THE FRENCH RIVIERA - France 2014 - page 1094

• Gravity-defying compositions, with lovers, animals, and angels twirling bliss-
fully in midair.
• Happy (not tragic) mood depicting a world of personal joy, despite the violen-
ce and turmoil of world wars and revolution.
• Childlike simplicity, drawn with simple, heavy outlines, filled in with Crayola
colors that often spill over the lines. Major characters in a scene are bigger
than the lesser characters. The grinning barnyard animals, the bright colors,
the magical events presented as literal truth...Was Chagall a lightweight? Or
a lighter-than-air-weight?
Although Chagall would suggest that you explore his works without help, the free
audioguide gives you detailed explanations of his works and covers temporary exhibits.
The free Plan du Musée helps you locate the rooms, though you can do without, as the
museum is pretty simple.
Cost and Hours: €7.50, €1-2 more with (frequent) special exhibits, free first Sun of
the month (but crowded), open Wed-Mon 10:00-17:00, May-Oct until 18:00, closed Tue
year-round, Avenue Docteur Ménard, tel. [phone], www.musees-nationaux-alpes-
maritimes.fr/chagall/ .
Getting to the Chagall Museum: You can reach the museum, located on Avenue
Docteur Ménard, by bus or on foot.
Buses #15 and #22 serve the Chagall Museum from the Masséna Guitry stop, near Place
Masséna (5-7/hour Mon-Sat, 3/hour Sun, €1.50, immediately behind Galeries Lafayette
department store—see map on here ) . The museum's bus stop (called Musée Chagall,
shown on the bus shelter) is on Boulevard de Cimiez (walk uphill from the stop and cross
the street to find the museum).
To walk from central Nice to the Chagall Museum (30 minutes), go to the train-sta-
tionendofAvenueJeanMédecinandturnrightontoBoulevardRaimbaldi.Walkfourlong
blocks along the elevated road, then turn left onto Avenue Raymond Comboul, and follow
Musée Chagall signs.
Cuisine Art and Services: Anidylliccafé(€10saladsand plats )awaitsinthecorner
of the garden. A spick-and-span WC is next to the ticket desk. Another WC is inside.
Leaving the Museum: To take buses #15 or #22 back to downtown Nice, turn right
out of the museum, then make another right down Boulevard de Cimiez, and catch the bus
heading downhill. To continue on to the Matisse Museum, catch buses #15 or #22 using