Page 14 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Provence & The Côte d'Azur

12  INTRODUCING PROVENCE

2 Days in Nice Day 1
Morning Plunge straight into
Avignon’s glory days on a tour
Nice has a fascinating historic of the Palais des Papes, the
centre, a wealth of museums biggest medieval palace in the
and a stunning waterfront. world. Afterwards, visit the nearby
Cathédrale Notre-Dame-des-
• Arriving Nice Airport is 7 km
(4.5 miles) from the city. Buses Doms, with the tombs of two
link it with the centre. popes and the hilltop gardens
of the Rocher des Doms.
• Moving on The journey from
Nice to Avignon on a TGV Afternoon Discover the rich
train is just under 3 hours. Gothic art patronized by the
Blue lounge chairs lined up along papal court at the Musée du
the promenade in Nice Petit Palais, then walk along the
See pp84–9 for information famous Pont St-Bénézet bridge.
on sights in Nice. to the famed Hotel Négresco. Afterwards stroll the atmospheric
In the evening, enjoy a drink or medieval lanes of rue du Roi-
Day 1 dinner in the lively cours Saleya. René and rue des Teinturiers.
Morning Start with a stroll
through Nice’s bustling To extend your trip… Day 2
Italianate Old Town: don’t miss Take a scenic day trip on the Morning Visit the city’s two
the Cathédrale Ste-Réparate Train des Pignes (p185) outstanding art museums,
with its glazed tile dome and and visit Entrevaux (p191). the Musée Calvet and Musée
the art-filled Chapelle du la Angladon, then relax at a café
Miséricorde. Take in the heady in bustling place de l’Horloge.
colours and fragrances of the 2 Days in Avignon
market in the cours Saleya, Afternoon Take the bus over
then make your way up to the Rhône to Villeneuve-lès-
the summit of the Colline du A lively city on the Rhône Avignon (p134). Climb one of
Château gardens for the best river, Avignon is home to its towers (Fort St-André or
view over the Baie des Anges. the Palais des Papes and the Tour de Philippe le Bel) for
excellent museums. wonderful views over Avignon.
Afternoon Visit the elegant • Arriving The Avignon and See the masterpiece of the
district of Cimiez to discover the Nîmes airports are only Avignon School of painting,
life and work of one-time Nice operational in summer. For Enguerrand Quarton’s
resident Henri Matisse at the the rest of the year, Marseille Coronation of the Virgin, in the
Musée Matisse. Stop by the has the nearest international Musée Pierre de Luxembourg,
serene Monastery of Notre- airport (88 km/54 miles); then visit the monastery it was
Dame, where the artist is buried, direct TGV trains run from painted for: the vast Chartreuse
then see the Musée Chagall, the airport to Avignon in du Val-de-Bénédiction.
filled with colourful paintings only 54 minutes.
of biblical themes. To extend your trip…
Make a day trip to Nîmes
Day 2 (pp136–7) and the majestic
Morning Explore two different See pp170–72 for information on Pont du Gard (p135).
aspects of Nice: start in the 17th sights in Avignon.
century (when the city was part
of Italy) at the ornate Baroque
Palais Lascaris, with its prize
collection of antique musical
instruments. Then leap ahead
four centuries at the striking
Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art
Contemporain, set amid an
outdoor sculpture garden.
Afternoon Stroll along the
famous promenade des
Anglais and consider lunch and
a swim at one of the seaside
bathing establishments. Or pay
a visit to Nice’s history museum,
the Villa Masséna next door Dining alfresco on rue des Teinturiers alongside the river Sorgue, Avignon