It’s time to celebrate and we’d like to thank you all for choosing to spend your treasured Christmas holiday in one of our rental apartments here on the French Riviera. We’re here to make this Christmas your best one yet and it all starts here with our comprehensive guide to the best of the Riviera festivities. Here are our suggestions for things to do, places to visit and not forgetting the ever-important places to eat! If there is anything you feel we’ve missed out or something you wish to add, please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@nicepebbles.com or phone +33(0)4 97 20 27 30 Our office is open as usual throughout the Christmas period, closing only on Friday 25th December and 1st January. GETTING READY Packing can be both the most exciting and most tedious part of going on holiday. Deciding what to bring can cause hours of contemplation! Knowing what you’ll be doing and what weather to expect can really help. While the Riviera is famous for mild winters, you’ll still need to wrap up around Christmas time. During the day the 10 – 15oC temperatures will feel surprisingly warm to many of you; however, the heating in many Nice apartments is not always as efficient as many guests are used to at home.
While it can rain in December, the sun can also be wonderfully warm, making a drink on a terrace or a stroll along the Promenade in the sunshine a very agreeable experience. You’ll need to pack your sunglasses and for the very brave among you, your swimsuits! In addition, don’t forget that sunscreen if you’re heading up to the Alps for some skiing. ENTERTAINMENT We’d suggest when packing that guests bring some entertainment, DVD’s, books... Especially if you’re travelling with children or teenagers. This time of year lends itself to cosy nights in! Cable and Sky TV can be temperamental and fail occasionally. In such cases, we will do all we can to get this sorted for you. However, over the Christmas period it will be very difficult to get a technician to come out. We should also mention, should the WIFI fail on a French bank holiday, we will not be able to get a specialist out to look at it. If you have important emails to check, or business to conduct we suggest you bring a backup 4G dongle or smartphone connection for tethering.
NICE
CANNES
6th December 2015 – 4th January 2016 Monday to Thursday 11am-8pm Fridays and Saturdays 11am-9pm Jardin Albert Ier, La Coulée Verte Sixty wooden chalets with artisanal gifts and regional produce make up the Nice Christmas Village. There will be many concerts and performances, as well as a large skating rink and children’s play area and Ferris wheel!
28th November 2015 – 3rd January 2016 Sunday to Thursday 10.30am-8pm Friday to Saturday 10.30am-9.30pm Allées de la Liberté Traditional wooden cabins crammed with gift ideas, gourmet tastings and all the usual decorations. The Cannes market is a real Christmas treat. While the little ones enjoy a pony ride and a bouncy castle, the big ones will surely appreciate the ‘gastronomic corner’.
MONACO
ANTIBES
4th December 2015 – 3rd January 2016 Sunday to Thursday 11am-9pm Friday to Saturday 11am-10pm Quai Albert Ier With chalets filled with regional gourmet specialities and wondrous arts and crafts, the delightful decorations of Monaco’s Christmas Village will take both young and old on a journey to an exciting enchanted world.
12th December 2015 – 3rd January 2016 Place de Gaulle In the centre of Antibes the Christmas celebrations start with the traditional ‘Parade aux Lampions’, leaving at 4pm from Place de Gaulle. So grab your lantern and join in! There will also be carriage rides through the streets of the town, plus competitions for children and a brand new video show for kids and adults alike, which will take place on Pré des Pécheurs.
NICE Friday 4th December – Sunday 3rd January from 2pm-11pm Visit the only indoor fairground in Europe, at the Palais des Expositions, Esplanade de Lattre de Tassigny. With 130 stands and rides, this promises lots of fun for both the young and the young at heart. Sunday 20th December, 6.30pm If you are missing the Christmas spirit visit the Holy Trinity Church, 11 rue de la Buffa, for the Carol Service– this takes the traditional form of Nine Lessons & Carols, modelled on King’s Cambridge. Enjoy a mulled wine in the hall afterwards. 21th – 28th December, Place Rossetti. The picturesque old town of Nice is the venue for a host of traditional Niçois activities to celebrate Christmas round the “Lou Presèpi”, a real life nativity scene complete with farm animals. Amidst 200 Christmas trees adorning Place Rossetti there will be puppet shows with wooden marionettes, workshops, storytelling, carols and dancing. The accent is on preserving the local Niçois dialect and culture, and one of the highlights will be the performances of “Lou Presèpi Nissart” using original wooden puppets. This tradition dates back to the 1830s and the beautifully sculpted marionettes are being brought out of retirement from the Massèna Museum especially for the occasion. Also on the programme are carols sung in the Niçois dialect by Aurélie Basso and Gilles Roche, and a host of others. A concert by Corou de Berra is scheduled on the 26th at 8pm in the St Réparate Cathedral. Jardin Albert 1er is the main hub of festive activity in Nice. With a Ferris wheel, activities for children, an oyster bar and an ice skating rink, you will need your gloves for skating. There are numerous shows and events every weekend and during bank holidays. Admission is free of charge. There is also a small Christmas train to whisk you around the different areas of Nice to see the fabulous street decorations and lights.
ANTIBES For a more unusual Christmas experience, head to Place du Safranier in the Old Town of Antibes to watch the locals make an extraordinarily large ‘Bûche de Noël’ (Christmas log) at 5pm on the 13th December. To make the most of a sunny winter day, head for Pré des Pêcheurs where a giant wheel takes centre stage between the 5th December and 3rd January. A Christmas story will be projected onto the ramparts from 5.30pm-9.30pm. MONACO This year Monaco celebrates Russian Christmas! 2015 is officially ‘Russian Year in Monaco’, bringing the Principality alive with artistic and historical events related to Russian culture. In addition, an ice skating rink is open from the 4th December until the 28th February. ST PAUL DE VENCE A trip to St Paul is always a treat. On the 19th December, as you wander through the cobbled streets, you can enjoy lampion making and much more. Drop into La Petite Cave de Saint Paul for a free champagne tasting with sommelier Frederic Theys. If you are looking for an original present, why not sign up for a cooking course with the famous Michelin chef Alain Llorca: www.alainllorca.com and surprise your loved ones with some homemade Foie Gras. If you prefer not to do much but still want to treat yourself to something special, visit the Marché de la Truffe, which takes place on the 20th on Place de Gaulle.
The Riviera really does offer the best of both worlds; gloriously sunny summers on the beach and postcard perfect snowy winters in the nearby ski stations, Auron, Isola 2000 and Valberg. You will find more information in our Pebbles Guide, pages 72 & 73. Buses run to the ski stations from central Nice early in the morning and back in the evening, every day. The journey takes about two hours each way and makes a day’s skiing excellent value.
Food and drink are of course an essential part of Christmas, and shops on the Riviera are stocked up with festive treats. Here’s where to go to pick up all those essentials…
‘Le Réveillon’, the French Christmas feast takes place on Christmas Eve. The menu varies from seafood to meat, and for the true gourmand, traditionally includes 13 desserts. Nice has plenty of delicious food to offer! For your turkey, head to Boucherie Saint François, Rue Saint François, Tel: +33(0)4 93 85 80 88, or Boucherie de La Tour, Rue de la Tour, Tel: +33(0)4 93 80 63 08, both in the Old Town. Book a turkey in advance before Sunday 20th December to avoid disappointment; we can do this for you. Seafood, especially oysters, is a custom at Christmas and the New Year in France. Find the freshest produce at the fish market on Place Saint François, or from Jo l’Écailler at Café de Turin, Place Garibaldi. Tel:+33(0)4 93 62 29 52 Website: www.cafedeturin.fr
Fresh fruit and vegetables are plentiful at the markets in Nice. Stop by the Cours Saleya in the Old Town to stock up, and find some fresh festive flowers at the flower market here too. Or head to the Libération market near the train station to browse food and flowers with the locals. Christmas is a time for indulgence! The Fromagerie du Carré d’Or, Rue de France, will tempt all cheese lovers. Pick a selection to make a great Christmas present. Tel: +33(0)4 97 00 02 79 Website: www.fromageriecarre-dor.fr
For a Christmas dessert treat, head to Maison Auer Rue Saint François de Paule. They provide traditional Niçois sweets, crystallised candied fruit and flowers. Tel: +33(0)4 93 85 77 98 Website: www.maison-auer.com
In the Old Town, the Caves Caprioglio, Rue de la Préfecture, Tel: +33(0)4 93 85 66 57 and Côté Vin, Rue Saint François de Paule, Tel: +33(0)4 93 84 63 60 are worth stopping by to stock up with some celebratory wine and champagne.
The macaroons at Lenôtre, Avenue Félix Faure, are to die for and are sure to make dinner guests beg for more.
The larger supermarkets like Monoprix and Carrefour will stay open until the evening on Christmas Eve but close for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
We of course have to recommend our favourite chocolatier LAC, and their renowned ‘Bûche de Noël’ (Christmas Log), pop into one of their three shops, on Rue de la Préfecture, Rue Gioffredo or Rue Barla. Fine wine is plentiful in Nice. We recommend Cave Bianchi on Rue Raoul Bosio for great wine and friendly service. Tel: +33(0)4 93 85 65 79 Website: www.cave-bianchi.fr
ANTIBES Central Antibes has several small supermarkets for basics and the large Carrefour supermarket on the outskirts will stock everything you need. If you’re missing a few classic English or American treats, Geoffrey’s of London on Rue Lacan near Port Vauban, is open every day except Sunday. Tel: +33(0)4 92 90 66 41 Website: www.geoffreysoflondon.com
While many of our favourite restaurants close for Christmas, many re-open for New Year, and there are still several options if you do want to eat out on the 24th and 25th. In France Christmas is traditionally celebrated on the evening of the 24th. Here are some of the special festive menus available: please check their websites for full details…
Hotel Beau Rivage 4 star 24 Rue Saint François de Paule, Nice
Restaurant l’Ane Rouge 7 Quai des Deux Emmanuels, Nice
Tel: +33(0) 4 92 47 82 82 Website: www.hotelnicebeaurivage.com
Tel: +33(0) 4 93 89 49 63 Website: www.anerougenice.com
Brunch 1st January 11.30am-4pm Glass of champagne American buffet breakfast Cold buffet starter Hot buffet main Buffet of desserts 49 €
Lunch 25th December 70 € with the choice of main course 90 € with full menu
Restaurant La Baie d’Amalfi 9 Rue Gustave Deloye, Nice
New Year’s Eve 31st December 110 € with a choice of main course 130 € with full menu Lunch 1st January 70 € with a choice of main course 90 € for the full menu
Tel: +33(0) 4 93 80 01 21 Website: www.baie-amalfi.com
Le Chantecler - Le Negresco Hotel 37 Promenade des Anglais, Nice
Lunch 25th December Welcome drink of prosecco 39.50 €
Tel: +33(0) 4 93 16 64 00 Website: www.hotel-negresco-nice.com
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Lunch 1 January Welcome drink of prosecco 43.50 €
Lunch 25th December 180 € 5 course menu New Year’s Eve 31st December 390 € 5 course menu
Celebrate New Year’s Eve as the French do with a feast of Foie Gras, oysters and champagne. The festivities are usually marked with fireworks. In Nice, there is always an impressive fireworks display to bring in the New Year. Bring a blanket and a bottle of champagne and pick a spot down on the Promenade. If you are still in the mood to party there are many places to celebrate in the Old Town and Pedestrian Zone. Nice Acropolis throws a huge New Year’s Eve concert with music courtesy of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice. For the more adventurous, try the Riviera Bar Crawl. Tickets start at 35 €. http://rivierabarcrawl.com
CANNES
ANTIBES
Cannes is well-known on the Riviera for fantastic firework displays. Head to the Croisette at midnight to watch a spectacular display created by pyrotechnic designer Fabrice Chouillier.
There will be a fireworks display in Juan les Pins on New Year’s Day from 6pm onwards.
Palm Beach Casino offers a dinner and Brazilian themed show, with 10 € of gaming chips and a glass of champagne at midnight included in the ticket price. Reserve your place before the 20th December. Website: www.palmbeach-casino.com.
MONACO Dance the night away in Port Hercule, a DJ hosted party starts at 9.30pm. If dancing is not for you, you can head over to the Christmas village for the fireworks. If you’re looking for a special treat Buddha Bar in Monaco will provide an impressive dining experience. Tickets cost 290 € per person, which includes a glass of champagne.
Should you need any assistance in booking restaurants, or you have any questions regarding your festive stay, please contact our office on +33(0)4 97 20 27 30
Wish you a very Happy Christmas and a Wonderful New Year. We hope to see you all again in 2016!