2024 and 2025 NICE, SOUTH OF FRANCE ART HOLIDAY

This outstanding painting holiday on the French Riviera (South-East of France) combines outdoors tuition in a relaxed atmosphere and exceptional excursions to NICE, EZE (close to MONACO) and SAINT JEAN CAP FERRAT (Villa EPHRUSSI de Rothschild). Beginners welcome! This art holiday is also open to drawing artists.

Tuition is in English. French and Italian also spoken by the tutor.

Accommodation:

SINGLE ROOM at a hotel in the heart of Nice close to the port and wonderful Nice Old Town.

This South of France painting holiday, like our other destinations, is about painting in superb renown destinations with fabulous painting / drawing sites.

Artistic levels: Beginners, Intermediate, Advanced.

Medium: Watercolours (recommended) drawing, gouache. More experienced artists: Acrylics, pastels, oils.  

Group size: 6 to 10 guests.

Important: You must be able to walk at a normal pace around town and on our outings.

What's included in this South of France painting holiday?

• Tuition in a relaxed environment by a talented and caring tutor. 

• Art materials provided. Paints, paintbrushes, paper…

• Equipment provided. Stool, board, easel (optional).

• 7 nights SINGLE ENSUITE ROOM at a comfortable hotel in Nice, between the port and the old town, just minutes from the beach.

• All Restaurant Meals with wine at dinner included (except on the free day) OR Breakfast Only option.

• Local Transportation to and from painting sites (walking in Nice, train or taxi to Eze, bus to Villa Ephrussi).

• Entry to Villa Ephrussi.

• Entry to Eze botanical gardens.

• Different exciting art excursions and sightseeing: Nice, Saint-Jean Cap Ferrat - Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, Eze.

THIS YEAR: SEPT. 29 - OCT. 6 2024 - FULLY BOOKED - WAITLIST

2025 BOOKING NOW OPEN!!!

NEXT YEAR: SEPT. 29 - OCT. 6 2025 - Nice temperatures! Places available.

Accommodation: Our group stays at a hotel in the centre of Nice, France. All rooms are Ensuite Rooms with a private bathroom in the room.

PRICES: 2025

£175 at booking. The remainder 4 months prior to the holiday or within 4 days after booking if less than 4 months to the holiday.

Please note: A knee surgery or a son’s wedding could pop up after you book! This is why our booking payments are transferrable for a period of 24 months after the date of purchase under our Terms.

EVERYTHING LISTED INCLUDED IN THE HOLIDAY.

You are coming on your own (like most participants). ENSUITE ROOM in SINGLE OCCUPANCY:

• £175 Booking Payment + £1790 for the week: BREAKFAST ONLY. (You pay for your meals separately; Perfect for light eaters or special diets).

• £175 Booking Payment + £1990 for the week. ALL RESTAURANT MEALS INCLUDED (except on the free day).

DELUXE ENSUITE ROOM in SINGLE OCCUPANCY:

• £175 Booking Payment + £1890 for the week: BREAKFAST ONLY. (You pay for your meals separately; Perfect for light eaters or special diets).

• £175 Booking Payment + £2090 for the week. ALL RESTAURANT MEALS INCLUDED (except on the free day).

You are coming with a PAINTING FRIEND and wish to share an ENSUITE ROOM:

• Per person £175 Booking Payment + £1490 for the week: BREAKFAST ONLY. (You pay for your meals separately; Perfect for light eaters or special diets).

• Per person £175 Booking Payment + £1690 for the week. ALL RESTAURANT MEALS INCLUDED (except on the free day).

You are coming with a PAINTING FRIEND and wish to share a DELUXE ENSUITE ROOM:

• Per person £175 Booking Payment + £1690 for the week: BREAKFAST ONLY. (You pay for your meals separately; Perfect for light eaters or special diets).

• Per person £175 Booking Payment + £1890 for the week. ALL RESTAURANT MEALS INCLUDED (except on the free day). Shared DELUXE ENSUITE ROOM (you and your painting friend or partner). Per person remaining balance:

You wish to come with a NON-PAINTER: Please contact us.

Not included: Getting to Nice accommodation. 1 lunch and 1 dinner on the free day in the ‘All Meals’ option. Minibar consumption (if applicable). Personal travel insurance, city tax (+-2€/n).

NICE, FRENCH RIVIERA typical ART HOLIDAY SCHEDULE: 

DAY 1. Welcome!!! Tutor and participants meet at 6.00 PM at the reception of the hotel in Nice. First group dinner at a local restaurant. Let the fun begin!

To get to the hotel: Quick and easy tram (line 2) from the airport or taxi - About 15 minutes.

DAY 2. After breakfast, group and tutor will take a walk by the beautiful port area to get to what is commonly known by the Niçois as “Le Château”. It is a hill where you will get sublime East and West views of Nice. From there, you will get an overview of the world famous majestic pedestrian stretch along the Mediterranean known as the PROMENADE DES ANGLAIS, as well as a gorgeous view of PORT LYMPIA with the MONT BORON as a backdrop where Elton John has a holiday home. We will stop at the beautiful waterfall where you will be able to take some lovely photos. Your tutor will do an open air group participative demo. After this demo, the group will have a light lunch close to our painting spot. Just when you thought you'd seen the prettiest view of Nice on the Promenade des Anglais, you will be awed by the striking and artistically inspiring view from La Tour Bellanda. You will paint in the afternoon with the tutor’s help. Free time around 4.30 PM followed by dinner at a local restaurant in Nice.

A little history of the Promenade des Anglais and Tour Bellanda: Starting 1750 or so, English aristocrats enjoyed spending the winter in Nice, mainly for its coastal panoramic views. In 1820, Reverend Lewis Ways and some church members funded the walkway, which has since then been widened and largely improved by the city of Nice. La Tour Bellanda (at the very end on the Promenade) is 92 meters high and offers one of the nicest views of today’s French Riviera. In the 1400s, this tower, then called Tour du Môle, played a surveillant role to prevent enemy attacks coming from the sea. It was destroyed by Louis the XIV troops and rebuilt in 1824. It was then owned by the Clairissy family, who turned it into a hotel known for its fabulous views overlooking the Bay of Angels. Famous composer Hector Berlioz spent the best times of his life as a client at the hotel. La Tour Bellanda housed the exhibition of the Naval Museum for 40 years. It is to be noted that the tower was destroyed in 1944 and very thankfully rebuilt.

DAY 3:  Breakfast. Free morning, then lunch at a local restaurant. The afternoon will be spent painting at the picturesque Nice Old Town called LE VIEUX NICE. Before painting, we will walk around the lovely Old Town. Free time around 5.00 PM. You’ll want to have a taste of the outstanding Old Nice gelato!!! Dinner at a local restaurant.

DAY 4: Breakfast. Get ready for a fabulous excursion to the alluring bay of SAINT JEAN CAP FERRAT. This world-renown millionaire’s bay and its magnificent VILLA EPHRUSSI DE ROTHSCHILD will be sure to visually enchant you! After a visit of the villa-museum (entrance included), we will have lunch in side the villa before an unforgettable painting session in a quiet corner of the gardens with a gorgeous view of the Ephrussi de Rothschild villa! Dinner in Nice.

VILLA DE ROTHSCHILD: The villa was constructed in 1912 by Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild, a member of the very prominent Rothschild banking family, and was married to Baron Maurice d’Ephrussi. She furnished the villa with antiques, paintings, sculptures and a lovely rare collection of porcelain. Most unfortunately, she was highly unhappy in her marriage as the baron, known for gambling, transmitted a disease to her which made child-bearing impossible. In 1934, when the baroness died, she donated the villa and its collections to Académie des Beaux Arts. It is also to be noted that the gardens of the villa are classified in the Notable Gardens of France.

SAINT JEAN CAP FERRAT: Because of its geographical location, incredible beauty and sunny climate, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat was in the early 1900s, made into a highly acclaimed destination mainly by British and Russian atistocratic families. Grand estates were built like the Hôtel Royal Riviera (once called Hôtel Beford). In the 1950s, SJCF became a fashionable summer destination for celebrities all over the world like Edith Piaf, Charlie Chaplin, Elizabeth Taylor, Roger Moore, Tony Curtis and also politicians like Winston Churchill, Bill Clinton, George Bush and many more. Famous artists such as Henri Matisse, Chagall, Picasso and Jean Cocteau loved the area and its views.

DAY 5: Breakfast. Free day to explore and discover Nice or close-by Cannes or Monaco for example. (No lunch or dinner included on the free day).

DAY 6: Excursion to EZE village where we will visit the botanical gardens. The view is sure to leave you breathless!!! This excursion requires for you to walk uphill for 15 minutes at a relaxed pace. Lunch in Eze village followed by a relaxed painting session in the shade, in a quiet part of the village. Dinner in Nice.

DAY 7: Breakfast with a free morning, followed by lunch. In the afternoon, the group will paint ‘Les Pointus’ which are typical French Riviera wooden fishing boats at the port OR a different area of Old Town Nice. A nice relaxing afternoon painting to the rhythm of beautiful colour!!! Dinner in Nice.

DAY 8: Breakfast and goodbyes.

Mobility: If you are generally relatively fit, you can skip this part.

Test: I can walk 25 to 30 minutes at a time at a normal pace and climb two flights of stairs without it being strenuous.

Book your painting holiday today £175 (transferable 24 months under our Terms).

More about this PAINTING / DRAWING TRIP IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE: 

Who is the tutor?

Marie Remond is Franco-American, born in Nice, and knows the area. She is a talented artist (multi-media) and a people lover. She will teach guests new techniques and also guide the group throughout different fabulous excursions. To find out more about this tutor, refer to our tutoring section.

Our PAINTING (& DRAWING) HOLIDAY in Nice, South of France:

On our South of France painting trip, Azenart will show you an inspiring week in the heart of one of Europe's most sublime scenery setting, amongst the bluest of blues of the Mediterranean. Every year, we plan divine excursions to the surrounding coasts leading to Eze.

We'll stroll, sketch and paint above the PROMENADE DES ANGLAIS , as well as in the VIEUX NICE (picturesque old part of town). You'll love local delicacies like Le Pan Bagnat (very Niçois tuna and veggies sandwich), La  Pissaladière (caramelised onion tart), La Socca (a lip-smacking chick-pea snack), and more. But let's get back to art and painting...  After a quick bus ride, we will spend some time at the very breathtakingly scenic SAINT JEAN CAP FERRAT’s LA VILLA EPHRUSSI DE ROTHSCHILD. We will go to the village of EZE with its absolutely head-spinning beauty, sight-see and paint there. We’ll also paint/draw boats at the colourful VIEUX PORT.

Have you been looking for a holiday art course in France? Azenart's South of France art holiday on the French Riviera is it. Come paint (or draw) with us. Alone or accompanied, beginner or more advanced, you'll love our exciting French art break, with fabulous excursions to majestic sites in the area. Don't miss out! Tutoring is tailored to each artist. Painting in beautiful South of France with like-minded people is an experience you’ll never forget! This art holiday workshop is open to beginners, intermediate and advanced level artists. Book your art break in France today or contact us. This is one of Europe's best art vacations. This “plein-air” painting class in NICE has limited places.

This French painting holiday in Nice South of France is a watercolours holiday (recommended), but also offer tuition in gouache and drawing. Acrylics, pastels and oils are also offered to more experienced artists on this multi-medium art holiday in the South of France.