NICE and EASY
USEFUL LINKS
ORGANIZE YOUR STAY IN NICE

Nice is a city of paradoxes, audacity, discovery and pleasure. Located in the heart of one of the world's most highly prized regions, at the gateway to major European cities, it offers its rich history, wonderfully  sunny climate and ideal geographic location between the sea and the montains...
A symbol of the Mediterranean art of living.

Webcam of Nice : http://pv.viewsurf.com/?id=40
TRANSPORT
AIRPORT SHUTTLE TO THE CITY CENTRE AND BACK
BUS LINE 23: Airport / Gare SNCF
 BUS LINE 98: Airport / Coach Station and back
BUS LINE 99: Airport /  SNCF central railway station and back
 Airport: www.nice.aeroport.fr
Bus: www.lignedazur.com
Tramway: www.tramway-nice.org
Train: www.sncf.com/en_EN/flash/
Port & Ferries: www.riviera-ports.com - www.corsicaferries.com
Road: information on road & traffic conditions: www.bison-fute.equipement.gouv.fr
Taxis: Central Taxi Riviera 24/7 + 33 (0)493 13 78 78
Taxis Niçois Indépendants: + 33 (0) 93 88 25 82
DISCOVERING NICE DIFFERENTLY

Walking Tours
"Heritage guides tours"
Tours on historical or architectural themes specific to Nice
Book your tour online: www.nicetourisme.biz
 BY BUS
Guided tour by minibus: www.nicetourisme.biz
Hop on Hop off tour of Nice on a double - decker bus: www.nicelegrandtour.com
 BY TRAIN
Little tourist train: www.petittrainnice.com
BY BICYCLE
An original and ecological way of discovering Nice, these electric tricycles driven by young drivers will take you wherever you like.
Cyclotour: + 33 (0) 826 10  00 03
BY CARRIAGE
Tours in a horse-drawn carriage: équiservice: + 33 (0)6 07 85 72 26
BY BOAT
Discover the coastline :  Mini cruise: www.nicetourisme.biz
 BY AIR
 Panoramic flights over the "Baie des Anges":  www.azurhelico.com - www.survolezvosvacances.com

Our 'MUST SEE' list:
The Saint Nicolas Russian Orthodox Cathedral : one of the biggest outside of Russia
In the old Town
Palais Lascaris: the finest example of barocco civilian archecture
Cathedral Of Saint Réparate: the largest sanctuary in the old town, early Baroque architecture
Palais de la Méditterranée:  sumptuous Art-deco façade, a listed historic building
Hôtel Negresco: this belle-époque landmark is the only museum and luxury hotel in Nice, a listed historic building
Tête Carrée/The Square head : devised by sculptor Sacha SOSNO
 
ARTISTIC LIFE
No, Nice is not just "Sea, Sex and Sun" as you will discover,  the town has a lot to offer for lovers of the Fine arts.   Thanks to the likes of Picasso , Matisse , Renoir , Chagall who all came to reside on  the French Riviera  to capture its unique light , Nice now abounds in  museums  for all tastes and styles.
As you stroll through the streets , keep an eye out for all the « plaques » which  indicate that a well-known artist "once lived here" .

Marc Chagall Museum : www.musee-chagall.fr
Asian Arts museum : www.arts-asiatiques.com
Museum of archaeology : www.musee-archeologique-nice.org
Museum of Art & History – Palais Masséna : www.nice.fr
Museum of Modern & Contemporary Art : www.mamac-nice.org
Anatole Jakovsky International museum of Naîve Art : www.nice.fr
Fine Arts Museum : www.musee-beaux-arts-nice.org
Matisse Museum : www.musee-matisse-nice.org
Terra Amata Museum of Human Palaeontology : www.musee-terra-amata.org

Tips : Admission free on the first and third Sunday of each month, and all year round for
Palais Lascaris , prieuré du vieux –Logis , and Museum d’Histoire Naturelle .
You can also buy a 7-day pass for 7 €.

More
Picasso , Matisse, and after ?

"School of Nice"
Nice  was the place of an important  artistic revival starting with the  Nouveau réaliste movement and its 3 figures : Martial Raysse , Arman and Yves Klein (the famous Klein blue),
then the Fluxus movement  with Ben , followed by the support surface (another component of the artistic creativity of Nice, an artistic movement initiated by Claude Viallat), and finally Group 70, the latest generation of a new artistic movement in the « School of Nice » whose founders were Charvolen, Miguel, Chagallis, Isnard, and Maccaferri who  explore the material of painting, the history of the image and  questions related to representation.
The Mamac (the museum of Modern and Contemporary Art) has a good selection of works from this period.

Some of the very important artists whose work you can find in the Town
Sacha Sosno (the square head) the first inhabited sculpture:   www.sosno.com
Ben Vautier (the tramway signs): www.ben-vautier.com
Arman (sculpture in town ) www.arman-studio.com
Moya : www.moyaCircus.com
Niki de saint phalle (sculpture and a fountain ) www.nikidesaintphalle.com
Bernard Venet (big sculpture in park)  www.bernarvenet.com

If you want to know what’s on, or to see the latest modern art exibitions in the area: www.de-lart.org

And don’t forgot that along Line 1 of the tramway you can discover 14 works of art if you take the tram from one end to the other !

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NICE CUISINE
     Few cities have their name directly associated with a particular type of cuisine:
   in France, there is the cuisine of Lyon and the cuisine of Nice.
 
SOME SPECIALITIES
SOCCA
A sort of savoury, very thin "giant pancake", made from chick-pea flour and olive oil.
PISSALADIÈRE
A savoury onion tart with slivers of anchovy and black olives
 TOURTA de BLÉA

A sweet pie with "blettes" and pine kernels.


RECIPE OF  "PAN–BAGNAT"

Take a small round loaf of bread, cut it in half, rub each inside with a clove of garlic, add slices of tomatoes, radishes, hard-boiled egg, spring onion, violet artichoke hearts, some small fresh broad beans, a little tuna-fish, a few anchovies, vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, basil and stoned olives and ..... open wide !





Not to be missed !



RAVIOLIS
Prepared with a stuffing made from "daube" (beef stew).


GNOCCHIS

Made from potatoes.


RATATOUILLE

Tomatoes, red peppers, aubergines, courgettes, onions and garlic fried separately then cooked together.


PORQUETTA

Stuffed suckling pig.


TRIPES À LA NIÇOISE

Tripe in a tomato sauce.


STOCKFISH
The basic ingredient is dried salt cod which has to soak for 4 to 5 days in regularly changed water, and is then fried with onions tomatoes and white wine. This dish must cook gently for 2 hours, then one adds a few anchovies, a handful of olives and ... that's it.
AÏOLI

Mayonnaise with garlic and olive oil, served with a lot of vegetables and cod
La SOUPE au PISTOU
Prepared with leeks, carrots, celery, courgettes, green beans, red or white beens and diced potatoes. This soup's particular flavour comes from the "pistou" that is added just before serving: a sauce made from garlic, basil and cheese.






where to eat these specialities

✧ Acchiardo   38 rue Droite, Vieux-Nice, tél. 04 93 85 51 16
✧ A Buteghinn  11 rue du Marché, Vieux-Nice, tél 04 93 92 28 22
✧ L’Escalinada 22 rue Pairolière, Vieux-Nice, tél 04 93 62 11 71
✧ La Cantine de Lulu 26 rue Alberti, tél 04 93 62 15 33
✧ La Maison de Marie 5 rue Masséna, tél 04 93 82 15 93
✧ Le Safari 1cours Saleya, tél 04 93 80 18 44
✧ Les Palmiers 1 avenue des Palmiers, tél 04 93 84 48 74
✧ Lou Balico 20 avenue St Jean Baptiste, tél 04 93 85 93 71

The  restaurants Nice & Easy  recommend

We are proud of our  1-star Michelin chefs

Jouni  La Réserve de Nice
60, Bd Franck Pilatte – Nice
www.lareservedenice.com
 Superb cuisine in a beautiful restaurant with a fabulous view of the port
It’s like having a dinner on a cruise ship. just try it !

Keitsuke Matsushima
22, rue de France – Nice

 Despite his name, you won't be served Japanese dishes, but provençal cuisine with an asian touch, delicious.
You can also take cookery classes with Keitsuke.
www.keisukematsushima.com/fr/info.html
Vegetarian & organic restaurants
 As you will see, there are millions of restaurants in Nice,
Being organic vegans ourselves, we know how difficult it is to find  Organic and vegetarian restaurants in a new town.

Vegetarian
La Zucca Magica
4, Bis quai Papacino – Nice
A l’etage
4, rue de Verdun

Organic and vegetarian
La cantine bio – hi Hôtel
3,rue des fleurs
www.hi-hotel.net

Bio & Cie
12, rue Alberti – Nice
www.bio-et-cie.com

le speakeasy
7, rue Lamartine

Le Frog Fresh & Natural
3, rue Milton Robbins

WINES


The perfect complement to the cuisine of Nice.
Red, white or rosé, these AOC wines have earned an excellent reputation, in particular in the most renowned restaurants of Nice.
The vineyards are in the hills around Nice.




CHÂTEAU de BELLET

Quartier Saint Roman de Bellet
 - Tel. 04 93 37 81 57 
Fax 04 93 37 93 83: www.vinsdebellet.com


 CHÂTEAU de CRÉMAT

442, Chemin de Crémat
 - Tel. + 33 (0) 4 92 15 12 15 
(Visits by appointment)

 www.chateau-cremat.com
CLOS SAINT-VINCENT

Collet des Fourniers
- Tel. + 33 (0) 4 92 15 12 69 - www.clos-st-vincent.fr
COLLET de BOVIS (Vin de Bellet A.O.C.)

DOMAINE DE LA SOURCE
303, chemin de Saquier Tel+ 33(0) 4 93 29 81 60 - www.domainedelasource.fr


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ONE YEAR IN NICE
EVENTS, WHAT TO TAKE HOME
Like many cities around the world, Nice is host to a number of events and home to a variety of permanent fixtures, but we have try to select the ones we consider to be representative of Nice culture.
Why have the same type of meal you could have at home, or buy a t-shirt you could get in your own country!.

JANUARY
  • Visit the candied fruit factory
Florian offers free guided visit, you will discover the whole process involved in turning the region’s finest fruit and flowers into confectionery.
FLORIAN 14, quai Papacino – 06000 Nice (Port)
www.confiserieflorian.com

WHAT TO TAKE HOME
Candied Fruit or crystalized flowers from Florian or
In the Old Town
Maison Auer
7, rue Saint François de Paule
www.maison-auer.com

SPECIALITY OF THE MONTH
« Galette des rois »
In Nice and Provence, rather than the traditional French galette popular for Epiphany and the beginning of the year, people have always preferred the « Gâteau des rois » a circle of brioche flavoured with orange-blossom water and decorated with candied fruit.
You can buy it in all good cake and pastry shops.
FEBRUARY
  • Carnival and Flower Parades. The famous Carnival of Nice !
          www.nicecarnaval.com

WHAT TO TAKE HOME
If you can, a little branch of mimosa, or a full plant that you could buy from the flower Market on the Cours Saleya.  This plant is in full blossom during this month; its lovely small yellow 'beads' (given the name
 « winter sun » because a bunch of Mimosa can really brighten up a room.

SPECIALITY OF THE MONTH
During carnival,  the tradition is to make (or to buy if your lazy!)  " bugnes " ou "gances".
These are small orange water flavoured cakes, and  of course « crêpes » (thin pancakes ).
All bakeries and pastry shops sell bugnes during this month.
MARCH
  • International Paris-Nice Cycling Race
  • Visit a perfume factory -  Parfumerie Molinard   - mini museum + little factory and shop                      24, rue St François de Paule - Nice - www.molinard.com
WHAT TO TAKE HOME
 Lavender soap, perfume from fresh herbs etc...
SPECIALITY OF THE MONTH
There is no speciality this month, so why not try out all the niçoise cuisine (see cuisine section)

APRIL
  • Festin des cougourdons
In the garden of Cimiez, a traditional festival with local folklore and decorated "cougourdons" which takes place every spring. The interesting shapes of these "pumpkins" grown in the area, lend themselves to a wide variety of interpretations.
Cimiez  Bus line 17
 
 WHAT TO TAKE HOME
A cougourdon of course, If you haven't bought one during the 'festin des cougourdons', you could buy one  at Clin d'oeil 7, rue Alexandre Mari (old Town) or during summer time evening market on the Cours Saleya.
SPECIALITY OF THE MONTH
 Chocolate! It's Easter!
MAY
  • TRADITIONAL MAY FESTIVAL
This traditional family fête is held on all Sundays and holidays in May. Music, picnics and folk dancing brighten up the gardens and the Amphitheatre of Cimiez. Bus line 17

WHAT TO TAKE HOME
on the 1st of May (Labour Day), you can buy some 'muguet' for good luck, from street vendors or shops.

SPECIALITY OF THE MONTH
With the return of picnic season , why not try a " pan bagnat " (see recipe in the cuisine section)
JUNE
  • SACRED MUSIC FESTIVAL (Churches in the old town).
  • FÊTE DE LA MUSIQUE                                                                                                                               free concerts throughout the city.
  • FÊTE DE LA MER
Every year the fishermen of Nice celebrate Saint Peter's day. The festivities open with mass in the Gesù church, followed by a procession all the way to Les Ponchettes beach (in front of old Nice) where a boat is burned in honour of their patron saint.           
  • Nice International Triathlon- Ironman          
WHAT TO TAKE HOME
'Gratte ail' - a garlic grater
Many shops in the old town sell them

SPECIALITY OF THE MONTH
 Pissaladière (see cuisine section)
JULY
  • VOUCALIA Festival of Mediterranean Polyphony and Traditional Music.          
  • Nice Jazz Festival
The Nice Jazz Festival is a subtle stroll in which the soul of the past blends beautifully with more turbulent new technologies. Concerts are held in the amphitheatre and gardens of Cimiez from 7pm till midnight with the most prestigious musicians playing on theree stages. An "alternative" festival in the city's various neighbourhoods accompanies the event in the mornings and afternoons until 6pm.
 www.nicejazzfestival.com   
  • Nuits Musicales de Nice / International Academy of Summer Music                                                             Concerts in the Cloister of the Cimiez Monastery.
  • Musicalia (Théâtre de Verdure).                                                                                                                                            Mediterranean and world music : free concerts on Wednesday and Saturday evenings.           
  • Bastille Day Celebration (14/07)                                                                                                                                      Fireworks Promenade des Anglais.Grand ball.
  • La Castellada                                                                                                                                                                                           Walking tour and performance on the Castle Hill. Actors and Musicians organize a 2-hour journey through the main events in the history of Nice and the castle. (Château de Nice)
WHAT TO TAKE HOME
Lavender
SPECIALITY OF THE MONTH
Ice Cream, The best in town, an institution in Nice: 
FENOCCHIO 2, Place Rossetti (old town)
A choice of 70 different taste from Tomato to classic chocolate.
 www.fenocchio.fr
AUGUST
  • La Castellada - Walking tour and performance on the Castle Hill. (Château de Nice)           
  • Ball for the Libération of Nice (Place Masséna).
  • Nuits Musicales de Nice / International Academy of Summer Music
  • Musicalia (Promenade des Anglais / Théâtre de Verdure).
WHAT TO TAKE HOME
 If you like SOCCA,  why don't you buy an authentic socca dish to make it
In the old Town
TOMBEAU DE LA VAISSELLE  3, Place St François
DANINO 7, Rue Alexandre Mari

SPECIALITY OF THE MONTH
"Socca" (See cuisine section )
SEPTEMBER
  • Fête du patrimoine (Heritage day)                                                                                                                                             free visits of all the buildings and museums including some which are generally closed  to the public the rest of the year.
  • Fête de la San Bertoumieu                                                                                                                                                          Grand market for traditional arts and crafts (Old Nice)
  • SEPTEMBER PHOTOS FESTIVAL
WHAT TO TAKE HOME
Old pictures of Nice
You can buy them at
Théâtre de la photographie
27, Bd Dubouchage – nice
or a painting of an local artist
Galerie Ferrero
2, rue du Congrès – www.galerieferrero.com
 SPECIALITY OF THE MONTH
"farcis Niçois"
OCTOBER
  • SEMANA NISSARDA                                                                                                                                                                             One week to discover different aspects of Niçoise tradition (  Music, food, traditional figurines, exhibitions, conferences)
  • DISCOVER HOW OLIVE OIL IS MADE                                                                                                                                           Visit the  ALZIARI olive mill - 318, Bd de la Madeleine - Nice                                                          (admission free)   www.alziari.com.fr
WHAT TO TAKE HOME
Olive oil of course but also an array of oive-based products to buy at
ALZIARI BOUTIQUE
14, Rue St François de Paule (old town)

SPECIALITY OF THE MONTH
"Fougasse "- light, oval-shaped crusty bread with various savoury toppings( best straight out of the oven)
It's not a speciality of October, but it's delicious. Buy it at the cours Saleya market , or in Bakeries.
NOVEMBER
  • Manca festival of contemporary music- music all over town
  • A good period to visit the vineyards of Nice
Château de Crémat - 442 chemin de crémat - www.chateau-cremat.com
Collet de Bovis -  370, chemin de Crémat - www.vin-de-bellet.com
Visit and sampling by appointement Monday to Friday
Acess by bus from the city center : Bus line 11
Clos Saint –Vincent – Collet des Fourniers - www.clos-st-vincent.fr
Domaine Augier - 680 route de Bellet –St Roman de Bellet
Visit and sampling by appointement Monday to Friday
Acess by bus from the city centre : Bus Line 62

WHAT TO TAKE HOME
Wines from the domain you have visited or from shops in town
Old Town
Cave Bianchi : 7, rue de la terrasse
Cave de la Tour : 2, rue de la tour

SPECIALITY OF THE MONTH
"Beaujolais nouveau ", It's not niçois wine but an occasion to share a glass of wine with your friends, colleagues or family !
DECEMBER
  • The traditional Christmas bath                                                                                                           which was initially started by the Scottish writer,Tobias Smollett,  in 1764!  People go for a quick dip at the beach (absolutely freezing) but that's the tradition !
  •   Nativity Scenes                                                                                                                                                                              The Living Nativity Scene in the old town is the biggest but the churches and some shops such as AUER in the old town also present them.
  • Visit LUCERAM  called « the village of 400 nativity scenes » It’s a village in the back country where  every ne makes a nativity scene and places in their doorway, window etc.  Some are really small, some very elaborate, anyway thousands of nativity scenes to please young and old.                                  www.provenceweb.fr/e/alpmarit/luceram/luceram.htm
WHAT TO TAKE HOME
Santons are a provençal tradition, these little figurines representing the villagers are made of clay.
They range in size from a few millimetres to 15-20 centimetres tall, all made by hand and signed by the craftsmen who made them.
If you want to make your own provençal nativity scene, buy the little figurines in the Christmas Village shops on Place Masséna  and if you have an artistic streak, you could buy plain ones that you can paint yourself, (good fun with patient kids). www.santonsmarcelcarbonel.com

SPECIALITY OF THE MONTH
The 13 desserts of Christmas, traditional provençal.
If you want to learn about all the traditions in Provence over Christmas (in English)
and to discover  what the 13 desserts of Christmas are: www.provenceweb.fr/f/mag/terroir/traditions/

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