Nice

Nice(/niːs/NEESS;French pronunciation:[nis];Italian:Nizza;Ligurian:Nissa;Occitan:Niça)is a city in and the prefecture of theAlpes-Maritimesdepartmentin France. The Niceagglomerationextends far beyond the administrative city limits, with a population of nearly one millionon an area of 744 km(287 sq mi).Located on theFrench Riviera, the southeastern coast of France on theMediterranean Sea, at the foot of theFrench Alps, Nice is the second-largest French city on the Mediterranean coast and second-largest city in theProvence-Alpes-Côte d'AzurregionafterMarseille. Nice is approximately 13 kilometres (8 mi) from theprincipalityofMonacoand 30 kilometres (19 mi) from theFrench–Italian border.Nice's airportserves as a gateway to the region.
The city is nicknamedNice la Belle(Nissa La Bellain Niçard), meaning 'Nice the Beautiful', which is also the title of the unofficial anthem of Nice, written byMenica Rondellyin 1912. The area of today's Nice containsTerra Amata, an archaeological site which displays evidence of a very early use of fire 380,000 years ago. Around 350 BC, Greeks of Marseille founded a permanent settlement and called itNikaia, afterNike, the goddess of victory.Through the ages, the town has changed hands many times. Its strategic location and port significantly contributed to its maritime strength. From 1388, it was a dominion ofSavoy, then became part of theFrench First Republicbetween 1792 and 1815, when it was returned to theKingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, the legal predecessor of theKingdom of Italy, until its annexation by France in 1860.
The natural environment of the Nice area and its mild Mediterranean climate came to the attention of the English upper classes in the second half of the 18th century, when an increasing number of aristocratic families began spending their winters there. In 1931, following its refurbishment, the city's main seaside promenade, thePromenade des Anglais("Walkway of the English"), was inaugurated byPrince Arthur, Duke of Connaught; it owes its name to visitors to the resort.These includedQueen Victoriaalong with her sonEdward VIIwho spent winters there, as well asHenry Cavendish, born in Nice, who discovered hydrogen.
The clear air and soft light have particularly appealed to notable painters, such asMarc Chagall,Henri Matisse,Niki de Saint Phalle, andArman. Their work is commemorated in many of the city's museums, includingMusée Marc Chagall,Musée MatisseandMusée des Beaux-Arts.International writers have also been attracted and inspired by the city.Frank Harriswrote several books including his autobiographyMy Life and Lovesin Nice.Friedrich Nietzschespent six consecutive winters in Nice, and wroteThus Spoke Zarathustrathere. Additionally, Russian writerAnton Chekhovcompleted his playThree Sisterswhile living in Nice.
Nice's appeal extended to the Russian upper classes.Prince Nicholas Alexandrovich, heir apparent toImperial Russia, died in Nice and was a patron of theRussian Orthodox Cemetery, NicewherePrincess Catherine Dolgorukova,morganaticwife of theTsarAlexander II of Russia, is buried. Also buried there areGeneral Dmitry ShcherbachevandGeneral Nikolai Yudenich, leaders of the anti-CommunistWhite Movement.
Those interred at theCimetière du Châteauinclude celebrated jewelerAlfred Van Cleef,Emil Jellinek-Mercedes, founder of the Mercedes car company, film directorLouis Feuillade, poetAgathe-Sophie Sasserno, dancerCarolina Otero,Asterixcomics creatorRené Goscinny,The Phantom of the OperaauthorGaston Leroux, French prime ministerLéon Gambetta, and the first president of theInternational Court of JusticeJosé Gustavo Guerrero.
Because of its historical importance as a winter resort town for the European aristocracy and the resulting mix of cultures found in the city,UNESCOproclaimed Nice aWorld Heritage Sitein 2021.The city has the second largest hotel capacity in the country,and it is the second most visited metropolis inMetropolitan France, receiving four million tourists every year.It also has the third busiestairportin France, after the two main Parisian ones.It is the historical capital city of theCounty of Nice(French:Comté de Nice, Niçard:Countèa de Nissa).
The first known hominid settlements in the Nice area date back about 400,000 years (homo erectus);theTerra Amataarcheological site shows one of the earliest uses of fire, construction of houses, as well as flint findings dated to around 230,000 years ago.Nice was probably founded around 350 BC by colonists from the Greek city ofPhocaeain westernAnatolia. It was given the name ofNíkaia(Νίκαια) in honour of a victory over the neighbouringLigurians(people from the northwest ofItaly, probably the Vediantii kingdom);Nike(Νίκη) was theGreek goddessof victory. The city soon became one of the busiest trading ports on the Ligurian coast; but it had an important rival in the Roman town ofCemenelum, which continued to exist as a separate city until the time of theLombardinvasions.The ruins of Cemenelum are inCimiez, now a district of Nice.
In the 7th century, Nice joined theGenoeseLeague formed by the towns ofLiguria. In 729 the city repulsed theSaracens; but in 859 and again in 880 the Saracens pillaged and burned it, and for most of the 10th century remained masters of the surrounding country.
During theMiddle Ages, Nice participated in the wars andhistory of Italy. As an ally ofPisait was the enemy ofGenoa, and both theKing of Franceand theHoly Roman Emperorendeavoured to subjugate it; despite this, it maintained its municipal liberties. During the 13th and 14th centuries the city fell more than once into the hands of theCounts of Provence,but it regained its independence even though related to Genoa.
The medieval city walls surrounded the Old Town. The landward side was protected by the RiverPaillon, which was later covered over and is now the tram route towards the Acropolis. The east side of the town was protected by fortifications onCastle Hill. Another river flowed into the port on the east side of Castle Hill. Engravings suggest that the port area was also defended by walls. UnderMonoprixin Place de Garibaldi are excavated remains of a well-defended city gate on the main road fromTurin.
In 1388, the commune placed itself under the protection of theCounts of Savoy.Nice participated – directly or indirectly – in the history ofSavoyuntil 1860.
The maritime strength of Nice now rapidly increased until it was able to cope with theBarbary pirates; the fortifications were largely extended and the roads to the city improved.In 1561Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoyabolished the use of Latin as an administrative language and established theItalian languageas the official language of government affairs in Nice.
During the struggle betweenFrancis IandCharles Vgreat damage was caused by the passage of the armies invadingProvence;pestilenceand famine raged in the city for several years.In 1538, in the nearby town ofVilleneuve-Loubet, through the mediation ofPope Paul III, the two monarchs concluded aten years' truce.
In 1543, Nice was attacked by the unitedFranco-Ottoman forcesof Francis I andBarbarossa Hayreddin Pasha, in theSiege of Nice; though the inhabitants repulsed the assault which followed the terrible bombardment, they were ultimately compelled to surrender, and Barbarossa was allowed to pillage the city and to carry off 2,500 captives. Pestilence appeared again in 1550 and 1580.
In 1600, Nice was briefly taken by theDuke of Guise. By opening the ports of the county to all nations, and proclaiming full freedom of trade (1626), the commerce of the city was given great stimulus, the noble families taking part in its mercantile enterprises.
Captured byNicolas Catinatin 1691, Nice was restored toSavoyin 1696; butit was again besieged by the French in 1705, and in the following year itscitadelandrampartswere demolished.
TheTreaty of Utrecht (1713)once more gave the city back to the Duke of Savoy, who was on that same occasion recognised as King of Sicily. In the peaceful years which followed, the "new town" was built. From 1744 until theTreaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748)the French and Spaniards were again in possession.
In 1775 the king, who in 1718 had swapped his sovereignty of Sicily for the Kingdom of Sardinia, destroyed all that remained of the ancient liberties of thecommune. Conquered in 1792 by the armies of theFirst French Republic, the County of Nice continued to be part of France until 1814; but after that date it reverted to theKingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia.
After theTreaty of Turinwas signed in 1860 between theSardinian kingandNapoleon IIIas a consequence of thePlombières Agreement, the county was again and definitively ceded to France as a territorial reward for French assistance in theSecond Italian War of IndependenceagainstAustria, which sawLombardyunited withPiedmont-Sardinia.  King Victor-Emmanuel II, on 1 April 1860, solemnly asked the population to accept the change of sovereignty, in the name of Italian unity, and the cession was ratified by a regionalreferendum. Italophile manifestations and the acclamation of an "Italian Nice" by the crowd are reported on this occasion.A plebiscite was voted on 15 and 16 April 1860. The opponents of annexation called for abstention, hence the very high abstention rate. The "yes" vote won 83% of registered voters throughout the county of Nice and 86% in Nice, partly thanks to pressure from the authorities.This is the result of a masterful operation of information control by the French and Piedmontese governments, in order to influence the outcome of the vote in relation to the decisions already taken.The irregularities in the plebiscite voting operations were evident. The case of Levens is emblematic: the same official sources recorded, faced with only 407 voters, 481 votes cast, naturally almost all in favor of joining France.
The Italian language, which was the official language of the County, used by the Church, at the town hall, taught in schools, used in theaters and at the Opera, was immediately abolished and replaced by French.Discontent over annexation to France led to the emigration of a large part of the Italophile population, also accelerated by Italian unification after 1861. A quarter of the population of Nice, around 11,000 people from Nice, decided to voluntarily exile to Italy.The emigration of a quarter of theNiçard Italiansto Italy took the name ofNiçard exodus. Many Italians from Nizza then moved to the Ligurian towns ofVentimiglia,BordigheraandOspedaletti,giving rise to a local branch of the movement of theItalian irredentistswhich considered the re-acquisition of Nice to be one of their nationalist goals.Giuseppe Garibaldi, born in Nice, strongly opposed the cession to France, arguing that the ballot was rigged by the French. Furthermore, for the niçard general his hometown was unquestionably Italian. Politically, the liberals of Nice and the partisans of Garibaldi also appreciated very little Napoleonic authoritarianism. Elements on the right (aristocrats) as on the left (Garibaldians) therefore wanted Nice to return to Italy. Savoy was also transferred to the French crown by similar means.
In 1871, during the first free elections in the County, the pro-Italian lists obtained almost all the votes in the legislative elections (26,534 votes out of 29,428 votes cast), and Garibaldi was elected deputy at theNational Assembly. Pro-Italians took to the streets cheering"Viva Nizza! Viva Garibaldi!".The French government sent 10,000 soldiers to Nice, closed the Italian newspaperIl Diritto di Nizzaand imprisoned several demonstrators. The population of Nice rose up from 8 to 10 February and the three days of demonstration took the name of "Niçard Vespers". The revolt was suppressed by French troops. On 13 February, Garibaldi was not allowed to speak at the French parliament meeting in Bordeaux to ask for the reunification of Nice to thenewborn Italian unitary state, and he resigned from his post as deputy.The failure of Vespers led to the expulsion of the last pro-Italian intellectuals from Nice, such as Luciano Mereu or Giuseppe Bres, who were expelled or deported.
The pro-Italian irredentist movement persisted throughout the period 1860–1914, despite the repression carried out since the annexation. The French government implemented a policy ofFrancizationof society, language and culture.The toponyms of the communes of the ancient County were francized, with the obligation to use French in Nice,as well as certain surnames (for example the Italian surname "Bianchi" was francized into "Leblanc", and the Italian surname "Del Ponte" was francized into "Dupont").
Italian-language newspapers in Nice were banned. In 1861,La Voce di Nizzawas closed (temporarily reopened during the Niçard Vespers), followed byIl Diritto di Nizza, closed in 1871.In 1895 it was the turn ofIl Pensiero di Nizza, accused of irredentism. Many journalists and writers from Nice wrote in these newspapers in Italian. Among these are Enrico Sappia, Giuseppe André, Giuseppe Bres, Eugenio Cais di Pierlas and others.
In 1900, theTramway de Niceelectrified its horse-drawn streetcars and spread its network to the entiredépartementfromMentontoCagnes-sur-Mer. By the 1930s more bus connections were added in the area.In the 1930s, Nice hosted international car racing in theFormula Libre(predecessor toFormula One) on the so-called Circuit Nice. The circuit started along the waterfront just south of the Jardin Albert I, then headed westward along thePromenade des Anglaisfollowed by a hairpin turn at theHotel Negrescoto come back eastward and around the Jardin Albert I before heading again east along the beach on the Quai des Etats-Unis.
As war broke out in September 1939, Nice became a city of refuge for many displaced foreigners, notably Jews fleeing the Nazi progression into Eastern Europe. From Nice many sought further shelter in theFrench colonies, Morocco and North and South America. After July 1940 and the establishment of theVichy Regime,antisemiticaggressions accelerated the exodus, starting in July 1941 and continuing through 1942. On 26 August 1942, 655 Jews of foreign origin were rounded up by the Laval government and interned in the Auvare barracks. Of these, 560 were deported toDrancy internment campon 31 August 1942. Due to the activity of the Jewish bankerAngelo Donatiand of the Capuchin friarPère Marie-Benoîtthe local authorities hindered the application of anti-Jewish Vichy laws.
The firstrésistantsto the new regime were a group of high school seniors of the Lycée de Nice, nowLycée Masséna[fr], in September 1940, later arrested and executed in 1944 nearCastellane.The first public demonstrations occurred on 14 July 1942 when several hundred protesters took to the streets along the Avenue de la Victoire and in the Place Masséna.In November 1942 German troops moved into most of unoccupied France, but Italian troops moved into a smaller zone including Nice.A certain ambivalence remained among the population, many of whom were recent immigrants of Italian ancestry. However, the resistance gained momentum after the Italian surrender in 1943 when the German army occupied the former Italian zone.Reprisals intensified between December 1943 and July 1944, when many partisans were tortured and executed by the localGestapo.American paratroopers entered the city on 30 August 1944 and Nice was finally liberated.The consequences of the war were heavy: the population decreased by 15%and economic life was totally disrupted.
In the second half of the 20th century, Nice enjoyed an economic boom primarily driven by tourism and construction. Two men dominated this period:Jean Médecin,mayorfor 33 years from 1928 to 1943 and from 1947 to 1965, and his sonJacques, mayor for 24 years from 1966 to 1990. Under their leadership, there was extensive urban renewal, including many new constructions. These included the convention centre, theatres, new thoroughfares and expressways. The arrival of thePieds-Noirs, refugees from Algeria after 1962 independence, also gave the city a boost and somewhat changed the make-up of its population and traditional views.By the late 1980s, rumors of political corruption in the city government surfaced; and eventually formal accusations against Jacques Médecin forced him to flee France in 1990. Later arrested inUruguayin 1993, he was extradited back to France in 1994, convicted of several counts of corruption and associated crimes and sentenced to imprisonment.
On 16 October 1979, alandslideand an undersea slide caused twotsunamisthat hit the western coast of Nice; theseeventskilled between 8 and 23 people.
In February 2001, European leaders met in Nice to negotiate and sign what is now theTreaty of Nice, amending the institutions of the European Union.
In 2003, local ChiefProsecutorÉric de Montgolfieralleged that some judicial cases involving local personalities had been suspiciously derailed by the local judiciary, which he suspected of having unhealthy contacts throughMasoniclodges with the defendants. A controversial official report stated later that Montgolfier had made unwarranted accusations.
On 14 July 2016, a truck wasdeliberately driven into a crowd of peoplebyMohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlelon thePromenade des Anglais. The crowd was watching a fireworks display in celebration ofBastille Day.A total of 87 people were killed, including the perpetrator, who was shot dead by police.Another 434 were injured, with 52 in critical care and 25 in intensive care, according to the Paris prosecutor.On 29 October 2020,a stabbing attackkilled three people at the localNotre-Dame de Nice. One of the victims, a woman, was beheaded by the attacker.Several additional victims were injured. The attacker, who was shot by the police, was taken into custody. TheIslamic stateclaimed responsibility for both attacks.
In 2021, the city was proclaimed aWorld Heritage SitebyUNESCOas "Nice, Winter Resort Town of the Riviera".
On 18 July 2024, seven people from the same family, including three young children, three adults and a teenager were killed inan arson attack. The fire also critically injured one other person and caused thirty other people to suffer fromsmoke inhalation.
ThePromenade des Anglais("Walkway of the English") is a promenade along theBaie des Anges("Bay of the Angels"), which is a bay of theMediterraneanin Nice. Before Nice was urbanised, the coastline at Nice was just bordered by a deserted stretch ofshingle beach(covered with large pebbles). The first houses were located on higher ground well away from the sea, as wealthy tourists visiting Nice in the 18th century did not come for the beach, but for the gentle winter weather.The areas close to the water were home to Nice's dockworkers and fishermen.
In the second half of the 18th century, many wealthy English people took to spending the winter in Nice, enjoying the panorama along the coast. This early aristocratic English colony conceived the building of a promenade with the leadership and financial support ofRev. Lewis Way.With the initial promenade completed, the city of Nice, intrigued by the prospect, greatly increased the scope of the work. The Promenade was first called theCamin dei Anglès(the English Way) by the Niçois in their native dialectNissart. In 1823, the promenade was namedLa Promenade des Anglaisby the French, a name that would stick after the annexation of Nice by France in 1860.
TheHotel Negrescoon the Promenade des Anglais was named afterHenri Negrescowho had the palatial hotel constructed in 1912. In keeping with the conventions of the time, when the Negresco first opened in 1913 its front opened on the side opposite the Mediterranean.
Beginning at Place Masséna, heading east and parallel to the Promenade des Anglais, there is a "Zone Piétonne", or "Pedestrian Zone". Cars are not allowed (with exception to delivery trucks), making this avenue a popular walkway.
Old Nice is also home to theOpéra de Nice. It was constructed at the end of the 19th century under the design of François Aune, to replace King Charles Félix's Maccarani Theater. Today, it is open to the public and provides a regular program of performances.
Other sights include:
Religious buildings in the city include:
ThePlace Massénais the main square of the city. Before thePaillonRiver was covered over, the Pont-Neuf was the only practicable way between the old town and the modern one. The square was thus divided into two parts (North and South) in 1824. With the demolition of the Masséna Casino in 1979, the Place Masséna became more spacious and less dense and is now bordered by red ochre buildings ofItalian architecture.
The recent rebuilding of the tramline gave the square back to the pedestrians, restoring its status as a real Mediterranean square. It is lined with palm trees and stone pines. Since its construction, the Place Masséna has been the spot for public events. It is used for concerts, the summer festivals, theCorso carnavalesque(carnival parade) in February, the military procession on the 14th of July (Bastille Day) and other traditional celebrations and banquets.
The Place Masséna is a two-minute walk from thePromenade des Anglais, old town, town center, and Albert I Garden (Jardin Albert Ier). It is also a large crossroads between several of the main streets of the city:avenue Jean Médecin,avenue Félix Faure,boulevard Jean Jaurès,avenue de Verdunandrue Gioffredo.
ThePlace Garibaldialso stands out for its architecture and history. It is named afterGiuseppe Garibaldi, hero of theItalian unification(born in Nice in 1807 when Nice was part of the Napoleonic Empire, before reverting to the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia). The square was built at the end of the 18th century and served as the entry gate to the city and end of the road from Turin. It took several names between 1780 and 1870 (Plaça Pairoulièra, Place de la République, Place Napoléon, Place d'Armes, Place Saint-Augustin, Piazza Vittorio) and finally Place Garibaldi in September 1870.
A statue of Garibaldi, who was fiercely in favour of the union of Nice with Italy, stands in the centre of the square. The rebuilding of the area to accommodate a new tramway line gave almost the entire square to pedestrians. The architecture is in line with the Turin model, which was the norm of urban renewal throughout the entire realm of the House of Savoy.
It is a crossroads between theVieux Nice(old town) and the town center. Place Garibaldi is close to the eastern districts of Nice,Port Lympia(Lympia Harbour), and the TNL commercial centre.
Entirely enclosed and pedestrianised, this square is located in the old town. With typical buildings in red and yellow ochres surrounding the square, thecathédrale Sainte-Réparateand there is a fountain in the center. By day, the place is filled by the terraces of traditional restaurants and ice-cream makers. By night, the environment changes radically, with tourists and young people flocking to the square.
Place Rossetti is in the centre of the old town, streetsJesus,Rossetti,Mascoïnatand thePont-vieux(old bridge).
The Cours Saleya is situated parallel to theQuai des États-Unis. In the past, it belonged to the upper classes. It hosts a daily market with flowers, art vendors, and antiques.
TthePlace du Palaisis where thePalais de la Justice(Law courts) of Nice is located. On this square, there also is thePalais Rusca, which also belongs to the justice department (home of thetribunal de grande instance).
Located in theProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azurregion, Nice is acommuneand theprefecture(administrative capital) of theAlpes-Maritimesdépartement. However, it is also the largest city in France that is not a regional capital; the much largerMarseilleis its regional capital.Christian Estrosi, its mayor, is a member ofHorizons(formerly a member ofThe Republicans). He has been incumbent since 2017. The city council is based at theHôtel de Ville.
The city is divided into ninecantons:Nice-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8and9.
The coat of arms of Nice appeared for the first time in a copy of theRegulationsofAmadeus VIII, probably written around 1430.The Nice is symbolised by a red eagle on silver background, placed on three mountains, which can be described in Frenchheraldiclanguage as "d'argent à une aigle de gueule posée sur trois coupeaux".("Upon silver a red eagle is displayed, posed upon three mounds.") The arms have only undergone minor changes: the eagle has become more and more stylised, it now "wears" a coronet for theCounty of Nice, and the three mountains are now surrounded by a stylised sea.
The presence of the eagle, an imperial emblem, shows that these arms are related to the power of theHouse of Savoy. The eagle standing over the three hills is a depiction of Savoy, referring to its domination over the country around Nice.The combination of silver and red (argent and gules) is a reference to the colours of theflag of Savoy.The three mountains symbolise a territorial honour, without concern for geographic realism.
Nice consists of two large bays.Villefranche-sur-Mersits on an enclosed bay, while the main expanse of the city lies between the old port city and the Aeroport de Côte d'Azur, across a gently curving bay. The city rises from the flat beach into gentle rising hills, then is bounded by surrounding mountains that represent the Southern and nearly the Western extent of theLigurian Alpsrange.
The natural vegetation of Nice is typical for a Mediterranean landscape, with a heavy representation of broadleaf evergreen shrubs. Trees tend to be scattered but form dense forests in some areas. Large native tree species include evergreens such asholm oak,stone pineandarbutus. Many introduced species grow in parks and gardens.Palms,eucalyptusandcitrus fruitsare among the trees which give Nice a subtropical appearance. But there are also species familiar to temperate areas around the world; examples includehorse chestnut,lindenand evenNorway spruce.
Nice has ahot-summer Mediterranean climate(Köppen:Csa), enjoying mild winters with moderate rainfall. It is one of the warmest Mediterranean climates for its latitude. Summers are warm to hot, dry, and sunny. Rainfall is rare in this season, and a typical July month only records one or two days with measurable rainfall. The temperature is typically above 26 °C (79 °F) but rarely above 32 °C (90 °F). The climate data is recorded from the airport, located just metres from the sea. Summer temperatures, therefore, are often higher in the city. The average maximum temperature in the warmest months of July and August is about 27 °C (81 °F). The highest recorded temperature was 37.7 °C (99.9 °F) on 1 August 2006. Autumn generally starts sunny in September and becomes more cloudy and rainy towards October, while temperatures usually remain above 20 °C (68 °F) until November where days start to cool down to around 17 °C (63 °F).
Winters are characterised by mild days (11 to 17 °C (52 to 63 °F)), cool nights (4 to 9 °C (39 to 48 °F)), and variable weather. Days can be either sunny and dry or damp and rainy. The average minimum temperature in January is around 5 °C (41 °F). Frost is unusual and snowfalls are rare. The most recent snowfall in Nice was on 26 February 2018.Nice also received a dusting of snow in 2005, 2009 and 2010. Spring starts cool and rainy in late March, and Nice becomes increasingly warm and sunny around June.
Nice is the seat of theChambre de commerce et d'industrie Nice Côte d'Azur, which manages the Port of Nice. Investors from France and abroad can benefit from the assistance of the Côte d'Azur Economic Development AgencyTeam Côte d'Azur.
Nice has one conference centre: thePalais des Congrès Acropolis. The city also has several business parks, includingl'Arenas,Nice the Plain,Nice Méridia,Saint Isidore, and the Northern Forum.
In addition, the city features several shopping centres such as Nicetoile on Avenue Jean Médecin, Cap3000 inSaint-Laurent-du-Var(the 5th-biggest mall in France by surface area), Nice TNL, Nice Lingostière, Northern Forum, St-Isidore, the Trinity (around theAuchanhypermarket) andPolygone RivierainCagnes-sur-Mer.
Sophia Antipolisis a technology park northwest ofAntibes. Much of the park is within the commune ofValbonne. Established between 1970 and 1984, it primarily houses companies in the fields of computing, electronics, pharmacology and biotechnology. Several institutions of higher learning are also located here, along with the European headquarters of W3C. It is known as "Europe's first science and technology hub" and is valued at more than 5 billion euros.
TheNice metropolitan areahad aGDP amounting to $47.7 billion, and $34,480 per capita,slightly lower than the French average.
The main port of Nice is also known as Lympia port. This name comes from the Lympia spring which fed a small lake in a marshy zone where work on the port was started in 1745.Today this is the principal harbour installation of Nice – there is also a small port in the Carras district. The port is the first port cement manufacturer in France, linked to the treatment plants of the rollers of the valley of Paillon. Fishing activities remain but the number of professional fishermen is now less than 10.Nice, being the point of continental France nearest toCorsica, has ferry connections with the island developed with the arrival of NGV (navires à grande vitesse) orhigh-speed craft. The connections are provided byCorsica Ferries - Sardinia Ferries. Located in front of the port, the Place Cassini has been renamed Place of Corsica.
Nice Côte d'Azur Airportis the third busiest airport in France afterCharles de Gaulle AirportandOrly Airport, both near Paris. It is on thePromenade des Anglais, near l'Arénas and has twoterminals. Due to its proximity to the Principality ofMonaco, it also serves as that city–state's airport. A helicopter service provided byHeli Air MonacoandMonacairlinks the city and airport. It is run by the ACA (Aéroports Côte d'Azur), which includesCannes - Mandelieu AirportandLa Môle – Saint-Tropez Airport. Public transportation into the city proper is serviced by theTramwayline 2 (T2).
The main railway station isNice-Ville, served both by high-speedTGVtrains connecting Paris and Nice in less than 6 hours and by local commuterTERservices.Marseilleis reached in 2.5 hours. Nice also has international connections to Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, and Russia.Nice is also served by several suburban stations includingNice St-Augustin, Nice St-Roch, Nice Pont-Michel andNice Riquier.
Nice is also the southern terminus of the independently runChemins de Fer de Provencerailway line which connects the city withDignein approximately 4 hours from theNice CP station. A metro-like suburban service is also provided on the southern part of the line.
Tramway de Nicebegan operating horse-drawn trams in 1879. Electrified in 1900, the combined length of the network reached144 km (89+1⁄2mi) by 1930. The replacement of trams withtrolleybusesbegan in 1948 and was completed in 1953.
In 2007, thenew Tramway de Nicelinked the northern and eastern suburbs via the city centre. Two other lines are currently operating. The second line runs east–west fromJean Médecinto theNice Côte d'Azur Airportand reaches the Port, while the third line provides a connection to the future TGV Nice Saint-Augustin and to Lingostière railway station.A fourth line is set to run from the future TGV Nice Saint-Augustin toCagnes-sur-Mer.
TheA8 autorouteand theRoute nationale 7pass through the Nice agglomeration.
Promenade du Paillon Extension:The city has been working on extending the Promenade du Paillon, an urban park that enhances green spaces and offers recreational areas for residents and visitors. MEET IN NICE CÔTE D'AZUR
Éco-Vallée:This project focuses on sustainable urban development in the Var plain, aiming to create a model for ecological urbanism.
Grand Arénas Multimodal Transport Hub:A new transport hub is being developed to improve connectivity, integrating various modes of transportation for better accessibility.
New Conference Area at the Port of Nice:In preparation for the Oceans Summit in June 2025, Nice is inaugurating a new events center on the Quai Amiral Infernet, featuring a 2,400-seat amphitheater and additional reception rooms.
As of 2018, the urban area (unité urbaine) of Nice, defined by INSEE, was home to 944,321 inhabitants (seventh most populous in France) and itsmetropolitan area(aire urbaine) totaled 609,695 inhabitants, which made it the 13th largest in France.Part of the urban area of Nice belongs to the metropolitan area of Cannes–Antibes.
Since the 1970s, the number of inhabitants has not changed significantly; the relatively high migration to Nice is balanced by a natural negative growth of the population.
TheObservatoire de Nice(Nice Observatory) is located on the summit of Mont Gros. The observatory was established in 1879 by the bankerRaphaël Bischoffsheim. The architect wasCharles Garnier;Gustave Eiffeldesigned the main dome.
The 76-cm (30-inch)refractor telescopethat became operational in 1888 was at that time the world's largest telescope.
Terra-Amata, an archaeological site dating from theLower Palaeolithicage, is situated near Nice. Nice itself was established by the ancientGreeks. There was also an independentRomancity, Cemenelum, near Nice, where the hill of Cimiez is located.
Since the 2nd century AD, the light of the city has attracted painters and sculptors such asChagall,Matisse,Niki de Saint Phalle,Klein,ArmanandSosno. Nice inspired many composers and intellectuals in different countries e.g.Berlioz,Rossini,Nietzsche, etc.
Nice also has numerous museums of all kinds:Musée Marc Chagall,Musée Matisse,Musée des Beaux-Arts,Musée international d'Art naïf Anatole Jakovsky, Musée Terra-Amata, Museum of Asian Art,Musée d'art moderne et d'art contemporain(which devotes much space to the well-knownÉcole of Nice"), Museum of Natural History, Musée Masséna, Naval Museum andGalerie des Ponchettes.
Being a vacation resort, Nice hosts many festivals throughout the year, such as theNice Carnivaland theNice Jazz Festival.
Nice has a distinct culture due to its unique history. The local languageNiçard(Nissart)is anOccitandialect (but some Italian scholars argue that it is aLiguriandialect).It is still spoken by a substantial minority.StrongItalianand (to a lesser extent)Corsicaninfluences make it more intelligible to speakers of Italian than other extant Provençal dialects.
In the past, Nice has welcomed many immigrants fromItaly(who continue to make up a large proportion of the population), as well asSpaniardsandPortuguese. In the past few decades immigration has been opened to include immigrants from all over the world, particularly those from formerNorthernandWestern Africancolonies, as well asSoutheast Asia.Traditions are still alive, especially infolk musicand dances, including thefarandole– an open-chain community dance.
Since 1860 a cannon (based at the Château east of Old Nice) is shot at twelve o'clock sharp. The detonation can be heard almost all over the city. This tradition goes back to Sir Thomas Coventry, who intended to remind the citizens of having lunch on time.
Hôtel du Couvent:A 17th-century monastery in Nice was transformed into a five-star hotel, opening its doors in June 2024. This project blends historical architecture with modern luxury, contributing to the city's hospitality offerings. LE MONDE
The cuisine of Nice is especially close to those ofProvencebut alsoLiguriaandPiedmontand uses local ingredients (olive oil,anchovies, fruit and vegetables) but also those from more remote regions, in particular from Northern Europe, because ships which came to pick up olive oil arrived full of food products, such as driedhaddock.
The local cuisine is rich in around 200 recipes. Most famous include the local tart made with onions andanchovies(or anchovy paste), named "Pissaladière" and derived from the ligurian pissalandrea, a sort of pizza.Soccais a type of pancake made fromchickpeaflour.Farcis niçoisis a dish made from vegetables stuffed with a mixture of breadcrumbs, meat (generally sausage and ground beef), and herbs; andsalade niçoiseis a tomato salad with baked eggs, tuna or anchovies, olives and often lettuce. Green peppers, vinaigrette, and other raw green vegetables may be included. Potatoes and green beans are not traditional components.
Local meat comes from neighbouring valleys, such as the sheep ofSisteron. Local fish, such as mullets, bream, sea urchins, anchovies and poutine/gianchettiare used to a great extent, so much so that it has given birth to a proverb: "fish are born in the sea and die in oil".
Examples of Niçois specialties include:
Nice istwinnedwith:
Charles III, thenPrince of Wales, receivedhonorary citizenshipof Nice on 8 May 2018.