Art treasures on the French Riviera

Let's try to think of some good reasons to visit the French Riviera.

Food? Landscape? Sunshine? Beaches? Hmmmm. How about these six little gems:

Musée de l'Annonciade

Musée de L'Annonciade, St-Tropez, is housed in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Annunciation, built in 1510. Its collection of paintings focuses on the period of 1890 - 1950, specifically the Nabis, Pointillist and Fauve movements. Most of the Big Names are represented here: Signac, Seurat, Vuillard, Bonnard, Matisse, Derain and Vlaminck, among many others.

Musée Picasso, Antibes

Musée Picasso, Antibes, is the first museum in the world dedicated to Picasso. Housed in a chateau formerly known as the Grimaldi Museum where Picasso lived in 1946, this smaller venue has 245 works by the artist.

Musée Matisse

Musee Matisse, in Nice, gathers one of the world's largest collections of work by Matisse, who lived and worked in Nice from 1917 to 1954.

Fondation Maeght, building and grounds

Fondation Maeght, St-Paul-de-Vence, is one of Europe's greatest modern art museums. Paintings by Bonnard, Braque, Chagall and Kandinsky are found here, and the terrace gardens display Alexander Calder's mobiles, Hepworth's sculptures and fountains and mosaics by Miró. Giacometti figures fill the courtyard.

Musée National de Marc Chagall

Musée National de Marc Chagall, Nice, is dedicated to the religious and spiritual works of the Russian-born artist, and includes drawings, paintings, mosaics, stained glass and sculpture. TripAdvisor rates this museum as the #5 best attraction on a list of 189 "Things to See in Nice".

Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nice

Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nice. Sculpture and paintings from the 17th to the 20th century, including work by Bonnard, Fragonard, Monet, Sisley, Vuillard and van Dongen. An exhibition titled "Raoul Dufy: La Promenade comme Motif" runs from June 12 - October 4, 2015.

Full disclosure: I am thrilled to have a trip planned to Nice this September, with a direct flight booked and an apartment in the centre of town reserved. I understand that local buses and trains are cheap and frequent, taking travellers to all the small towns nearby, even to Monaco.

Pinch me! If you've been to Nice, and have any good travel tips, please share them.