Hopping across the Channel by train is typically faster than taking a Ferry to France, leaving you with more time to spend in Nice. With so much to do in the fifth most populous city in France, here are the top three things you simply must involve yourself in.

Promenade des Anglais

If relaxing on a sunny beach is one of your favourite holiday past-times then head to the Promenade des Anglais where you can stroll by the sea. Although it is more of a pebble beach than a traditional sandy one, the advantages of a level surface means you can enjoy other means of transport around the area.

Jog, cycle, skate and even rollerblade your way along the walkway and enjoy the warm climate that comes with the beach. If you’re looking to just get some peace, you can choose to sit on the available chairs and benches and just enjoy the sights. Furthermore, there are many open cafes and restaurants within walking distance for you to dine at, making it a complete experience.

Promenade des Anglais, Nice, France by SteveR-

Musee National Marc Chagall

Museums can be a wonderfully historic experience especially when you’re learning about a new environment. Nice has an extensive religious past and prides itself on having museums to publicise the old sculptures and paintings. The National Marc Chagall museum was created by artists who wanted to bring the ancient biblical works into one multi-purpose building.

There are many works present here, including mosaics and tapestries, sketches, stained-glass windows, biblical message paintings and lithographs. Discover the full collection of famous artist Marc Chagall and watch a story about his upbringing and what inspired his work. With the admission only 7.5 Euros, it is definitely an experience worth going to.

Musee National Marc Chagall, Nice, France by Janet McKnight

Castle Hill

Visit Castle Hill for a breath-taking, panoramic view of Nice. You can see the entire city from a high view, making it the perfect spot for photos and postcards. There is a park located at the top of Castle Hill too which can help the kids relax after the journey up. If you fancy yourself to be a fitness fanatic, you can choose to climb to the top, although an elevator is available.

The beautiful view from atop the hill overlooks the sea, city and port. It is a good place to have a picnic too or just spend a day taking in the sights. There is even a waterfall nearby giving the whole place a nice romantic spark. At the end of the day, you can still enjoy French cuisine at some of the restaurants located nearby.

Nice and a port, France by Simon

The post 3 Things to do in Nice appeared first on Europe Explored.

Check out our top picks for combining city breaks with beach holidays.

Barcelona | Spain

A popular choice for combining a metropolitan city feel with Catalonian sunshine, Barcelona offers everything from golden sands and great food to city living and culture. Every summer, millions of sun-worshippers flock to Barcelona’s beaches to soak up some Mediterranean sun with Platja de la Nova Icaria proving the most popular, probably due to its accompanying beach bars. For a calmer experience, sink your toes into the sands at the Port Olimpic Marina or if you’re into bathing au naturel, try the nudist beach at Platja de la Mar Bella.

For a break from the sands soak up some culture; visit the La Sagrada church, an intricately detailed building that is still being built 100 years after it was started. Head to bustling Las Ramblas for thriving streets, packed full of street artists and tarot readers, as well as La Boqueria food market. If you want to break free from the tourist areas, hire a car and head to Carrer de la Riera Baixa and explore quirky vintage shops and great bars.

Barceloneta beach, Barcelona, Spain by Jose Manuel Mota

Dubrovnik | Croatia

Dubrovnik is rapidly becoming as popular as Barcelona and it’s not hard to see why; urban tradition and seaside charm seem to go down pretty well with holidaymakers.
Protected by medieval walls the city’s white sandy beaches, marbled streets and impressive churches offer culture in abundance. If you’ve got bags of energy slip into a kayak (see https://www.adriatickayaktours.com) and take a tour of the city walls, or enjoy unrivalled views whilst the Adriatic laps at your feet on the beach.

Dubrovnik, Croatia by hozinja

Nice | France

If you fancy a holiday that resembles a postcard then the French city of Nice won’t disappoint. There are plenty of pebble beaches drenched in Mediterranean sun, as well as 15 private beaches complete with changing rooms and loungers along with bars and restaurants. When you’ve perfected your tan get lost amongst Nice’s winding streets and stumble across Roman ruins in the old town. Art buffs will be impressed by the works of Monet, Warhol and more in the city’s art museums and music lovers will adore getting in the groove as the sun goes down on this French delight.

Nice, France by dalbera

Venice | Italy

When most people think of Venice they picture winding alleys and canals filled with gondolas, but guess what? Venice has beaches too! In fact, more than half of the Adriatic side of Venice is made up of fine, sandy beaches, and the best part? These beaches are such a well-kept secret that whilst couples enjoy romantic gondola rides you can be enjoy the beach in privacy!

Be quick! Experts predict that this floating city will have sunk below sea level in just 70 years.

Venice, Italy by Michela Simoncini

So, whether you are a beach bum or a city slicker, it doesn’t matter. These European beauties combine it all and now all you need to do is pick one!

The post City Break Versus Beach Break: Combine the Two! appeared first on Europe Explored.

Because of its American influences, Jazz was not initially well received in France, but once French musicians adopted their own style in the 1920´s, a take on traditional folk music and “gypsy jazz,” it became increasingly more popular and since the 1930´s has become a quintessential part of the French music scene.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by bastien09

The Beginnings of the Nice Jazz Festival

During the Second World War, the Americans ironically influenced the Parisian Jazz scene and their new and exciting brand of bop music caught the attention of Christian Estrosi, the Deputy Mayor of Nice. In 1948, he wanted to give something back to the people of the Cote d´Azur and on the 28th February, the world´s first ever Jazz festival was organised in Nice´s Pleyel auditorium.

Because the two styles conflicted with French audiences, the first festival got mixed reviews and unleashed passion and repulsion in equal measures from commentators. There was somewhat of a hostile feeling towards the new American style of bop whereas the “old French style,” was much revered.  It was a gap that would keep widening until the 1970´s when modern jazz partisans revolutionized American influences and again used the Nice Jazz Festival to pioneer the growing new trends.

One of the qualities of the Nice Jazz festival is to extend this special brand of music to a wider audience other than a restricted circle of Jazz connoisseurs and subsequently the spirit of open-mindedness would reach new peaks in 1972 with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach and Charles Mingus. Today Nice´s Jazz Festival stages a wide variety of Jazz influences and styles. These range from urban funk to gospel, urban funk and jazz originating from Africa.

There´s more to Nice than Jazz

Nice is recognised as a jewel in the crown of France´s glamorous Cote d´Azur and with its cosmopolitan ambience, radiant landscapes and relaxed atmosphere has plenty to offer sun seekers, culture vultures and sight-seers.

The stunning scenery along the Bay of Angels and the bustling promenade des Anglais is where most tourists and chic locals congregate, but if you want to escape the city limits, hire a car and drive into the surrounding hills. Art aficionados should visit the Matisse Museum and the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MAMAC), whilst history buffs should head for the Roman ruins of Cemenelum and the Terra Armata museum.

Nice Jazz festival 2012

The week long Jazz Festival attracts in excess of 45,000 visitors so you are best to book your hotel early. There is plenty of affordable accommodation, but expect to pay somewhere in the region of €70-€100 a night for a three-star hotel. Alternatively you can get a guesthouse for around €45. If the location of the Jazz festival influences your choice of hotel the principal venues are gardens of Albert 1st and the gardens next to Place Masséna.

The line-up for this year´s festival will include (in alphabetical order):

• Ahmad Jamal,
• Avishai Cohen and Wynton Marsalis,
• Didier Lockwood,
• John McLaughlin & the 4th Dimension,
• Kind of Blue Revisited featuring Alex Tasses,
• Mike Stern,
• Rick Margitza and the former Miles Davis band,
• Roy Hargrove Quintet and
• the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra

The festival takes place between 8th – 12th July 2012.

Author Bio:

Nathan is a prolific writer who specializes in music and travel/holiday homes related articles. Having read this article why not book an apartment in Nice and go to see the festival for yourself?

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