One of the most beautiful buildings in Nice is the Russian Church with its soaring tiled onion domes in malachite and jade.....Isn't it gorgeous?
The exterior architectural details are quite stunning and exquisite.....
But what about the interior?? Good question !! An inscrutably enigmatic security guard who was obviously auditioning for the next Beckett or Pinter play in town had this to say (in heavily Russian accented English...)
"So can I look inside?"
"No is closed"
"How long for?"
"Minimum one year"
"Why is that?"
"is long story"
"is there a short version?"
"best you forget everything you know"
"but I don't know anything about it"
"is good..best you forget everything you told"
"but nobody has told me anything..."
"is good...."
"So you're not going to tell me?"
"is long story................"
So for the time being, be content with these exterior shots of a lovely building....If anyone in the blogosphere can enlighten me about this intriguing story of closure, please do so!! The Russian Church is in North Nice ten minutes walk from the central railway station Nice-Ville Gare. Enjoy!!
15 comments:
This is a gorgeous edifice. Reminds me of St.Basil's in Red Square, which I visited close to 50 years ago now. I got a kick out of your conversation with the security guard. Now I'm curious what this mystery is all about!! Happy SSS.
A gorgeous place, stunning colors, superb captures and one hilarious exchange with the guard!!! Like Cassie, I can't help but wonder what that is all about,???? Have a great week, Catherine!
Sylvia
This church is the biggest orthodox cathedral in the world outside from Russia.
It was built in XIX th century by and for "White Russians", the ones who believed in the Tsar and did not believe in soviet revolution, and was administrated by them, emigrated people on the Riviera. But since years and years, the new Russian state wanted this church to go back to russian administration, and last year, finally succeeded. That's why the guard did not want to talk to you, he was maybe thinking you were with 'ennemies". (As I'm french, it's a little hard for me to explain it in english, but it's more or less what happened.)
And , even if I live here since years, I never COULD visit the inside!..
Thanks for sharing these great church shots. It is so interesting see what is on the other side of the world. I have never been and never will see Russia.
At least he didn't put out your eyes, which happened to the architect of one of the Russian churches, so he could never design another (sorry, my brain can't quite dredge up the full story!!)
Hi LV thanks for stopping by - the church is in Nice, the south of France not Russia - no need tO travel quite so far to see beautiful buildings.....
Thanks Malyss for the explanation - I have been wondering ever since that strange conversation - are there plans to reopen it to the public? Hope so as would love to see inside....
Like Cassie, I was immediately transported to St Basil's in Moscow. I never visited it but had a small replica at home in Cuba. This is a stunning building and the dialogue that ensued between you and the guard is definitely Beckettian! :-)
Greetings from London.
As you may have seen on my blog, I rather recently visited the St.Basil's and a number of other fantastic Russian orthodox churches, without problems, taking photos... In Paris, we have the beautiful Saint-Alexandre-Nevsky, which you can visit now and then only,... and no photos!
Gorgeous architecture.
I like your photos very much.
Regards and best wishes
Onion domes in Nice? Who knew! Obviously not me...but I'll ask no questions, taking a cue from your encounter with the enigmatic Russian guard. Street theatre at its best! The church is indeed gorgeous.
Indeed an architectural gem. Funny, I am now reading "Pillars of the Earth." It's a novel about building a cathedral during the 1100s, England.
Hopefully I have now removed the double word verification on this blog - please let me know if it has gone thanks for all your comments catherine
I dont't know if the link will be visible, but it's how the Church looked inside in 2005. Malyss is right, there is a legal dispute between Russia and France about the ownership of this church. Russian Wikipedia says that it closed from 29 June 2011 (except during worship services) because of partial collapse of the dome stucco. Hope it will be open soon.
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A4%D0%B0%D0%B9%D0%BB:%D0%92%D0%BD%D1%83%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4_%D0%A1%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B0_%D0%A1%D0%B2%D1%8F%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE_%D0%9D%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%8F_%D0%B2_%D0%9D%D0%B8%D1%86%D1%86%D0%B5.jpg
Wow! That's a great idea. Making my church loan decision the best fall church mortgage decision, I am going to contact Griffin Capital Funding this time.
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