Nsuggested TOURIST ITINERARIES
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Nice, a natural brilliance 3 Nice is a city of paradox, audacity, discovery and pleasure. Located in the heart of one of the world’s most highly prized regions, at the gateway to major European cities, it offers its rich history, wonderfully mild sunny climate and geographic location between the sea and the mountains… A symbol of the Mediterranean art of living, it offers a perpetual invitation to travel. Its vicinity, too, provides ample opportunity for architectural and cultural discoveries, from pleasant strolls in museums to old palatial homes, from beaches to gardens and gastronomic adventures with countless flavours. This brochure lists (non-exhaustively) the essence of opportunities available in Nice and Greater Nice through different themes. 4 5 C o n t e n t s 7 N i c e 9 Location n 09 Nice, today and tomorrow n 11 Weather n 09 Nice, yesterday n 10 Access & connections 13 By air, by train, by sea… n 13 Sightseeing itineraries n 16 Getting around Nice n 16 Discovering Nice 19 Sights, monuments & churches n 20 Organised guided visits n 36 Parks & gardens n 28 Introduction to the specialities of Nice n 39 Museums, galleries & cultural activities n 31 Sports & leisure activities 43 Sporting activities n 44 Shopping n 50 Beaches n 46 Attractions & animal parks n 54 Leisure activities - Nice by night n 57 F r o m N i c e 59 Coastal towns from Nice n 60 Ski resorts n 66 Balconies over the French Riviera n 61 The Mercantour National Park n 67 The hinterland of Nice, the valleys n 64 Suggested tourist itineraries n 68 Practical information 73 Emergency services 24/7 n 73 Pets n 74 Currency exchange n 74 Repairs – Car parks n 75 Consumer services n 74 Recommendations n 75 Annual events 79 Venues n 80 Events in Nice n 83 Nice, a natural brilliance Nice 9 n L o c a t i o n n W e a t h e r n H i s t o r y n LOCATION Situated in southern Europe and at the southeasternmost tip of France, Nice is a privileged junction between the Alps, Provence, Corsica and Italy. The city occupies a remarkable natural site in the heart of the French Riviera. It extends in a broad stretch open to the South on the Mediterranean with a succession of wooded hills to the West. To the North, the first peaks of the foothills of the Alps appear, some reaching heights exceeding 3,000m above sea level, only 50km from the coast as the crow flies… n WEATHER Nice enjoys an exceptional microclimate that has made its renown for nearly two centuries. Open to the sea, the city is protected from the wind by the surrounding hills, to the West by the Esterel Massif and, to the Northwest by the barrier of the Mercantour Alps. The climate is always mild in winter and never too hot in summer thanks to the sea breeze. It is not rare to have lunch outdoors on a terrace wearing no more than a T-shirt in February when the rest of France is shivering in the cold. 10 N i c e n NICE, YESTERDAY A land of hospitality since prehistoric times with the site of Terra Amata (beloved land), Nice proudly displays its roots, going back more than 400,000 years at the foot of Mont-Boron, near the Lazaret Cave, which is still under excavation to yield the secrets of those who lived there 160,000 years ago. In Ancient times, Phocaean Greeks founded Nikaia (Victory) in the 4th century BC, a strategic trading post in the western Mediterranean. Three centuries later, the Romans, wishing to control the Alps, settled in turn in this ideal position where they built the town of Cemenelum, with its amphitheatre, baths and forum. This dynamic expansion attracted outsiders and a period of ten centuries witnessed the passage of Barbarian, Ligurian and Saracen invaders who put an end to this refined industrious society. The Counts of Provence took over the ancient Greek site. In the 14th century AD, the people of Nice, wearied by constant political strife, placed themselves under the protection of the House of Savoy. They remained so until 1860, with two interruptions: from 1691 to 1713, the French king Louis XIV took over the Comté de Nice, and from 1792 to 1814, it was part of the French Republic, then Napoleon I’s Empire, becoming the Alpes-Maritimes département for the first time. In 1860, the population of Nice and its Comté voted in a plebiscite to become part of France, thanks to the Treaty of Turin, signed by Napoleon III and Victor Emmanuel II, King of Sardinia. From that time on, the town enjoyed considerable growth and prosperity. It became a fashionable resort, admirably served by the brand new railway. Today, Nice is the fifth largest city in France with its 400,000 inhabitants, very much open to culture and the arts, as well as services, scientific and high-tech activities. Thanks to such ambitious realizations as the Acropolis Convention & Exhibition Centre, the Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, second airport in France after Paris, and the finest hotel facilities, the City of Nice today has the enviable reputation of international capital of tourism. Nice, a natural brilliance 11 n NICE, TODAY AND TOMORROW Nice, "the Mediterranean's green town", is also planning to put back the human element at the heart of its development, and is launching a huge expansion and improvement programme within the context of urban life and development. Among the most significant projects are: n "THE PEDESTRIAN ZONE" Putting nature back into the heart of the town is this far-reaching project's objective. This 12 hectare wooded park is to be transformed, making Nice more attractive from 2013. Demolishing the existing infrastructures (the coach station) will leave a splendid view of the hills as well as the façades of the old town, whilst improving biodiversity. A pedestrianised avenue will take walkers from the National Theatre and the Nice Acropolis Convention Centre down to the sea along strips of lawn and stone, lined with water mirrors. n DEVELOPING PONCHETTES ROOF TERRACES The Town is considering re-opening the Ponchettes roof terraces between Old Nice and the sea. Pedestrians will be able to return to this emblematic location and enjoy an unrestricted balcony view of the Baie des Anges at the foot of the old Castle hill. n CONSTRUCTING "NICE STADIUM" This multipurpose 35,000 seat stadium dedicated to the highest level of football and rugby will also house seminars, concerts and other large-scale events. Located in the heart of the green valley, this stadium will be a real example of eco-design and eco- construction which, with the implementation of innovative technologies, will contribute to making Nice Stadium one of the world's very first Eco-Stadiums. Integrated into this creation will be the National Sports Museum, spanning 3,000m2. Its mission will be to improve the status of one of the world's richest collections devoted to sporting practices and their history. This will represent a link with an area dedicated to all kinds of sport. Nice, a natural brilliance 13 ccess & Connections An By air, by train, by sea… n Tourist routes n Getting around Nice n BY AIR NICE CÔTE D’AZUR AIRPORT e The gateway to the French Riviera, the Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, the second busiest airport in France after Paris, It has two terminals T1 & T2 (B8). For information: & +33 (0) 820423333 (€0,12/min) List of destinations and airlines offering flights out of Nice, flight times in real time: www.nice.aeroport.fr Offers of stays and flights: www.plaisirdepartir.com Airport shuttle to and from the city centre Schedule & information available in agencies Lignes d’Azur: & +33 (0)8 1006 1006 From abroad: & +33 (0)4 97258936 www.lignesdazur.com Tickets sold on the bus. • Line 98: Airport / Town Centre and back From both terminals, every 20 min. Monday to sunday, from 5:52 am to 11:37 pm. • Line 99: Airport / SNCF central railway station (Nice Ville) and back (direct line) From both terminals, every 30 min. Everyday between 8:00 am to 9:00 pm. USEFUL INFORMATION Book your hotel, excursion, guided visit at the reception of the Nice Convention and Visitors Bureau (see p.86) Access & connections 14 By air, by train, by sea… n BY TRAIN n MAIN RAILWAY STATION SNCF - AV. THIERS (H3) The national railway system provides rapid and express trains (TGV, corail) connecting the French Riviera with all parts of France and all major cities in Europe. The TGV Méditerranée high-speed train links Paris & Nice in 5hrs 30 min. Information: & 3635 (€0.34/min) From abroad: & +33 (0)8 92353535 www.sncf.fr sos voyageurs: & +33 (0)4 93160261 TER trains (Trains Express Régionaux) provide rapid connections between all the main cities on the French Riviera from Cannes to Ventimiglia. & 0800 11 40 23 Schedules & services: www.ter-sncf.com/paca n RAILWAY STATION NICE RIQUIER (J2) & NICE SAINT-AUGUSTIN (C7) Regional service TER n BY TAXI Central Taxi Riviera 24/7 Reservations, subscriptions for all distances: & +33 (0)4 93137878 n Taxis Niçois indépendants AV. THIERS (BORNE DEVANT LA GARE SNCF - H3) & +33 (0)4 93882582. Cash payment only. Possibility of booking a taxi (the day in advance): & 0899 70 08 78 Claims: Inspection of taxis & +33 (0)4 97132651 USEFUL INFORMATION Taxis can be hailed in the street, pre-booked or taken at a rank.