The Main Square Festival is one of probably only a handful of summer open-air music festivals at a UNESCO site. In this case, the site is a 17th century military square, La Citadelle Vauban, in Arras, France. Barracks line the perimeter, and there is an arsenal, a 17th-century cathedral, St. Louis, and a memorial, The […]
Tag Archives | France
Yenté
We sought cover in this boulangerie-patisserie during a downpour. Luckily, there was plenty inside to occupy our time while we waited for the summer storm to pass! The macrons were particularly colorful and flavorful. We tried the caramel and sea salt, Nutella, speculoos, citron and chocolate mousse. And we had a delicate yet oversized financier. […]
Cathédrale Saint Réparate
This 17th century Baroque cathedral honors Nice’s patron saint, Saint Réparate, whose relics have been enshrined here since 1690. The current structure was built on the site of the original 13th centuy church, which was razed when it was deemed too small for Nice’s growing importance. The new cathedral was based on the model of […]
Nice Towers
I always enjoy looking up and seeing a bold, unique tower poking out of a skyline. It’s likely stood for centuries through prosperity and destruction, perhaps changing hands a few times, all the while serving as a comforting beacon to people who associate it with their people and where they are from. Here are some […]
Chez Théresa
Within this little ramshackle stand in the morning market, colorful Théresa serves up socca, a local specialty. Socca is a griddle-fried pancake from chickpea flour and olive oil. It’s known as farinata across the border in Liguria, where Genoese add rosemary and onion to it. Théresa also serves sandwiches, pizzas and pastries, but most people […]
Parc du Château
It’s hard to miss Parc du Château, the 92-meter high rock. This was Nice’s first settled spot. The extravagant castle Colline du Château once adorned the top, but was destroyed by Louis XIV in the 18th century. Other medieval ruins are visible, such as a pedestrian gate fitted into the former castle’s wall and ruins […]
Nice Market
There’s no better way to get a feel for a city than through its markets. Vieux Nice has a thriving at cours Saleya with flowers, produce, antiques and artwork. Make sure to arrive before 1 p.m., though, when the vendors begin packing up and the area restaurants begin rolling out their awnings. Tuesday through Sunday […]
La bibliothèque Louis Nucéra
This bust and metallic cube, La Tête au Carré, is actually the Nice library. It was created by Sacha Sozno, a local artist, who wished to make a statement about obliterating boundaries and integrating art into the urban landscape. It stands 30 meters high. La bibliothèque Louis Nucéra, library, Nice, Sozno, France
La Taca D’Oli
This is a popular Niçoise/French/Italian restaurant featuring local, fresh food. It’s tiny and tucked into a narrow, busy street, so it pays to arrive early. The restaurant offers two menus: two courses for €19 and three courses for €24. We started off with house salads, which were enormous. There was nothing special about them, but […]
Always a Sunny Day in Nice
When you think of the Côte d’Azur, you probably envision golden sunlight, miles of beaches, turquoise water and topless sunbathers. And you’d be right, for the French Riviera is the original resort area. The Côte d’Azur, which gets 300 sunny days a year, became popular when 18th century English aristocracy began spending winters there. Word […]
