive-sites.olivierlecorre.com/nice/site-plongee-nice-rauba-capeu-la-vierge.html

Information

Quai Rauba Capeu
East side of Promenade des Anglais
06300 Nice

Please note that there are different spellings for Rauba Capeu, Rauba Capèu or Rauba Capeù...

See also our pages :
I love Nice
Rauba Capeu quay
War memorial of Nice
Sundial Rauba Capeu

The Palais de la Méditerranée is located at 13-15 Promenade des Anglais in Nice. Its history is long and tumultuous. From its name Palais de la Méditerranée, it became the Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée. Today, it boasts 187 rooms, including nine suites, and was awarded 5 stars on September 30, 2009.

Construction of the Palais de la Méditerranée

After the First World War, two major leisure establishments, the Jetée-Promenade and the municipal casino, were the talk of Nice. Given the vogue for sea bathing and gambling, in 1920, three economic players planned to build a third establishment.

The trio consisted of financier Frank Jay Gould, hotelier Joseph Aletti and casino owner Edouard Baudoin. A competition was organized and won by the Dalmas Père et Fils architectural firm. From 1927 to 1928, the project employed 350 workers and cost thirty million francs.
When it opened in 1929, it included a casino, bars, restaurants, a dance hall, exhibition rooms and an 800-seat theater.

Dalmas Père et fils

Charles Dalmas was born in Nice on March 11, 1863 and died in Nice on October 18, 1938. He was a French architect who worked extensively in Nice, and his son worked with him.
Marcel Dalmas was born in Paris on May 25, 1892 and died in Nice on July 16, 1950. He was the son of architect Charles Dalmas and Hélène Marie Willemse.
His buildings in Nice include the Immeuble Nahapiet, Hôtel Royal and Hôtel Ruhl, all three on the Promenade des Anglais. But also the École des Arts Décoratifs, in which both father and son taught, the Immeuble de la Tour, the Villa de la Société du littoral and many others.

Façades of the Palais de la Méditerranée

Reinforced concrete was used, and the facades were Art-Deco in style.
In 1927-1928, under the responsibility of architects Charles and Marcel Dalmas, Antoine Sartorio created the facade's decorations of horses and female figures.
Antoine Sartorio's work is of particular interest in the interwar period. He perfectly embodies those artists of the thirties who were enamored of monumental art and worked in close collaboration with architects. His research always focused on architecture and symbolism. His Art Deco style combines pure lines and volumes that evolve towards geometrisation. Based on Antoine Sartorio, sculpteur des corps et des âmes, Violaine Menard-Kiener, Le Tholonet, 1996. This is Antoine Sartorio's granddaughter.

The decline of the Palais de la Méditerranée

World War II and the casino war halt the palace's rise. A long period of deterioration followed, followed by receivership in 1978. See the disappearance and murder of Agnès Le Roux by her ex-lover, Jean-Maurice Agnelet. In 1981, the Palace's stained glass windows were auctioned off, along with the furniture and décor.

Thanks to writers Michel Butor, Max Gallo and several associations, the palace was saved. Their actions led to the classification of the facades as historic monuments by decree on August 18, 1989. They were also awarded the "Patrimoine du XXe siècle" label. Unfortunately, in 1990, all but two of the palace's facades were demolished. Classified as such, they were propped up at the rear, and were to remain in this state alone for 10 years.

New Palais de la Méditerranée

In 1996, SCI France Congrès submitted its first building permit, which was granted. It was then annulled by the Administrative Court. In 1999, it was finally validated by the Court of Appeal the following year. By the end of 2000, however, only the underground parking lot was in operation.
Then, in 2001, the Société Hôtelière du Palais de la Méditerranée and the Société du Louvre invested 120 million euros in the reconstruction. The Palais de la Méditerranée finally reopened in 2004.
Constellation Hotels Holding, a Luxembourg-based company controlled by Qatari capital, owns the hotel. Operations are entrusted to the American hotel chain Hyatt.
This hotel became the Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée. The 5-star hotel features 187 rooms (including 9 suites), a restaurant, a bar, a heated indoor-outdoor swimming pool and 1,700 m² of reception space. The Palais de la Méditerranée casino, meanwhile, is managed by the Partouche group, and includes two restaurants, reception areas, and an auditorium seating over 1,000.

Information

Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée
13 prom Anglais,
06000 Nice

The Musée International d'Art Naïf Anatole Jakovsky in Nice, MIAN, is located at Château Sainte-Hélène, Avenue de Fabron. It presents the history of naive painting, from the 18th century to the present day. Its park is also worth surveying for the giant sculptures by Frédéric Lanovsky, but also for its herbarium.

Exterior of MIAN Anatole Jakovsky in Nice

The architectural style is Belle Epoque.
The museum is surrounded by a large park containing rare tree species. For the Museum's 40th anniversary in 2022, the park registers new plantings and a herbarium. This herbarium is made up of flowers represented in the paintings featured in the MIAN's works. The theme of La Biennale des Arts de Nice 2022 was therefore flowers.

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Outdoors, the château's gardens also feature works of art, the giant, highly colorful sculptures by Frédéric Lanovsky. Since summer 2009, artist Frédéric Lanovsky has been presenting his large, but somewhat strange, human sculptures. They bring cheerfulness thanks to their colors, and there's also a hint of mischief... As you stroll through the park, you'll discover them. And if you fall under their spell, you can always buy one, as they're for sale.

Interior MIAN Anatole Jakovsky in Nice

The MIAN Anatole Jakovsky in Nice traces the history of naive painting from the eighteenth century to the present.
Included are paintings, sculptures, drawings and posters by Rimbert, Lefranc, Rabuzin, Ivan and Josip Généralic, Lackovic, O'Brady, Haddelsey, Ligabue, Vivancos and others.
Among the best known are works by Henri Rousseau,better known as Douanier Rousseau, Séraphine de Senlis, Grandma Moses, Antonio Ligabue, Ferdinand Desnos, etc.

The Collections

Note that in addition to the donation from Anatole and Renée Jakovsky, the city of Nice has since purchased some of the paintings.
In addition, the Centre Pompidou also lends works by Bombois, Bauchant, Vivin, Séraphine de Senlis... with the aim of enriching the collection of the Musée International d'Art Naïf Anatole Jakovsky in Nice
The Jean-Dominique Jacquemond donation, in 2015, is not to be outdone, as it enriches the Museum, with works by Gaston Chaissac, Anselme Boix-Vives, Barbiero, Forestier and Michel Macréau...

An exhibition saw the light of day in 2017, Pièces à Conviction.

Naïve art

Why then, naive?

Naïve art, quite simply because it's spontaneous, far removed from academic codes. Through their works, artists invite the viewer on an imaginary journey. It's the artist who defines perspectives and dimensions, without any rules. The colors are bright and the details precise. In some works, we also note a certain innocence, we also notice a note of humor on the part of the artist.

Musée International d'Art Naïf à Nice, exhibitions

Past exhibitions

EchO: exhibition from June 26 to October 25, 2021.
#enlargeyourlife: exhibition from July 17 to November 9, 2020.
#roseestlavie!... from November 22, 2019 to April 20, 2020.

The anniversary exhibition: from March 5 to December 31, 2022.
Biennale des arts de Nice 2022, Les Fleurs du Mâle: from June 11 to December 12, 2022.

Exhibition in progress

We're all crazy until May 6, 2024
500 m2 just for Benjamin Vautier, aka BEN, and that's for one year.

History of the Musée d'Art Naïf in Nice

Around 1860, banker Jean Honoré Gastaud bought the estate at the foot of Fabron hill in Nice. After the banker went bankrupt and the estate was divided up, it was François Blanc, founder and director of the Monaco casino, who bought the property, which was to become the Musée International d'Art Naïf in Nice.
It was also the former residence of parfumer François Coty, from 1922 to 1973. He named it Château Sainte-Hélène.

François Coty was a French perfumer and industrialist, founder of the Coty perfume company, but also a publisher, politician, press owner, art collector, mayor, etc.
After his divorce, it was his ex-wife Yvonne Lebaron who refurbished the house. In 1930, she asked Nice architect H. Malgaud to make changes to the building, including removing the decorations created by architect Aaron Messiah.
On April 6, 1973, Château Sainte-Hélène was sold by the daughter of François Coty to the city of Nice.
The Musée International d'Art Naïf Anatole Jakovsky is born thanks to the donation of around 600 works by Anatole and Renée Jakovsky in 1982.

Then inaugurated on March 5, 1982 as the Musée International d'Art Naïf Anatole Jakovsky in Nice.
For its 40th anniversary, it is undergoing embellishment work to welcome a fine program in 2022.

Useful information Musée International d'Art Naïf

Musée International d'Art Naïf Anatole Jakovsky à Nice
Château Sainte-Hélène
23 Avenue de Fabron
06200 Nice, France

Access Bus : 34 with stop : Deux Cyprès

Hours:
January 2 to June 22 inclusive: opens at 11 am and closes at 6 pm
June 23 to October 15 inclusive: opens at 10 am and closes at 6 pm
October 16 to December 31 inclusive: opens at 11 am and closes at 6 pm
Closes: Tuesdays all day and on the following public holidays: 01/01, Easter, 01/05, 25/12,

Villa Kérylos is a classical Greek-style villa built in the 20th century for Théodore Reinach. Astonishing. So let's visit it together, with photographs by Blandine Thn.

The "Greek" Kerylos villa

This villa is based on ancient Greek domestic architecture, as if its architect had lived several centuries BC.
Indeed, everything is Greek and antique.
The plans themselves, supervised by Théodore Reinach, are based on the structure of Greek houses. The rooms are entitled Thyrôreion (porter's lodge), Proauleion (forecourt), Amphityros (vestibule), Peristyle (colonnade surrounding the inner courtyard), etc.

The peristyle

The peristyle is a gallery surrounding a space, in this case a square courtyard with a pool at its center. Frescoes cover the walls, illustrating episodes from Greek mythology.

The library

The library is a vast, lofty room with books that are barely visible. In fact, books from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries are kept in closed cupboards. Wooden doors and frescoes cover the walls. The floor is covered with a mosaic.
Note the antique-inspired three-legged tables.

The dining room

The octagonal dining room (triklinos in Greek) has also been reconstructed in the image of ancient Greek and Roman houses. Table beds surround the table. The beds have a wooden frame and interwoven leather straps, covered with cushions. So everyone ate lying down. This was the men's dining room.
On the other hand, women and children had lunch and dinner in the adjoining living room for meals.

Mister's bedroom

Erotès is the bedroom of Monsieur Théodore Reinach. The decoration features Eros, god of love. There's also a mosaic of Dionysus on the floor, surrounded by dolphins. And Athena, goddess of war and wisdom, on the walls.
The bed is a model of the one found in Pompeii. The dominant red color recalls that of the palace at Knossos and the homes at Pompeii.

Madame's bedroom

The Ornitès, Madame Reinach's room, is dedicated to Hera, goddess of femininity and fertility. It features numerous representations of birds, notably swans and peacocks.
This is no coincidence, of course. The peacock is the animal emblem of Hera, goddess of femininity and fertility, and wife of Zeus. There's a parallel here with Mme Reinach, wife of Théodore Reinach.
Once again, the room is structured and decorated as in classical Greece. But it has been modernized, albeit discreetly.
In fact, the room has an adjoining room. This is an open-air toilet with shower and a bathroom with bathtub, all fed by rainwater tank.

Furniture at Villa Kérylos

The furniture is entirely created for this villa. It is imagined on the basis of antique furniture, not just Greek. These are not copies of furniture, but antique creations. Armchairs, chairs, sideboards, tables, lighting fixtures - absolutely everything was designed for this house, by the greatest artists of the time.

The villa's tableware

The tableware is no exception. Indeed, 150 pieces of ceramics are also unique, created by Emile Lenoble.

Decorating the Villa Kérylos

The decoration, too, was created in the same spirit, from the mosaic floor to the coffered ceiling, including painted walls and bay windows, embankments, columns, frescoes, mosaics and more.

Mosaics

The frescoes

The mosaics depict the myths of Theseus and the Minotaur in the labyrinth, marine elements (octopuses, dolphins, etc.), Triptolemus on his chariot bringing agriculture to mankind, etc.

The decoration is largely the work of Gustave-Louis Jaulmes and Adrien Karbowsky. The frescoes take up themes from Greek mythology: Apollo's return from the land of the Hyperboreans, the death of Talos killed by Jason, the marriage of Pelops (who gave his name to the Peloponnesian peninsula) and Hippodamia, etc.

Who was Théodore Reinach, creator of the Villa Kérylos?

Théodore Reinach (1860-1928) was a member of parliament, professor of numismatics, specialist in ancient Greece, historian, archaeologist, art critic and more. He was so passionate about Greek civilization that he commissioned the architect Emmanuel Pontremoli to build an ancient villa.
On his death, he bequeathed the villa to the Institut de France. The building has since been managed by the Centre des monuments nationaux.

Practical information

Villa Kérylos
Impasse Gustave Eiffel
06310 Beaulieu-sur-Mer

Access
By bus: Bus 607 or 15, Kérylos stop.
By train: Beaulieu-sur-Mer station 10 minutes away.

Open from 10am to 6pm, May 2 to August 31
and 10am to 5pm, September 1 to April 30
Closed on January 1, May 1, November 1 and 11 and December 25.

Official website