French Riviera

The city of Nice bought this lovely, light-bathed 17th-century villa... and restored it to house a large collection of Henri Matisse's works. — Fodor's

Nice’s Modern and Contemporary Art Museum (or MAMAC) is a visionary display of art, architecture, and color. — Frommer's

The strange, dreamlike and often unsettling work of the Belarusian painter Marc Chagall (1887–1985) is displayed at this small museum, which owns the largest public collection of the painter’s work. — Lonely Planet

The building itself is a work of art, but the real treasures are to be found within. — Time Out

The façade of this palace built in 1665 features balustraded balconies on carved marble consoles and pilasters. — Michelin Guide

Perched above Cannes’ Old Town within the medieval Château de la Castre, this museum focuses primarily on ethnographic finds from around the world. — Frommer's

In 1946, Picasso was looking for a studio where he could create large-scale works. Museum curator Romuald Dor de la Souchère offered the painter a large room in Château Grimaldi. — Michelin Guide

The cathedral was built by a Russian architect in 1912. — Michelin Guide

Built on the seafront, the building designed by Rudy Riciotti is surrounded by a spectacular façade adorned with white cut-out forms. — Michelin Guide

I know people who have spent almost an entire short break solely on the Promenade, strolling, smiling, then sitting to contemplate the vastness of sea and sky, the brightness of the light. — The Telegraph

One of Nice's Baroque architectural gems honouring the city's patron saint. — Lonely Planet

Considered by Matisse to be his masterpiece, this 1951 chapel has blue and white tiles and a surmounting wrought-iron cross (13m high). — Michelin Guide

Stop here for an idea of how Nice life was lived when the aristos dominated. — The Telegraph

The vast thermal bath area shows the high level of technology attained from the 1C onwards. — Michelin Guide

Divided into geographical and historical slices of Asian and Indian history, the museum's exhibits have been carefully selected by a team of knowledgeable curators. — Time Out

Set in vast parkland, this 18th-century villa is now under the aegis of the French cultural ministry as a catch-all centre for contemporary art. — Time Out

This show featuring dolphins, killer whales and sea lions (half of which are born on site) is popular with children and adults alike. — Michelin Guide

This is Cannes's old quarter, built on a rocky spur overlooking the sea, and a far cry from the sequins and glitz of La Croisette. — Michelin Guide

Its Fort Royal, built by Richelieu and improved by Vauban, offers views over the ramparts to the rocky island coast and the open sea. — Fodor's