One of the must-see sights in Nice is the Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral. It was built in the early 20th century. It was built near a small monument for deceased son of the Tzar, in an area of Nice where many Russian aristocrats lived. The idea for the new cathedral came about in 1902, because basically the old cathedral was too small to accommodate the number of people who wanted to attend services.
The building of the cathedral was funded by the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. When the tzar died, his son Nicholas - Alexandra's husband took over the reigns, and he became the last emperor of Russia. The Empress was a granddaughter of Queen Victoria of England. Their life together wasn't easy - Alexandra was hated by the Russian people, and she did not get along with her mother-in-law, or follow protocols of the court. However, she and her husband were passionately in love and both had to fight against a lot of family pressure to be able to get married - but in the end, they prevailed, and they loved each other until their deaths in 1918 - when they were assassinated together with their children.
The cathedral itself is listed as a historic monument - and it's NOT handicapped accessible. In fact, if you're a parent with a stroller, be prepared to leave the stroller outside - the floor, which is made of old wood, is also protected.
The cathedral, with its bulbous towers, pink brickwork, light grey marble and azure blue tile work make it impressive to look at. It's considered one of the most important religious architectural examples of Muscovite style outside of Russia.
The interior too is worth seeing. It offers a rich selection of icons, carved woodwork and painted murals.
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