Promenade des Anglais

Before Nice was urbanized, the coast at Nice was just bordered by a deserted band of beach covered by large pebbles. The first houses were located on higher ground well away from the sea. Starting in the second half of the 18th century, the English took to spending the winter in Nice, enjoying the panorama along the coast.

Watersport at the beach

When a particularly harsh winter up north brought an influx of beggars to Nice, some of the rich Englishmen proposed a useful project for them: the construction of walkway along the sea.

The beautiful beach in Nice

Promenade des Anglais

Promenade des Anglais

For the local inhabitants, the Promenade des Anglais has simply become the Promenade. On Sundays, bicyclists, babystrollers, and whole families can be seen out for a stroll along the Promenade. It has also become a favourite place for skateboarders and in-line skaters. The Promenade has its blue chairs and cabanas perfect for a lazy time along the Mediterranean and for contemplation of the azure blue water of the Bay of Angels.

The beach

Promenade des Anglais

The beach

Many tourists travel to Nice to enjoy its warm, dry weather and long beaches. The pebble beach in Nice stretches for miles along the French coastline. Restaurants can be found along the Mediterranean seaside and offers wonderful seafood, French wines and Italian and French cuisine.

The beach

Côte d'Azur

Many visitors enjoy the spesial and beautiful blue sea - Côte d'Azur.

The beach

The beaches of Nice consist entirely of large flat stones ("gallets"). A few private beaches have added a layer of sand, but the free public beaches are a stony experience. Although the beaches are mainly pebbles it is important to note that many visitors enjoy the beautiful light blue sea for a swim.

The flower man

St Jean Cap Ferrat

Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is a commune of the Alpes-Maritimes département. The commune has a population of 2,248 inhabitants and is located on a peninsula next to Villefranche-sur-Mer. Its tranquillity and warm climate make it a favourite holiday destination amongst European aristocracy and international millionaires. It is one of the loveliest places on the Mediterranean coast.

St Jean Cap Ferrat

Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is a French seaside palazzo constructed between 1905 and 1912 at Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat by Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild (1864–1934). A member of the prominent Rothschild banking family and the wife of the wealthy Russian-Jewish banker Baron de Ephrussi, Béatrice de Rothschild built her rose-colored villa on a promontory on the isthmus of Cap Ferrat overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

Cafe

The port of Nice

The port of Nice is also known as Lympia port. This name comes from the Lympia source which fed a small lake in a marshy zone where in 1745 work of the port was started. It constitutes today the principal harbour installation of Nice. Fishing activities remain but the number of professional fishermen is now lower than 10. Nice, being the point of continental France nearest to Corsica, has ferry connections with the island developed with the arrival of NGV or navires at high speed.

The port of Nice

The Hotel Negresco

The Hotel Negresco on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice was named for Henri Negresco who had the palatial hotel constructed in 1912. In keeping with the conventions of the times, when the Negresco first opened in 1913 its front opened on the side opposite the Mediterranean. The hotel was sold to the Augier family in 1957. Madame Jeanne Augier reinvigorated the hotel with luxurious decorations and furnishings. In 2003 the Hotel Negresco was listed by the government of France as a National Historic Building and is a member of Leading Hotels of the World. The Negresco has a total of 119 guest rooms plus 22 suites.

The Hotel Negresco at night

The old town

The old town (Vieux Nice) beneath the hill is a maze of streets and alleys, with many picturesque houses, boutiques and home to the daily flower and fruit market of the Cours Saleya. Whilst wandering through the old town, take a look at the "ogival arches" above some of the shops, dating back to medieval times. They have been carefully restored, especially in the Rue du Pont Vieux and Rue de la Préfecture. You can also see many examples of stone lintels on the facades of private houses.

The old town

The old burial place

Villefranche sur Mer

Villefranche-sur-Mer is a small town situated about 6 km east of the city of Nice on the French Riviera with a population of just under 7,000. The bay (rade) of Villefranche is one of the deepest natural harbours of any port in the Mediterranean Sea and provides safe anchorage for large ships. Built on terraced hills overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, The Old Town is an intricate labyrinth of steep paved streets and lanes with limited automotive traffic access.

Villefranche sur Mer