St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral

The Cathédrale Orthodoxe Russe Saint-Nicolas is one of the most unexpected buildings in Nice. Its onion domes rise above the residential streets of the city, a reminder of the Russian visitors who once wintered on the Riviera.

It was built between 1903 and 1912 to designs by Mikhail Preobrazhensky, a professor at the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg, because the city's earlier Russian church on Rue Longchamp had become too small for the community. The site has a sad history: the Tsarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich died of meningitis in 1865 at the Villa Bermond, which stood here, and a memorial chapel by David Grimm marks the spot.

The design draws on the traditional churches of Moscow, with four medium onion domes around a larger central one and decoration in mosaics, mostly in green, orange and white. It is listed as a historic monument and holds France's label for outstanding twentieth-century architecture. After a legal case that ended in 2013, ownership passed to the Russian Federation, and a restoration was completed in January 2016. Inside, the atmosphere changes completely: the walls are covered with icons and frescoes, the woodwork is carved, and the iconostasis that screens the sanctuary is made of repoussé and chiselled metal. It is still an active place of worship.

Guided visits run daily in several languages, including English, and last about 35 minutes. One option covers the cathedral and the small Tsarevich Chapel in the grounds, and another includes the treasury in the crypt. Holders of the French Riviera Pass can join a free guided tour in the afternoon. It is worth taking a tour if you want to understand the iconography, as there is little explanation inside.

The cathedral opens every day. Appropriate clothing is required, men may not visit shirtless, and staff may refuse entry if the rules are not followed, so cover shoulders and avoid beachwear. Services take priority over visits, and photography rules can change, so ask on arrival. Allow 30 minutes on your own, or longer with a tour.

The cathedral is on Avenue Nicolas II, at the corner of Boulevard Tzaréwitch, within walking distance of the city centre, so it fits easily into a morning before or after the shops and cafés around Avenue Jean Médecin.