January started slowly as people hunkered down, recovering from the holiday season. The unusually cold weather here has also encouraged cocooning. Our first event is a doozy though.

Nice

Reopening of the Chapelle du Saint Sépulcre

The iconic Chapelle du Saint Sépulcre on Place Garibaldi has been under restoration for the last four years and was open infrequently for years before. But it’s reopening tomorrow! There will be celebrations. Here’s the program:

Friday January 17

Opening Ceremony 7:30pm

Inaugural Concert 9:30pm

Saturday January 18

Free Guided Visit (in French) 9-10:30am

Musical/Historical Visit 11am

Eloquence Competition 3:30pm

Nice Traditional Songs 5:30pm

Mass celebrated by the Archbishop of Nice 6pm

Sunday January 19

Free Guided Visits 1am-noon & 2-4pm

Concert by the Baroque Ensemble of Nice 4:30pm (€10 entry)

Can’t be there? Follow niceuncovered on Instagram for photos and videos

For a bit of background: The Chapelle du Saint Sépulcre  was designed in 1782 by the architect Antoine Spinelli and replaced an older church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The church was ransacked during the French Revolution and was then taken over by the Blue Penitents in the early 19th century. Classed a Historical Monument the church is notable for its baroque and neoclassical architecture as well as ceiling paintings by Emmanual Costa.

Nice Opera

The Magic Flute Jan 24 26, 28, 30

Mozart’s masterpiece will be staged by filmmaker Cédric Klapisch under the musical direction of Christophe Spinosi. Tickets at the Nice Opera.

Cannes

Concert Ibrahim Maalouf

Festival Palace January 23

The legendary jazz trumpeter will be joined by the Cannes Orchestra to play excerpts from his new album and more. Tickets and reservations here.

Monaco

Monte Carlo International Circus Festival

January 17-26 Chapiteau Fontvieille

The greatest Circus artists in the world will meet under the  big top to try to win the ultimate distinction in Circus arts: the Golden Clown. Click here for more information and tickets.