Property services and personal assistance on the French Riviera

About Nice

Nice : Overview 

The capital of the Riviera and fifth largest city in France, NICE scarcely deserves its glittering reputation. It features a great diversity: city steeped in history, city of architecture, of culture, of art, of creation, of events, of shows, of leisure, of nature, of sweetness and savour... No matter how many times you come to nice, remember there is still another way to discover our city...

Living off inflated property values and fat business accounts, its ruling class has hardly evolved from the eighteenth-century Russian and English aristocrats who first built their mansions here; today it's the rentiers and retired people of various nationalities whose dividends and pensions give the city its startlingly high ratio of per capita income to economic activity.

Shadowed by mountains that curve down to the Mediterranean east of its port, it still breaks up more or less into old and new. Vieux Nice, the old town, groups about the hill of Le Château, its limits signalled by boulevard Jean-Jaurès, built along the course of the River Paillon. Along the seafront, the celebrated promenade des Anglais runs a cool 5km until forced to curve inland by the sea-projecting runways of the airport. The central square, place Masséna, is at the bottom of the modern city's main street, avenue Jean-Médecin, while off to the north is the exclusive hillside suburb of Cimiez.

Nice : Top Nice attractions 

- La Promenade des Anglais 

- The old town 

- Nice Cimiez 

- The pedestrian zone 

- Place Masséna 

 -Russian cathedral 

- Le port 

- Le Chateau 

- The three corniches

- Carnaval in Nice  

La Promenade des Anglais and its beaches 

Nice's beaches extend all along the Baie des Anges on 7 kms (from Nice’s port to the airport), backed full-length by the Promenade des Anglais. Public stretches alternate with posh private beaches that have restaurants and bar service, mattresses and parasols, waterskiing, parasailing, windsurfing, and jet-skiing. One of the handiest private beaches is the Beau Rivage (PHONE: 04-92-47-82-82), set across from the Opera. The sun can also be yours for the basking at Ruhl (PHONE: 04-93-87-09-70), across from the casino. The particularity is that from Nice to Cagnes sur mer they are shingle beaches. 

The old town  

It is one of the liveliest, most colourful neighbours in the city and it is constantly filled with visitors. Interesting old houses, baroque churches and 17th-18th century civic buildings have been restored. Wander these narrow streets and discover great shopping, dining and some of the city's most happening bars. This is also a great destination after-hours, but goes with a group. Old Nice is filled with dark alleys, and lone wanderers can become a target. 

- Palais Lascaris : Genoan-style Baroque palace built starting in 1648 by the Lascaris-Ventimiglia family. Very fine façade with balconies on consoles and pilasters decorated with capitals and garlands of flowers. A pharmacy (1738) is on display on the ground floor. A monumental staircase leads to the staterooms (17th and 18th century decoration and furniture) - Opéra: before the Cours Saleya 

- Churches : Cathedral Sainte-Réparate on the "place Rossetti", Eglise du Gésu, near place Rossetti 

- Place Garibaldi : at the entrance of the Old town, near the port 

- Cours Saleya: along the promenade des Anglais, you must go to this street which is the soul of the town. Every morning except Mondays you’ll find the fruit and vegetable market and throughout the day, the famous flower market 

Nice Cimiez 

Set above the town center, this was a residential area for the wealthy in Roman times, and remains so today. About a 15-minute bus ride from Nice Centre up into the hills, has a small concentration of museums and attractions. The Musée Matisse contains a wonderful collection of the great local artist's work. The archeology museum next door is semi-interesting indoors, but what is more fascinating is the ruins of the Roman amphitheatre, public baths and paved streets.  

The Pedestrian Zone (zone pietonne)  

It is a bit of a tourist trap, but there's a good reason. This is a lovely area for a stroll, as cars are forbidden except for the early morning hours (and the rogues who scoot through here anyway during other times). The shops here are on the tacky-tee-shirt scale in most cases, although there are several great clothing store chains and nice shops like the gourmet boutique Ducs de Gascony. This is the ideal spot to sip a café au lait and watch the world go by. 

Place Massena 

Elegant, arcaded Place Massena is located behind the Promenade des Anglais. In the center of the square is a sparkling fountain from which broad boulevards. Among these are the Jardin Albert 1er and the avenue Jean Médecin, shopping avenue.  

Russian Cathedral

What a juxtaposition: the traditional Russian onion towers in the background, and the tropical palm trees in the foreground. Ordered built in 1903 by Tsar Nicholas II, in memory of his son, Nicholas, who is buried on the grounds. This is the most beautiful Orthodox edifice outside Russia and is the perfect expression of Russian religious art abroad. It dates from the belle époque, when some of the Romanovs frequented the Riviera. The cathedral is richly ornamented and decorated with many icons. It is crowned by ornate onion-shaped domes. Church services are held on Sunday morning. As odd a pairing as the two seem, the Russian Cathedral is just one of many Russian attractions in the city. The Russian aristocracy used Nice as a balmy getaway, and left their indelable mark on the Riviera city. The cathedral is the finest example, and provides a rare opportunity to experience the former U.S.S.R. on the Cote d'Azur. 

Nice Port

The Nice Port area is one frequently overlooked by tourists, but it shouldn't be. Just around the corner from Old Nice and the Quai des Etats Unis, this is a great spot to watch the Corsica ferries lift off. There are also some of the city's hippest nightclubs here.

Le Chateau

The best reason to visit the chateau is for the spectacular panoramic view of the city and sea. You won't actually see much of a castle (only a few sections of it remain). You can take the elevator up for a nominal price or hike up the stairs for free to the park atop the hill. Be sure to bring your camera. 

The three corniches  

The lay of the land east of Nice is nearly vertical, as the coastline is one great cliff, a corniche terraced by three parallel highways -- the Corniche Inférieure (sometimes called the Basse Corniche and N98), the Moyenne Corniche (N7), and the Grande Corniche (D2564) that snake along its graduated crests. The lowest (inférieure) is the slowest, following the coast and crawling through the main streets of resorts, including downtown Monte Carlo. Villefranche, Cap-Ferrat, and Beaulieu are some of the towns located along this 20-mi-long highway. The highest (grande) is the fastest, but its panoramic views are blocked by villas, and there are few safe overlooks (this is the highway Grace Kelly roared along in To Catch a Thief, and some 27 years later, crashed and died on). The middle (moyenne) offers views down over the shoreline and villages and passes through a few picturesque cliff-top towns, including Èze.

Carnaval in Nice

Every February the Carnaval in Nice transforms the city from a relatively sedate seaside metropolis into one vast party. The streets behind the waterfront explode in bright lights and color, and parades, masks, and impromptu street celebrations are everyday sights. It's a tradition that dates back to pagan times, when the Romans fêted the end of winter and the dawning of spring.

There is a published calendar of events and easy advance ticket sales for any seated events. There are parades of magnificently crafted grosses têtes (literally, "fatheads). And there are the famous batailles des fleurs (flower battles), really full-scale parades complete with marching bands, clowns, and samba troupes. Elaborate floats heaped with Côte d'Azur flowers cruise down the Promenade des Anglais hauling a cargo of spectacularly costumed beauty queens who toss fresh flowers into the crowd.

Riviera Accueil Services, 20 rue Amiral de Grasse, 06000 Nice, France, RCS Nice 49425856900016, Tél: 04.93.82.08.75

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Last modification : 27-02-2008