|
The Ultimate Source for Lovers or Future Lovers of the French Riviera - Cote d'Azur |
 |
|||||
|
Nice | French Riviera - Cote d'Azur
So much to offer! All is below...
Table of ContentsHistory
The local dialect is traditionally assigned to the Occitan language (Provençal Niçard dialect) but it shows some transition features to Ligurian (Northern Italian) dialects spoken near Ventimiglia, San Remo (intemelio) and the Upper Roya Valley (royasque/roiasc). It is spoken by a minority in the town and surrounding villages. The town was founded by the Count of Ventimiglia as Château de Puypin (ca. 1000) and inhabited by Ligurian people. It was owned by the Grimaldi family from 1346 until 1848, before departing from the principality of Monaco and officially becoming French in 1861.
 The original city motto was Nicæa civitas fidelissima, i.e. "Nice the very loyal city" (loyal to the House of Savoy), but the motto was shortened in 1860 when Nice became French. The history of the city starts with its language: Niçard Occitan, Niça or Nissa. In Italian: Nizza. It is a city in southern France located on the Mediterranean coast, between Marseille and Genoa. The city is a major tourist centre a leading resort on the French Riviera (Côte d'Azur). It is the historical capital city of the County of Nice. There were settlements in the area approximately 400,000 years ago: the site of Terra Amata shows one of the earliest uses of fire and construction.
 Nice (Nicaea) was founded probably around 350 BC by the Greeks of Massilia (Marseille) and received the name of "Nikaia" in honor of a victory over the neighbouring Ligurians (Nike being the Greek goddess of victory). The Greek were the first in the city, which soon became one of the busiest trading stations on the Ligurian coast. As a city Nice had an important rival in the Roman town of Cemenelum, which continued to exist as a separate city till the time of the Lombard invasions, and has left its ruins at Cimiez, which is now a quarter of Nice. Cimiez with its ruins is a place to visit if you wish to know more about the city. In the 7th century the city joined the Genoese League formed by the towns of Liguria. In 729 it repulsed the Saracens; but in 859 and 880 they pillaged and burned it, and for the most of the 10th century remained masters of the surrounding country. During the Middle Ages the city had its share in the wars and disasters of Italy. The history of the city is often related with its neighbour Italy.
 As an ally of Pisa the city was the enemy of Genoa, and both the King of France and the Emperor endeavoured to subjugate it; but in spite of all it maintained its municipal liberties. In the course of the 13th and 14th centuries it fell more than once into the hands of the Counts of Provence; and at length in 1388 the commune placed itself under the protection of the Counts of Savoy. The maritime strength of Nice now rapidly increased until it was able to cope with the Barbary pirates; the fortifications were largely extended and the roads to the city improved. During the struggle between Francis I and Charles V great damage was caused by the passage of the armies invading Provence; pestilence and famine raged in the city for several years. It was in Nice that the two monarchs in 1538 concluded, through the mediation of Pope Paul III, a truce of ten years. In 1543 the city was attacked by the united forces of Francis I and Barbarossa Hayreddin Pasha; and, though the inhabitants repulsed the assault which succeeded the terrible bombardment, they were ultimately compelled to surrender. Barbarossa was allowed to pillage the city and to carry off 2,500 captives. Pestilence appeared again in 1550 and 1580.
 In 1600 the city was taken by the duke of Guise. By opening the ports of the countship to all nations, and proclaiming full freedom of trade, Charles Emmanuel in 1626 gave a great stimulus to the commerce of the city, whose noble families took part in its mercantile enterprises. The city was restored to Savoy in 1696; but it was again besieged by the French in 1705, and in the following year its citadel and ramparts were demolished. The treaty of Utrecht in 1713 once more gave the city back to Savoy; and in the peaceful years which followed the "new town" was built. From 1744 till the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748) the French and Spaniards were again in possession. In 1775 the king of Sardinia destroyed all that remained of the ancient liberties of the commune. Conquered in 1792 by the armies of the French republic, the county of Nice continued to be part of France until 1814; but after that date it reverted to Sardinia.
 By a treaty concluded in 1860 between the Sardinian king and Napoleon III, it was again transferred to France as a territorial reward for French assistance in the Second Italian War of Independence against Austria, which saw Lombardy unified with Piedmont-Sardinia. The cession was ratified by over 25,000 electors out of a total of 30,700 although the plebiscite was most likely manipulated by the French. Savoy was also transferred to the French crown by similar means. The dawn of the 20th century was the arrival of a modern mode of transport. In 1900, the Tramway de Nice electrified its horse drawn tramway and spread its network to Menton and Cagnes sur Mer, equipping the city of a modern mode of transport. The tramway was back in 2008, it is fashionable these days... In the second half of the 20th century, the city bore the influence of Mayor Jean Médecin (mayor from 1947 to 1965) and his son Jacques (mayor from 1966 to 1990). On October 16, 1979, 23 people died when the coast of Nice was hit by a tsunami.
 As accusations of political corruption against Jacques Médecin grew. He fled France in 1990 and was arrested in Uruguay in 1993, leading to his extradition in 1994. He was then convicted of several counts of corruption and associated crimes and sentenced to prison. Jacques Peyrat, the mayor of the city from 1995 to 2008, is a member of the UMP party and former member of the Front National. In 2003, local head prosecutor Éric de Montgolfier alleged that some judicial cases involving local personalities had been suspiciously derailed by the local judiciary. He suspected that were having unhealthy contacts, through Masonic lodges, with the very people that they are supposed to prosecute or judge. A controversial official report stated that de Montgolfier had made unwarranted accusations. Christian Estrosi is elected mayor of the city on the 21st March 2008. He is on politics for many years and was a member of Jacques Medecin team. He is actualy "cleaning up" the city and it is a great relief for all of the locals, included me! He is a supporter of Nicolas Sarkozy.
ClimateThe city enjoys mild and sunny weather throughout the year. Its Mediterranean climate allows rather warm summers and mild winters, with temperatures rarely reaching the freezing point. Snowfall, although extremely rare, sometimes occurs.
CultureNice has a distinct culture due to its unique history.As said above the local language is the Niçard (Nissart) which is an Occitan dialect, still spoken by a minority. We are proud to be Niçois (from Nice) as you should be proud of the place you were born and raised. It is a human thing, nothing wrong with that. There is an expression which stays here over the generations: M'en bati siou nissart (I don't care I'm a Niçois or: from Nice); it is a kind of motto here! I still speak a little bit of Nissart, but I forgot most of it. Strong Italian and (less) Corsican influences make the Nissart less unintelligible than other non-extinct Provençal dialects that exist around.
 Local food culture, which includes pissaladière, a pie with onions and anchovies paste; socca, a type of pancake made from chickpea flour; bouillabaisse and various fish soups; "Stockfish" (traditionally pronounced as "Stoquefiche" (French spelling) with special emphasis on the first "e"), farcis niçois, vegetables stuffed with breadcrumbs; and salade niçoise, a tomato salad with green peppers of the "Corne" breed, baked eggs, tuna or anchovies and olives. For recipes from the French Riviera, please visit this section of the website. In the past the city welcomed many immigrants from Italy (who continue to make a large proportion of the population), as well as Spanish (my family name is: Jimenes, spanish background) and Portuguese immigrants. However, in the past few decades immigration has been opened to include immigrants from all over the world, mainly former Northern and Western African colonies, as well as south eastern Asia. My wife is Indonesian and she is very well adapted here! Traditions are still alive, especially in the folk music and the dances. The most famous is the farandole. I LOVE IT!
TransportThe city is served by Nice Côte d'Azur International Airport and has a railway station. The smaller Gare du Sud is not used any longer, the brand new one is closeby. This is where is the Chemins de Fer de Provence, a small rail company providing a daily train service between Nice and Digne les Bains.
 Do not miss this trip! You simply can't, the scenery is amazing. When my wife came here the first time I took her on that trip, she was just amazed. The ferry companies SNCM and Corsica Ferries operate from the harbour and sail to several towns on Corsica. Public transport within the city and to neighbouring areas is provided by the Ligne d'Azur bus company. A good way to travel around and to visit places like Monaco or Saint Paul de Vence. A one way ticket is only 1,30 €. A tramway, the Tramway de Nice, has currently begun operation in 2008. It has changed the city in a good way!
Places of Interest
Other Places of interestReligious Buildings
Promenade des AnglaisHistoryBefore the city 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 the city, enjoying the panorama along the coast. When a particularly harsh winter up north brought an influx of beggars, some of the rich Englishmen proposed a useful project for them: the construction of walkway (chemin de promenade) along the sea. The city, intrigued by the prospect of a pleasant promenade, greatly increased the scope of the work. The Promenade was first called the Camin dei Anglès (the English Way) by the Niçois in our native dialect Nissart.
After the annexation of the city by France in 1860 it was rechristened La Promenade des Anglais, replacing the former Nissart name with its French translation. The Promenade is today known all over the world. TodayFor the local inhabitants, the Promenade des Anglais has simply become La Promenade or, for short, La Prom. It is one place a visitor must see in town. On Sundays you see bicyclists, baby strollers, and whole families out for a stroll along the Promenade. It has also become a favourite place for skateboarders and in-line skaters. With my family we often skate there even during winter. Aside from numerous events such as the annual Carnival, the Battle of Flowers, etc. that take place along the Promenade, the Promenade has its blue chairs (chaises bleues) and cabanas perfect for a lazy time along the Mediterranean and for contemplation of the azure blue water of the Bay of Angels (La Baie des Anges).
Hotel NegrescoThe Hotel Negresco on the Promenade des Anglais has a large part in the history of the city. It was named for Henri Negresco (1868-1920) who had the palatial hotel constructed in 1912.
 Henri Negresco, born the son of an innkeeper in Bucharest, Romania, left home at the age of 15 going first to Paris then to the French Riviera where he became very successful. As director of the Municipal Casino in Nice, he had the idea to build a hotel of quality that would attract the wealthiest of clients. After arranging the financing, he hired architect Édouard Niemans to design the hotel with Gustave Eiffel reportedly commissioned to do its now famous pink dome. Bad luck came to Henri Negresco when World War I broke out two years after he opened for business and his hotel was converted to a hospital. Seized by creditors, the Negresco was sold to a Belgian company and Henri Negresco died a few years later in Paris at the age of 52. Over the years, the hotel had its ups and downs and in 1957 was sold to the Augier family. Madame Jeanne Augier is still the actual owner, I know her as I sold flats there. In fact the back of the Hotel are private flats now, for some you have to use the entrance of the Hotel to access to them. Madame Augier is still there working everyday. She had offers to sell the Hotel but she still doesn't want to! Along the years, she reinvigorated the Hotel with luxurious decorations and furnishings, including an outstanding art collection and rooms with mink bedspreads. Noted for its doormen dressed in the manner of the staff in 18th century elite bourgeois households, complete with red-plumed postilion hats, the hotel also offers renowned gourmet dining at Le Chantecler. En 2003 the Hotel Negresco was listed by the government of France as a National Historic Building.
EducationThe city is home of the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis and EDHEC Business School. It is also home of The European Institut of High International Studies (Institut Européen des Hautes Etudes Internationales) is an international institution of graduate studies and research. It was founded in 1964 with the support of the City and the European Commission. Its programmes take place in different countries, and focus on European Studies as well as International Relations.
Observatory The Observatoire de Nice (Nice Observatory) is located on the summit of Mont Gros. The observatory was initiated in 1879 by the banker Raphaël Bischoffsheim. The architect was Charles Garnier, and Gustave Eiffel designed the main dome. The 76 cm (30 inch) refractor telescope that became operational in 1888 was at that time the world's largest telescope. It was outperformed one year later by the 36 inch (91 cm) refractor at the Lick Observatory. As a scientific institution, the Nice Observatory no longer exists. It was merged with CERGA in 1988 to form the Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur.
Cimiez Cimiez is an upper class neighbourhood on the hills. It contains the Henri Matisse Museum and the Roman Ruins (arena, amphitheatre, thermal baths, and paleochristian basilica). In July every year the Jazz Festival of Nice is held on the grounds of the Roman Ruins in Cimiez. Close to the ruins is what is left of the once splendid Hotel Régina where Queen Victoria spent part of her long visits to the French Riviera. Also here can be found the Monastère de Cimiez (Cimiez Monastery) and church that have been used by the Franciscan monks since the 16th century. The church owns "La piéta", "La Crucifixion" and the "Déposition", three of the most important works from the medieval artist Louis Bréa. On display are more than 300 documents and works of art from the 15th to 18th centuries. Buried in the monastery's cemetery are the painters Henri Matisse and Raoul Dufy plus the winner of the 1937 Nobel Prize for Literature, Roger Martin du Gard.
Twin Towns
Videos
Video of Nice in summertime
(Please click on the Play Button above and be Dream in Nice (short video)
(Please click on the Play Button above and be Video of Nice in summertime
(Please click on the Play Button above and be
Virtual Tours
Choose your viewer, Quicktime
 Return to top
Useful Links and Resources
Weather Watcher Live
WebcamsNice Webcams :
|
|
|||||
|
Enjoy This Site? Let others know about it!
Then why not use the button below, to add me to your favourite bookmarking service? There are many to choose from, all accessible from a single button!
You can also make about-french-riviera.com your default homepage please click here
|
||||||
|
Please note that links that leave a page on AFR.com will often open a new window.
That allows you to check out the new opened page and to come back to see more in the previous page.
Acknowledgements | Disclaimer | Disclosure | Notes - Thoughts | Privacy
|
||||||
|
Copyright © 2006 - 2009 All Rights Reserved | ||||||
or Java 
by clicking on the corresponding logo.
![Please right click on this button, and then copy the shortcut (the URL of this link). Paste that URL into your RSS reader. If this message is confusing please click on the question mark [?] next to: Subscribe to This Site's Feed for more detailed instructions and explanations (internal website link, opens a new window) / www.about-french-riviera.com](http://www.about-french-riviera.com/objects/rss.jpg "Please right click on this button, and then copy the shortcut (the URL of this link). Paste that URL into your RSS reader. If this message is confusing please click on the question mark [?] next to: Subscribe to This Site's Feed for more detailed instructions and explanations (internal website link, opens a new window) / www.about-french-riviera.com")
