The Bréa altarpieces
Three altarpieces of the Nice school from the late fifteenth century.
Eric Coffinet — Public domain · Édouard Hue (User:EdouardHue) — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Zairon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · V4nco — CC BY-SA 4.0
By bus from central Nice, a short ride uphill, or on foot with a fairly long climb. The hill holds the monastery, the Matisse museum, the Roman site and the archaeology museum, so it is better to give it a half day than to visit one of them.
In the cemetery attached to the monastery rather than inside the church. The grave is plain stone with no prominent marking and takes some searching among the rows. Ask at the entrance if you cannot find it — the cemetery is relatively small.
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A Franciscan monastery on the Cimiez hill above Nice, in place since the Middle Ages and still working, with a church, gardens and a small cemetery. The church holds three altarpieces by the painter Louis Bréa of the Nice school from the end of the fifteenth century, among the most important survivals of local painting from that period. The style blends Italian and Provençal influence, which is what distinguishes the art of this border region. The cemetery attached to the monastery is where Henri Matisse and Raoul Dufy are buried, both of whom lived and worked in Nice. Matisse's grave is strikingly plain for his fame and takes some looking for. The gardens in front are among the oldest in France in parts, and look over the bay of Nice and the Paillon valley. The view from there is among the best in the city and entirely free. Practical points: entry to the church and gardens is free, and the attached Franciscan museum may carry a nominal ticket. The monastery is in use — respect service times. Combine it with the Matisse museum and the Roman remains at Cimiez, all on the same hill.
Three altarpieces of the Nice school from the late fifteenth century.
Strikingly plain for his fame, and it takes looking for.
Among France's oldest in parts, looking over the bay, and free.
Cimiez hill, north of central Nice