Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
NICE
Nice - the very word sparkles with sunlight and glamour. In the 19th cen-
tury, the European aristocracy colonized the place, drawn by the glorious
curve of the Bay of Angels and the mild winter weather. More recently, it has
been the turn of film stars to endow France's fifth city with a legacy of lux-
ury. And there's a legacy of culture, too. Artists such as Matisse and Chagall
were inspired by Nice's limpid light and left their mark herewith their ab-
stract works (for further details see
Painters in Provence
)
. Alongside this op-
ulence, however, there is another Nice, rooted in Mediterranean history and
fiercely independent. The city voted to join France only in 1860 (it had for
centuries been part of the kingdom of Savoy) and retains its own Niçois dia-
lect, cuisine and traditions. It is from the marriage of these two different
halves that the real fascination of Nice is born.
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1. VIEUX NICE
The city's heart, filled with the aroma and sounds of all things Niçoise (for further
details see
Vieux Nice
).
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2. PROMENADE DES ANGLAIS AND PROMENADE DU
PAILLON
The Promenade des Anglais owes its name to the English community that funded its
construction in 1822, to give work to the local poor. Now flanked by traffic lanes, it
sweeps majestically round the Bay of Angels, dotted with
Belle époque
edifices, not-
ably the magnificent Hotel Negresco. In contrast, the Promenade du Paillion cuts
a green swathe through the city to the sea. With its central waterway, it provides a
tranquil alternative to walking through busy streets, and is also a venue for arts and
leisure activities.
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