Things to do in Provence, Alpes and Côte d'Azur

Musée Matisse:

If you are an art lover, more specifically a 'Matisse' lover, then this is a great stop for you. This museum honors the last years of his life in Nice. Seeing his beautiful nude sketches today, they couldn't be anything further from "the female animal in all her shame and horror" as the critics of his day depicted.

The museum has several permanent collections including Nude in an Armchair with a Green Plant (1937), Nymph in the Forest (1935/1942), and a chronologically arranged series of paintings from 1890 to 1919.

The most famous of these is Portrait of Madame Matisse (1905), usually displayed near a portrait of the artist's wife by Marquet, painted in 1900.

Palais Lascaris:

Built in the 17th century the Palais Lascaris contains elaborately detailed ornaments. When the city was restored in 1946 it was brought back to its original beauty, and the palace is now classified as a historic monument.

The most elaborate floor is the étage noble, retaining many of its 18th-century panels and plaster embellishments. A pharmacy from around 1738, complete with many of the original Delftware accessories, is on the premises.

Every Wednesday between 2 and 4pm, the museum focuses attention on children of any age. Various craftspeople are invited to show the details of how they accomplish their art forms through live demonstrations.