Monuments to visit Côte d'Azur

This hotel is the most luxurious and best preserved witness of the baroque residences of the nobility and bourgeoisie. Property of the Comtes Lascaris-Vintimille, it was built at the end of the sixteenth century by Jean-Paul Lascaris de Castellar, great master of the order of the Knights of Malta with the help of his nephew Jean-Baptiste. In Genois style, this building is built around two inner courtyards. A very beautiful staircase, real well of light, gives access to the first floor where the weapons of the Lascaris are proudly trashed: a bicephal eagle adorned with a cross of Malta. Original paintings date from the seventeenth century while baroque elements were added in the eighteenth century. The apartments are decorated with vaulted vaults and the ceilings are decorated with frescoes with mythological subjects, including a magnificent Phaéton Fall. During your visit, do not miss the furniture of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the Flemish tapestries, the apothicecerie founded in 1738 of roquaille style, the complete collection of vases, violes and chevettes as well as the regional collections of art and popular traditions. In 1942, the City of Nice bought the building: fully restored and classified as Historic Monument in 1946, the Lascaris Palace became the Musée de la Musique de Nice and the second of France by the importance of its collection, which gathered around 500 old European pieces from the saqueboute of Schnitzer (1581) to Grafton saxophone (1960). This collection also features many instruments manufactured before 1800: Baroque guitars, luths, violes and Denner's scarcity flute.

Located on Cimiez hill, these arenas are classified Historical Monument. Real open-air archaeological museum, they form an enclosure of 67 by 56 meters and is one of the smallest known Roman amphitheaters in France. Built by the Romans in the first century BC the "Cemelenum arenas" were the scene of many events: gladiator fights, games and other great shows held there regularly in the pure traditions of the Roman Empire. Today, with a capacity that is estimated around 5,000 spectators, they have a beautiful setting to host some Nice cultural and folkloric events. Just next door, the park with the same name is an ideal place for a picnic in the middle of olive trees, close to the Matisse Museum and the Archaeological Museum.

Sort of Nissarde Joan of Arc, Catherine Segurane is a real hero in the city. This monuments build in her honour in 1923 symbolizes the strength of Nice. According to legend, this Madone du Secours, having just washerwoman's simple battledore, repelled the assault of the Turks of August 15th, 1543: as they climbed on their ladders to attack the high walls of the castle, she hurled a blow to the first aggressors and seized his banner thereby precipitating him to the foot of the wall.

This place was built in 1917 by the Vietnamese who came to fight with the French, at a place where a huge lying Buddha throne in the garden outside. A cultural garden with monumental marble statues made in Vietnam was recently added.

It is crowned by a bell from 1551.

This unusual sculpture in downtown Toulon is a life-size reproduction of the prow of the frigate La Flore, a royal ship of the ^18th century. The original figure, which represents Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, is on display at the Musée National de la Marine. Leaning against a wall, where a mast and a sail are painted, this monumental work is more than 10 meters high. It will pleasantly surprise you when you arrive on the small Vatel square, lost in the middle of the pedestrian streets of Toulon, between the Vezzani street and the Capucins passage.

Partly covered by an architecture attributed to Gustave Eiffel, this typical market takes place regularly in the morning from Monday to Sunday. It houses about twenty colourful stalls offering fresh, top-quality products from local producers: fruit, vegetables, cheese, charcuterie, honey, etc. Handicrafts are also on offer. All this in a very friendly atmosphere. Enough to taste or bring back a bit of the Alpes-Maritimes with you. The number of exhibitors and the products offered vary according to the season.

Available at the Tourist Information Centre.

It flows on a Roman site and dates from the 16th century.