Cimiez Monastery (Monastere de Cimiez) Tours
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Originally founded in the 11th century by Benedictine monks, Cimiez Monastery (Monastère de Cimiez or Monastère Notre Dame de Cimiez) is now a Franciscan monastery with a small museum explaining the austere Franciscan way of life throughout the centuries, with ancient artwork, frescoes, documents, and a replica monk's cell. Its gardens have sweeping views of Nice.
The Basics
Located in the quiet district of Cimiez, this Franciscan monastery (sometimes wrongly translated as Cimiez Convent) is home to a small community of Franciscan friars. Travelers can discover Cimiez Monastery as part of a half-day guided tour or on a full-day hop-on hop-off double-decker bus tour with stops at Nice’s most popular attractions, such as Promenade des Anglais, Mont Boron, Matisse Museum (Musée Matisse), and the Chagall Museum (Musée National Marc Chagall).
Things to Know Before You Go
- A visit to Cimiez Monastery is suitable for solo travelers, couples, and families.
- Admission to the Franciscan monastery is free.
- If you travel via hop-on, hop-off bus, audio commentary and headsets are included on the trip.
- The monastery and the bus are wheelchair accessible.
How to Get There
Cimiez Monastery is located at at Place du Monastère in the northern Cimiez district of Nice. Easily accessible by bus from the central bus station just outside the old town, catch No. 15, 17, 20, 22, or 25 and travel up the hill to the Arènes stop just in front of the monastery.
When to Get There
The museum is open year-round Monday through Saturday in the morning and late afternoon with a midday break. The church is open daily. With a mild Mediterranean climate, Nice is a destination to visit any time of year. Come in spring and autumn to avoid crowds, pricy hotel rooms, and the heat of summer.
Treasures of the Monastery
Amongst the more than 300 documents and artworks from the 15th to 18th centuries are ones of enormous value, including Pietà, Crucifixion and Deposition by Italian medieval artist Ludovico Bréa. In the monastery's cemetery, look for the tombstones of celebrated French painters Henri Matisse (festooned with flowers and letters from aspiring artists) and Raoul Dufy, as well as Roger Martin du Gard, winner of the 1937 Nobel Prize in Literature.
Address: Place du Monastere, Cimiez, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France
Admission: Free
3 Tours and Activities to Experience Cimiez Monastery (Monastere de Cimiez)
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Nice City Private Half-Day Tour
With this half-day private tour, you will discover Nice. The famous Promenade des Anglais. The Russian Cathedral. The Old Nice. The flower market. The Castle of Nice.
Discover the second most visited city in France Nice, attracts nearly 6 million visitors every year. The Promenade des Anglais is the main avenue of the city.
The Russian Cathedral is the second largest after that of Russia, and it is a sign of the existence of a large Russian-based community in Nice.
Old Nice, Cours Saleya, its narrow streets are the most visited. Place Rossetti is the heart of the Old City with all its famous gelato shops, which beautify and refresh this beautiful place!
The Castle of Nice gives a breathtaking view. The Castle leads its history of the Middle Ages.
This tour is limited to a private tour with a private guide.
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$405.58
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From
$405.58
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Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
Hills of Nice Discovery Ride
This tour will take you to places you might not otherwise see on a visit to Nice. Nice enjoys a rich history, defined in part by the city's setting between sea and hills. The sites included in this tour will give you an overview of this richness, and may fuel a desire to learn more. At the same time, you will enjoy touring the area by bike, the best way to experience Nice and the Côte d'Azur !
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$74.14
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100% Nice - Private Premium Tour
Maximize your time in Nice on a private tour of the city and take in all the highlights of the French Riviera capital in just one day. Explore the atmospheric Old Town; admire the elegant mansions and parks of Cimiez Hill; walk the Promenade des Anglais; and enjoy wine tasting at a Bellet winery (own expense). Hotel pickup and drop-off is included.
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$827.93
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$827.93
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Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Gear/equipment sanitized between use
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