Christmas on the Côte D’Azur

CULTURAL TOURS CHRISTMAS ON THE CÔTE D’AZUR

A FIVE NIGHT HOLIDAY | 22 DECEMBER 2023

The Côte d’Azur has attracted artists since the 19th century, and the unique microclimate and glowing light which brought Monet, Matisse, Chagall and Picasso to the Riviera makes this the perfect destination for an elegant Christmas escape. Our itinerary will include not only the most important museums and galleries in Nice, Antibes and St Paul-de-Vence, but also exquisite French cuisine, including a dinner on Christmas Eve in the hotel’s Royal Salon, Christmas lunch at the wonderful Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, and Boxing Day lunch at La Colombe d’Or, where paintings by Matisse, Picasso, Braque and Chagall adorn the walls. We stay at the iconic Hotel Negresco (5*), which epitomises the glamour and elegance of Old Nice.

the itinerary

On arrival we transfer to the 5* Hotel Negresco in the centre of Nice.

We begin our tour with a visit to the Musée Matisse where the talents of this artist can be enjoyed to the full. Set in a villa surrounded by gardens, the museum displays his paintings alongside sculptures and ceramics. This afternoon we visit the Marc Chagall Museum, designed to hold the 17 canvases of The Biblical Message which depict scenes from Genesis, Exodus and The Song of Solomon. Today it holds many other works by the artist, primarily those inspired by religion.

We visit the Château Grimaldi in Antibes on Christmas Eve, where we will see paintings donated to the town by Picasso, who lived and worked here in 1946. Afterwards we go to Le Cannet, where the Impressionist master Pierre Bonnard lived for many years. The town was the driving force in establishing a museum dedicated to the artist’s work, and in 2011 the Musée Bonnard opened in the Hôtel SaintVianney. Its collection is constantly being expanded and in February 2014 the artist’s ‘L’Amandier’ was added. Dinner tonight is a classic French Reveillon menu in the Negresco’s Royal Salon.

On Christmas Day, we drive to St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat to visit the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, as famous for its art collection as for its gardens, which harmoniously combine formal and contemporary styles. The villa was built between 1905 and 1912 for the Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild in the most beautiful spot on the Cap-Ferrat peninsula. The garden surrounds the villa, each of the nine garden rooms with its own distinctive and contrasting theme. We will have lunch in the restaurant overlooking the gardens at Villa Ephrussi.

We drive to St-Paul-de-Vence today to visit the Maeght Foundation, designed by Josep Lluís Sert, surrounded by sculpture gardens and with a stunning collection of works by Picasso, Miró, Hepworth and many others. We will have lunch at the famous Colombe d’Or restaurant, where the works of many artists adorn the walls. In the afternoon we go to Vence to see the evocative Chapel of the Rosary, an ambitious project which took Matisse more than four years to complete.

After a free morning, we drive to Nice airport for the flight to London.

the hotel

The 5* Hotel Negresco is one of France’s most famous hotels. Built in 1913 by Henri Negresco, the building is recognised as a National Historic Monument and stands on the Promenade des Anglais overlooking the beautiful Baie des Anges. Sumptuously furnished throughout with a spectacular lounge and many original works of art, the hotel has 117 bedrooms and two excellent restaurants, – ‘Le Chantecler’, with two Michelin stars. and ‘La Rotonde’, a less-formal brasserie.

TOUR INFORMATION

Please call 020 7593 2284 to register your interest.

FLIGHT DETAILS

Flights with British Airways: Depart Heathrow 11.40, arrive Nice 14.50 Depart Nice 14.00, arrive Heathrow 15.10 Flight times subject to change – regional departures available on request.

WHAT WE INCLUDE

• Return flights • Five nights’ accommodation with breakfast • Three dinners and two lunches • All sightseeing, entrance fees and gratuities • The services of the Kirker Tour Leader