There are lovely sandy beaches, forests, parks, the Promenade des Anglais, and the Nice flower market. While the simple beauty and the relaxed atmosphere is enough to provide a fantastic vacation, there is a lot of cultural beauty to Nice as well. Two museums that should certainly not be missed are the Marc Chagall Museum of Biblical Themes and the Matisse Museum.



The Marc Chagall Museum of Biblical Themes in Nice, France.

The Marc Chagall Museum of Biblical Themes, or in French, the Museu du Message Biblique Marc Chagall is of particular interest to those who have an interest in Bible. Marc Chagall, a native of Russia, became a French citizen in 1937, and quickly became a well-known artist. Much of Chagalls work is focused on biblical themes.

The museum was opened in 1973 by Marc Chagall himself and includes seventeen giant canvases portraying various biblical themes, twelve from the Old Testament and five inspired by the Song of Songs. The museum also features sculptures, drawings, tapestries, and oil paintings, showing Chagalls incredible versatility as an artist.

Perhaps one of Chagalls best-known mediums is stained glass, and the museum is no disappointment to those who wish to see beautiful stained glass creations. Marc Chagalls art extends to the very construction of the building and the gardens and pools that are integral to the museum. A quiet garden cafe completes the atmosphere, making for a tranquil and beautiful experience.

The museum is closed on Tuesdays. The rest of the week, it is open from 10am to 6pm. The museum is free to visitors on the first Sunday of each month.

The Henri Matisse Museum in Nice, France.

For those who truly enjoy art, the experience doesn't end with the Chagall Museum. In fact, Henri Matisse is one of Nices most famous artists, and a whole museum is dedicated to the art of Matisse. Matisse lived in the Cimiez region of Nice from 1917 until 1954, when he died.

Matisse is known for a wide variety of different art forms, including sculpture and painting. Paper-cut collages, which Matisse began constructing with help from assistants following a battle with cancer, are considered a Matisse trademark. Among his last works, the Blue Nudes collection featured at the museum shows Matisses simplicity and ingenuity at the same time.

For those interested in architecture, the museum is housed in a seventeenth century villa which has been renovated but with care to leave its character intact. The villa is situated on the Cimiez hill, nestled among olive trees, making it easy for visitors to understand how Matisse drew inspiration from the locale.