SAINT-NICOLAS CATHEDRAL
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Nice's recently renovated Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Saint-Nicolas is a must-see.
The Russian Orthodox Church of Saint-Nicolas, one of Nice's most visited monuments, is without doubt the most beautiful religious building of its kind outside Russia. Built in 1903 as a tribute to the eldest son of Tsar Alexander II, who died of meningitis in Nice at the age of 20, and inaugurated 9 years later in 1912, it was designed to meet the needs of the large Russian community who came to Nice in winter for its mild climate. This 52-meter-high cathedral, inspired by the style of St. Basil's Basilica in Moscow, has been listed as a Monument Historique since 1987, and was awarded the Patrimoine du XXe siècle label for its exceptional character. It is a marvellous example of Russian Orthodox architecture, with its gilded domes, oversized cupolas, icons of Orthodox saints and colourful mosaics in predominant shades of green, orange and white. Now managed by the Russian Federation, it reopened its doors in January 2016 after two years of extensive renovation work designed to restore it to its former splendor and lustre. A sublime curiosity, a must-see! In the crypt, a museum is dedicated to the Russian presence on the Côte d'Azur.
Visits: open Monday to Friday, 10am to 1.30pm and 2pm to 5.30pm; Saturday, 10am to 6pm; Sunday, 12pm to 6pm. Free self-guided tour; guided tour (approx. 35 min.): €10 or free under certain conditions. Museum open during Cathedral opening hours.
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Members' reviews on SAINT-NICOLAS CATHEDRAL
The ratings and reviews below reflect the subjective opinions of members and not the opinion of The Little Witty.
Ne pas négliger pour autant son intérêt architectural d'autant que c'est un édifice vivant qui reçoit toujours une importante communauté de croyants
L'accès est facile et gratuit, à proximité de la gare