The prize at
the heart of an eternal struggle between France and Italy, Nice
only became part of France in 1860. Its history, however, goes back
to the dawn of time. The excavations of Terra Amata prove that the
region was inhabited in prehistoric times, though it was the Greeks
who really laid the foundations of the town they called "Nikaoa".
A little later
on, as everywhere else in the Mediterranean, the Romans took over,
preferring to develop the neighbourhood of Cemenelum (today known
as Cimiez) rather than the seafront which proved too hard to defend.
The fall of the Roman Empire was followed by several centuries of
invasions by the Barbarians, Saracens and pirates, which made Nice
terribly afraid of anyone and anything that arrived from the sea.
In the 11th
century, Nice was attached to the County of Provence, itself annexed
in the 14th century to the Kingdom of Savoy. This meant that Nice
remained Italian for a full five centuries, until the Treaty of
Turin was signed by Napoleon III and Victor Emmanuel II. Emperor
Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie, and all of Europe's aristocrats
at the time, came for regular stays in the region. It was then that
Nice took off, already basing its development on tourism and the
brand new railway that connected it to the rest of France as early
as 1862.
Nice is very
proud of its turbulent past; it preserves its heritage and its language
- the nissart -, it asserts its culinary art and celebrates the
traditional feasts, such as Carnival, Battles of flowers, the Cougourdons
feast, the May feast, the renewal of vows, the Vineyard feast, the
Saint Peter's feast or the Saint Jean feast. The traditional element
which is the most federative of the local population, is the Nissart,
still very used and learnt by the young people. It is a complete
tongue; vocabulary, grammar and syntax are structuring it. This
dialect, originated in the Langue d'oc, kept away from the French
and Italian influences is looked upon as very conservative. To speak
the Nissart in festive time is not only a custom but a reflex.
While Nice and
its famous Promenade des Anglais bordering the Bay of Angels is
well-known to visitors from all the world, the capital of the Côte
offers many other attractions, often less familiar, yet full of
warmth and charm. The picturesque Old Town with its lively streets
and Provençal market is set between the Port on one side
and the "Baie des Anges" (Bay of Angels) on the other.
Brimming with color, the Old Town has a very Italian atmosphere
; here one easily recalls that Nice belonged to Italy for many long
centuries.The seafront, dotted with proud façades and palatial
hotels, stretches out for almost 8 km along the Promenade des Anglais
and its vast beach of rounded pebbles.
As soon as you
leave the seafront to climb one of Nice's hills (the "Jardin
du Château" or Castle Gardens above the Port, Mont-Boron
surveying the Cap de Nice, or the neighbourhood known as Cimiez),
you come across beautiful views in which the light changes frequently
depending on the time of day. Lastly, Place Massena and the neighbouring
streets comprise the main shopping area in Nice.
The climatic
conditions - mild winter and hot summer - and the beauty of the
surroundings are giving some clues about the way inhabitants of
the Mediterranean shores are living. One does not live locked at
home but rather outside : the narrow streets of the Old-Nice, the
quarters' squares, the public gardens are displaying the various
aspects of the conviviality of Nice, which is an art of living.
Summer evenings are the occasion to breathe some fresh air on the
doorstep chatting with one's neighbours. In winter, people are gathering
together to benefit from the Sun. Crafts are strongly related to
local produce. Olive wood is needed for the fabrication of kitchen
plates and ustensils. Olives, olive oil, carnations, candied fruits,
spices and aromatic plants are ranking among the local specialities
from Nice.
They have become quite famous and are much exported but are still
produced by a craft industry which maintains this traditional know-how
alive. Local gastronomy has developed around these traditional smells
and tastes, fruits, vegetables, fishes and herbs. The Bellet wine
is very much sought after by amateurs. It is coming from the oldest
type of wine in the world. The fruit and vegetable markets, the
flower and fish ones, the second-hand and ancient books, cards and
craft products markets are an evident sign of the dynamic activity
generated by the authentic produce of the region of Nice.
Tourist Office
Aéroport Nice Côte Azur
Phone: +33(0)493 21 44 11
5 Promenade Anglais
Phone: +33(0)492 14 48 00
The Port of Nice
Contact info:
Port of Nice "Corse-Croisière" Office
Quai Amiral Infernet - 06300 Nice
Tel: +33(0)4 92 00 42 42
Fax: +33(0)4 92 00 42 10
E-Mail: port.nice@cote-azur.cci.fr
Port of Nice "Plaisance" Office
Quai du Commerce - 06300 Nice
Tel: +33(0)4 92 00 42 14
Fax: +33(0)4 92 00 42 90
E-Mail: nice-plaisance@cote-azur.cci.fr
VHF: channel 9
Geographic location: Lat 43°41'5 N - Long 07°17'1 E
Access:
By motorway from Aix en Provence:
- Exit n°50 "aéroport - Promenade des Anglais ":
travel along the coast as far as the port
- Exit n°55 " Nice Est ": follow "Nice centre
ville" then signs to the port
By motorway from Italy: Exit n°55 " Nice Est ": follow
"Nice centre ville" then signs to the port
Bus: regular service + direct service to the Port / train station
Train: regular shuttles between the station (SNCF) and the port
(or 45 minutes to walk)
Taxis: taxi rank in Place Ile de Beauté (opposite the port's
church). Phone: +33(0)493 13 78 78
Nice-Côte-d'Azur International Airport: airport / town centre
shuttle service (15 mn). Phone: +33(0)493 21 30 30
