I'll be in Nice this Friday for 6 nights to visit the markets and other holiday experiences. I'd appreciate any advice, recommendations, and suggestions. I've been to Nice before, so other than the Chagall Museum, I'm not planning any generic sightseeing.
Posted by
Phoenix🌵
2711 posts
Chani, I can’t help with the Christmas markets. But if you like antique musical instruments, I recommend a visit to Musee du Palais Lascaris in Nice. It’s a large collection of strings, woodwinds and horns from the 1600s to 1900s. A nice couple hour break from art museums or to do something different.
Enjoy the Christmas markets!
Kathy
https://www.explorenicecotedazur.com/en/info/palais-lascaris-en/
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10176 posts
Chani, The Office of Tourism gives a complete summary of all the different traditions used to get through the dark season, including “The 13 Desserts of Provence.” https://provence-alpes-cotedazur.com/en/get-inspired/destination-provence-alpes-cote-dazur/christmas-traditions-celebrations/
Note that most everything revolves around food. The last event, Candlemas ( chandeleur) is when crêpes are eaten, symbolizing the full moon. It’s Groundhog Day in the US.
Christmas Markets are not listed, but being commercial ventures, they have sprung up in all the towns, as a chance to spend money. I remember local products from when I used to go to the market in Menton. If you Google, you’ll see them. I’m not particularly attracted to outside markets in winter. (It’s been about 50 and damp here.)
But, an important traditional item to watch for are wooden, hand-carved Nativity Scenes (crèche). These have little carved figures, called santons, represent all walks of life. Somewhere in the middle you’ll see a little manger with little Mary, Joseph, Jesus, people, animals, but the biggest effect is seeing a whole town or countryside scene in carved figures. These are traditional to the south. I stumbled on one in a local chapel last week. It took up the length of the chapel. ( I’ve seen one at St. Sulpice in Paris.) Here’s from a local publication, but it shows only a small part of the scene. https://montpellier.citycrunch.fr/2019/12/une-journee-a-montpellier-pour-vivre-la-magie-de-noel/ Watch for these wherever you go.
Have fun.
Posted by
Nice, France & San Francisco
674 posts
One well known creche festival on the CdA is in the tiny village of Luceram. The entire village forms a circuit of nativity displays, in the past numbering over 400 (from tiny to large). I think it's been cancelled the last two years but I see it has returned: LINK
Also a video (in French) from a news report: LINK
The main Nice Christmas market is on Place Massena/Jardin Albert 1ere. Most towns have one (although they may not be open yet), but you might try the big one in Antibes.