Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Nice shopping experience:

1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Nice offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Nice at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.

2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about

3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Nice? Wrong! If the Nice is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.

4. Questions - Got a question about Nice then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....

5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Nice? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Nice and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.

6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Nice wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.

7. Feedback - happy with your Nice then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.

8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Nice site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site

9. Contact - got a question about Nice, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.

10. Payment - ready to pay for your Nice, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.

{{French commune|native_name= Ville de Nice|common_name= Nice|image_flag= |image_flag_size= 115px|image_coat_of_arms= nice12.jpg|image_coat_of_arms_size = 110px|flag_legend= City flag|Coat_of_arms_legend= City coat of arms|city_motto= Nicæa civitas. 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.
(Latin: "Nice the city")]|departement= Alpes-Maritimes (06)]|party=Union for a Popular Movement|mandat=since 1995|area= 1 E7 m²|date-population= 2004 estimate|population= 347,100|population-ranking=5th in France|date-density= 2004|density= 4,826|AU-area= 1 E9 m²|AU-area-date= 2007|AU-pop= 968,903|AU-pop-date= 2007|intercom-details2= Community of Agglomeration Nice Côte d'Azur [Occitan language: Nissa or Niça norm, Italian language and German language: Nizza, Greek language:Νίκαια) is a city in Southern France France located on the Mediterranean Sea coast, between Marseille and Genoa, with 986,903 inhabitants in the Nice metropolitan area at the 2007 estimate. The city is a major tourist centre and a leading resort on the French Riviera (Côte d'Azur). It is the historical capital city of the County of Nice.

History and the port of NiceFor the ecclesiastical history, see bishopric of NiceThere were settlements in the Nice area approximately 2,000 years ago: the site of Terra Amata shows one of the earliest uses of fire and construction of houses.Nice (Nicaea) was founded probably around 350 BC by the Greeks of Massilia (Marseille) and received the name of Νικαία ("Nikaia") in honour of a victory over the neighbouring Ligurians (Nike (mythology) being the Greek mythology goddess of victory). It soon became one of the busiest trading ports on the Ligurian coast; but as a city it had an important rival in the Roman town of Cemenelum, which continued to exist as a separate city till the time of the Lombards invasions, and has left its ruins at Cimiez, which is now a quarter of Nice.

In the 7th century, Nice joined the Genoa 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 most of the 10th century remained masters of the surrounding country.

During the Middle Ages, Nice had its share in the wars and disasters of Italy. As an ally of Pisa it was the enemy of Genoa, and both the King of France and the Holy Roman Empire endeavoured to subjugate it; but in spite of all it maintained its municipal liberty. In the course of the 13th century and 14th century 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 County 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 of France and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor great damage was caused by the passage of the army 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 Nice.

In 1543, Nice was attacked by the united forces of Francis I and Barbarossa Khair ad Din Pasha; and, though the inhabitants repulsed the assault which succeeded 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 taken by the House of Guise. By opening the harbors 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. Captured by Nicolas Catinat in 1691, Nice was restored to Savoy in 1696; but it was again besieged by the French in 1705, and in the following year its citadel and Defensive walls were demolished.

The Treaty of Utrecht (1713) 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 Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748) the French and Spaniards were again in possession. In 1775 the king of Kingdom of Sardinia destroyed all that remained of the ancient liberties of the Commune in France. Conquered in 1792 by the armies of the First French Republic, the County of Nice continued to be part of France until 1814; but after that date it reverted to Kingdom of Sardinia.

By a treaty concluded in 1860 between the Sardinian king and Napoleon III, the County was again ceded 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. 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 et du Littoral electrified its horse drawn tramway and spread its network to Menton and Cagnes-sur-Mer, equipping the city of a modern mode of transport.

In the second half of the 20th century, Nice bore the influence of mayor Jean Médecin (mayor for 33 years from 1928 to 1943 and 1947 to 1965) and his son Jacques Médecin (mayor for 24 years 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 Nice since 1995, is a member of the Union pour la Majorite Presidentielle party and former member of the National Front (France).

In 2003, local head prosecutor Éric de Montgolfier alleged that some judicial cases involving local personalities had been suspiciously derailed by the local judiciary, which he suspected of having unhealthy contacts, through Freemasonry 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.

Administration Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Régions of France, Nice is a Communes of France and the Préfectures in France (administrative capital) of the Alpes-Maritimes departments of France. However, it is also the largest city in France that is not a regional capital; the much larger Marseille is its regional capital.

Climate in the distanceBefore referring to climate tables, one should be aware that the official Nice temperatures are recorded at the airport, which is a climatically much different place than the rest of the town, being more vulnerable to marine air and winds from the Var valley. Airport temperatures are therefore different than town ones : daytime airport temperatures are slightly higher, while nighttime temperatures are significantly lower. For example, the 24th of January 2007, a minimum of 0.9°C was recorded at the airport while the temperature didn't go below 6°C in the city itself. The following statistics and descriptions use official temperatures.

Nice has a mediterranean climate : the city enjoys mild temperatures most of the year; rainfall is very moderate and mainly concentrated in the darkest part of the year (September to March).


Winters, starting in December, are cool to mild with daytime temperature generally remaining between 10°C and 17°C and colder overnight lows, however rarely freezing; once or twice a year perhaps. During Winter, overcast skies are common and sporadic rain falls.
As winter ends in March, weather becomes more unstable and unpredictable : warm, sunny days (26°C the 2nd of March 2007) can be followed by sudden hailstorms and cold fronts (7°C the 1st of April 2007).However, generally, the weather becomes increasingly sunny as summer approaches.
Summers start quite late because of a notable season lag. Drought starts in July, and really hot temperatures become common in August, which is the warmest month with daytime highs frequently reaching 30°C. Summer heat is however often moderated by a cool and pleasant sea breeze.
Autumn, starting in late September, is generally warm until mid-November, and rainy (especially October with an average rainfall of 140mm).

Nice is a windy city, especially in Spring.

Snow is so rare that it is remembered by inhabitants as special events.

{| class="wikitable" style="width: 75%; margin: 0 auto 0 auto;"|+ Climate Table|-!   !! Jan !! Feb !! Mar !! Apr !! May !! Jun !! Jul !! Aug !! Sep !! Oct !! Nov !! Dec|-! Mean daily maximum temperature (Celsius)| 13 || 13 || 15 || 17 || 20 || 24 || 27 || 28 || 25 || 21 || 16 || 14|-! Mean daily minimum temperature (Celsius)| 6 || 6 || 8 || 10 || 14 || 17 || 20 || 20 || 17 || 14 || 9 || 6|-| colspan="15" style="text-align: center;" | Source: MSN Meteo|}

Economy Nice is the seat of Chambre de commerce et d'industrie Nice Côte d'Azur. It manages both the Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, theCannes-Mandelieu Airport as well as the Port of Nice.

Nice has the second market of national interest of France, the first port cement-manufacturer of France as well as great number of museums and hotels (second town of France after Paris)

Nice is the second city touristic French after Paris, which, combined with the difficulties of the terrestrial communications at long distance (because of the Alpes), allows him to have the second airport of France in terms of frequentation (close to 10  000  000 passengers in 2005).

Two palais des congrès Acropolis and palais des congrès de nice..Several Parks of businesses, Districts of businesses Niçoise L' Arenas, Districts of Niçoise Nice businesses Plaine, Districts of businesses Niçoise Nice Méridia, Districts of businesses Niçoise Saint Isidore, Northern Forum.Several shopping Centres, like Nice Star, Nice TNL, Nice Lingostière, Northern Forum, St-Isidore, the Trinity (around the Auchan hypermarket) and Cape 3000 with Saint-Laurent-du-Var Sophia Antipolis is a technology park northwest of Antibes and southwest of Nice, France. Much of the park falls within the commune of Valbonne. Created in 1970~84, it houses primarily 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.

Sophia Antipolis is named after Sophie Glikman-Toumarkine, the wife of French Senator Pierre Laffitte, founder of the park, and incidentally, Sophia, the goddess of wisdom, and Antipolis, the ancient Greek name of Antibes.

Port of Nice of NiceThe port of Nice bears also the name of Lympia port. This name comes from the Lympia source which fed a small lake in a marshy zone where into 1745 work of the port ¹ was started. It constitutes today the principal harbour installation of Nice - there is also a small port in the Carras district.The port of Nice is the first port cement manufacturer of France in connection with the treatment plants of the rollers of the valley of Paillon.

A actitivity of fishing remains but the number of professional fishermen is now lower than 10.Nice being the point of continental France nearest to Corsica, the connections with the island developed with the arrival of NGV or navires at high speed. Two companies ensure the connections:SNCM, a partially public company andCorsica Ferries - Sardinia Ferries, an entirely private company.Located in front of the port, the place Cassini was renamed place of Corsica.

Nice Côte d'Azur Airport The Côte d'Azur International Airport or Nice Côte d'Azur Airport () is an airport in Nice, in the Alpes-Maritimes department of France. It is the third most important airport in France after Charles de Gaulle International Airport and Orly Airport (Paris), both in Paris. It is on the Promenade des Anglais, near l'Arénas and has two Airport terminal. Due to its proximity to the Principality of Monaco, it also serves as that city-state's airport, with helicopter service linking the city and airport.

It is run by the Chamber of Commerce and the Nice Côte d'Azur industry. Its director is Hervé de Place, director of the Côte d'Azur airports, which includes Côte d'Azur International Airport's cousin airport, Cannes-Mandelieu-la-Napoule. In 2006, 9,948,035 passengers travelled through the airport. Places of interest

The Promenade des Anglais ("Walk of the English") is a celebrated promenade along the Mediterranean Sea at Nice, France. Before Nice 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 Nice, enjoying the panorama along the coast. When a particularly harsh winter up north brought an influx of beggars to Nice, some of the rich Englishmen proposed a useful project for them: the construction of walkway (chemin de promenade) along the sea.

The city of Nice, 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 their native dialect Niçard. After the annexation of Nice by France in 1860 it was rechristened La Promenade des Anglais, replacing the former Nissart name with its French translation.

The Hotel Negresco on the Promenade des Anglais on the Baie des Anges in Nice, France was named for Henri Negresco (1868-1920) who had the palatial hotel constructed in 1912. In keeping with the conventions of the times, when the Negresco first opened in 1913 its front opened on the side opposite the Mediterranean. Religious Sports and entertainment

Demography According to the estimates of INSEE, the population of the town of Nice east of 347.900 habitants to the January 1 2005. Nice thus asserts the place of fifth town of France, behind Paris, Marseilles, Lyon and Toulouse. Agglomeration, defined by INSEE, understands 888.784 inhabitants (fifth of France) and it urban surface adds up 933.080 of them what makes the sixth of France of it.

The city knew a big demographic rise in second half of XIXe century, period when the population made more than to double, mainly thanks to Italian immigration. At the beginning of the , this rise intensified with the arrival of populations come from common the close relations (of the County of Nice itself).

After First World War, the city found a strong increase in population. It is again the immigration which constitutait the essence of this growth. The hotel activity and that of constructions, in full rise in the years 1920, attracted world more and more and thus made it possible in Nice to become a town of national importance. In 1921, Nice then became the eleventh town of France, then in 1931, the eighth, before being classified with the sixth rank in 1946. The population increased then very quickly in the years 1950 with in particular the arrival of sixty thousand people. Thereafter, the city reached its current demographic level thanks to the repatriates of old French colonies, in particular of Algeria.

Since the years 1970, the number of inhabitants does not evolve/move practically any more: migratory balance, the relatively high one, being compensated by natural increase the negative one, having with the strong proportion of old people.

Currently the population of the city is growing again, the reason of which is undoubtedly heliotropism. It is projected besides citizens for 2005, for 2008, for 2012.

Places Like any Mediterranean city, the town of Nice has several places, forums or courts; allowing people to gather, to organize great shows, performances or public display, or just to sit down at a terrace.

The main place of the city. Before the covering of the river Paillon, the Pont-Neuf was the only practicable path between the old town and the modern one, the place was thus divided into two parts (North and South) in 1824. Since the destruction of the Masséna Casino in 1979, the Place Masséna became more spacious and less dense and is now bordered by red ochre buildings of Italy architecture.

The recent re-building ot the tram gave the place back to the pedestrians, restoring its status of real Meditaerranean place, lined with palm trees and stone pines, instead of being the rectangular roundabout of sorts it had become over the years. Since its construction, the Place Masséna has always been the spot for great public events, for concerts for example, and particularly during the summer festivals, the Corse carnavalesque (carnival parade) in February, the military procession of July 14th (France National Day) or other traditionnal celebrations and banquets.

Situation: Two minutes walk to the Promenade des Anglais, old town and center town, and to gardens Albert the 1st. It is also a large crossroads between several of the main streets of the city: avenue Jean Médecin, avenue Felix Faure, boulevard Jean Jaurès, avenue de Verdun and rue Gioffredo.

see also (sites in French) : Nissa la bella, Nice Tourisme

The Place Garibaldi also stands out by its architecture and history. It is named after Giuseppe Garibaldi, hero of the italian unification, though born French, and ferociously attached to the independance of Nice.A Statue of Garibaldi is erected in the center of the place. The re-building (still ongoing) will make this place semi-pedestrian, also making it nicer.

Situation: Also a crossroads between the Vieux Nice (old town) and center-town, it's close to the east districts of Nice, The Port Lympia (Lympia Harbor), and the TNL commercial center.This place also is a crossroads of important streets : the boulevard Jean Jaurès, the avenue de la république, the rue Cassini and the rue Catherine Ségurane.

Entirely enclosed and pedestrian, this place is located in the heart of the old town. With the typical buildings in red and yellow ochres that surrounds it, with the cathédrale Sainte-Réparateand the fountain in the center, the place Rossetti is a must-see spot in the old town. By day, the place is invaded by the terasses of the traditionnal restaurants and the finest ice-cream makers. By night, the environment changes radically, tourists and youngs flow into the place, the music reverberate on the walls of the square and shallow place, the lighting giving it a magic aspect.

Situation: Center of the old town, streets Jesus, Rossetti, Mascoïnat and the Pont-vieux (old bridge)



In the past, it belonged to the upper classes, it probably is the most traditional place of the town, with its daily flower market. The court Saleya also opens on the Palais des rois Sard (Sardigna king palace). Nowadays, the court mostly is a place of entertainment, in between the good restaurants to eat typical food of nice, the markets and the multiple pubs. It no doubt is one of the most active spot in Nice.

Situation: Parallel to the Quai des Etats-Unis (east prolongation of the promenade), gives on the streets St François de Paule, Louis Gassin and Benoit Bunico.



As its name indicates, the place du palais is where the Palais de Justice (Law courts) of Nice is located. On this place, there also is the Palais Rusca, also belonging to the justice department (home of the tribunal de grande instance), the place is also emblematic due to the presence of the clock of the city.Nowadays, the place du palais, alive day and night, is particularly appreciated by the young who meet and sit on the steps leading to the Palais de justice, often alcohol bottles in hand. The place is not a large open-air bar, though, concerts, animations and events are frequent.

Situation: Halfway between the court Saleya and the place Masséna, almost adjacent.

Nice Observatory The Observatoire de Nice (Nice Observatory) is located in Nice, France on the summit of Mont Gros. The observatory was initiated in 1879 by the banker Raphaël Bischoffsheim. The architect was Charles Garnier (architect), and Gustave Eiffel designed the main dome.

The 76-centimetre (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.

Culture Nice is one of the oldest hearths of settlement in the world. It is in particular on its grounds, on the site of Terra-Amata, which was discovered the remainders of oldest human fire of planet. Greek city then Roman, the hill of Cimiez abounds, moreover, of archaeological treasures of which only one small part is updated today (thermal baths, arenas, Roman way…).

Since two centuries, the light of the city attracted the most famous painters (Chagall, Matisse, Niki de Saint Phalle, Ben, Arman…) and inspired by many artists and intellectuals in different dommaines (Berlioz, Nietzsche, Rossini…).

Nice also counts a dense network of museums of all kinds: museums Chagall, Matisse, of Art schools ( Jules Cherret ), of Naïve arts, of Prehistory ( Terra-Amata ), of Arts Asian, Mamac ( Musée of Modern art and Contemporary art which devotes a broad place to famous “the Ecole of Nice ”), Museum of Natural History, Musée Massena… It is thus about the city which has the most museums in France after Paris.

Vacation resort throughout the year, Nice proposes, in addition, with its inhabitants and its many tourists, various festivals whatever the season: Carnival pluricentenaire, Festivals of but, Festival of Jazz.Nice has a distinct culture due to its unique history. The local language Niçard (Nissart) is an Occitan dialect, still spoken by a minority. Strong Italian culture and (less) Corsican influences make it more intelligible than other non-extinct Provençal dialects.

Localpie with onions and anchovy sauce; 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.

In the past Nice welcomed many immigrants from Italy (who continue to make a large proportion of the population), as well as Spanish people and Portuguese people immigrants. However, in the past few decades immigration has been opened to include immigrants from all over the world particularly immigrants from other parts of the world, mainly former Northern and Western African colonies, as well as southeastern Asia. Traditions are still alive, especially in the folk music and the dances. The most famous is the farandole.

Gastronomy The cuisine of Nice uses the resources of the local countryside (olive oil, anchovies, fruit and vegetables, etc…) but also of more remote regions, in particular from Northern Europe because the ships which came to seek olive oil arrived the holds full with food products. Thus one finds specialities such as those using stockfish made from dried haddock.

Local meat comes from the neighbouring valleys, such as the sheep of Sisteron. Local fish, such as mullets, bream, sea urchins, and anchovies (alevins) are 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.” Naturally, this refers to the olive oil made in the Nice hills. Indeed, seafood is generally much appreciated in the delicate and healthy cuisine of Nice.

Examples of Niçois specialties include:

Education Nice is home to many preparatory schools which prepare students for entrance to the Grandes Ecoles (e.g. the Ecole Normale Supérieure).

Sister cities Nice's Town twinning are:







See also

Sources and references

External links

{{French commune|native_name= Ville de Nice|common_name= Nice|image_flag= |image_flag_size= 115px|image_coat_of_arms= nice12.jpg|image_coat_of_arms_size = 110px|flag_legend= City flag|Coat_of_arms_legend= City coat of arms|city_motto= Nicæa civitas. 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.
(Latin: "Nice the city")]|departement= Alpes-Maritimes (06)]|party=Union for a Popular Movement|mandat=since 1995|area= 1 E7 m²|date-population= 2004 estimate|population= 347,100|population-ranking=5th in France|date-density= 2004|density= 4,826|AU-area= 1 E9 m²|AU-area-date= 2007|AU-pop= 968,903|AU-pop-date= 2007|intercom-details2= Community of Agglomeration Nice Côte d'Azur [Occitan language: Nissa or Niça norm, Italian language and German language: Nizza, Greek language:Νίκαια) is a city in Southern France France located on the Mediterranean Sea coast, between Marseille and Genoa, with 986,903 inhabitants in the Nice metropolitan area at the 2007 estimate. The city is a major tourist centre and a leading resort on the French Riviera (Côte d'Azur). It is the historical capital city of the County of Nice.

History and the port of NiceFor the ecclesiastical history, see bishopric of NiceThere were settlements in the Nice area approximately 2,000 years ago: the site of Terra Amata shows one of the earliest uses of fire and construction of houses.Nice (Nicaea) was founded probably around 350 BC by the Greeks of Massilia (Marseille) and received the name of Νικαία ("Nikaia") in honour of a victory over the neighbouring Ligurians (Nike (mythology) being the Greek mythology goddess of victory). It soon became one of the busiest trading ports on the Ligurian coast; but as a city it had an important rival in the Roman town of Cemenelum, which continued to exist as a separate city till the time of the Lombards invasions, and has left its ruins at Cimiez, which is now a quarter of Nice.

In the 7th century, Nice joined the Genoa 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 most of the 10th century remained masters of the surrounding country.

During the Middle Ages, Nice had its share in the wars and disasters of Italy. As an ally of Pisa it was the enemy of Genoa, and both the King of France and the Holy Roman Empire endeavoured to subjugate it; but in spite of all it maintained its municipal liberty. In the course of the 13th century and 14th century 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 County 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 of France and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor great damage was caused by the passage of the army 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 Nice.

In 1543, Nice was attacked by the united forces of Francis I and Barbarossa Khair ad Din Pasha; and, though the inhabitants repulsed the assault which succeeded 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 taken by the House of Guise. By opening the harbors 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. Captured by Nicolas Catinat in 1691, Nice was restored to Savoy in 1696; but it was again besieged by the French in 1705, and in the following year its citadel and Defensive walls were demolished.

The Treaty of Utrecht (1713) 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 Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748) the French and Spaniards were again in possession. In 1775 the king of Kingdom of Sardinia destroyed all that remained of the ancient liberties of the Commune in France. Conquered in 1792 by the armies of the First French Republic, the County of Nice continued to be part of France until 1814; but after that date it reverted to Kingdom of Sardinia.

By a treaty concluded in 1860 between the Sardinian king and Napoleon III, the County was again ceded 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. 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 et du Littoral electrified its horse drawn tramway and spread its network to Menton and Cagnes-sur-Mer, equipping the city of a modern mode of transport.

In the second half of the 20th century, Nice bore the influence of mayor Jean Médecin (mayor for 33 years from 1928 to 1943 and 1947 to 1965) and his son Jacques Médecin (mayor for 24 years 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 Nice since 1995, is a member of the Union pour la Majorite Presidentielle party and former member of the National Front (France).

In 2003, local head prosecutor Éric de Montgolfier alleged that some judicial cases involving local personalities had been suspiciously derailed by the local judiciary, which he suspected of having unhealthy contacts, through Freemasonry 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.

Administration Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Régions of France, Nice is a Communes of France and the Préfectures in France (administrative capital) of the Alpes-Maritimes departments of France. However, it is also the largest city in France that is not a regional capital; the much larger Marseille is its regional capital.

Climate in the distanceBefore referring to climate tables, one should be aware that the official Nice temperatures are recorded at the airport, which is a climatically much different place than the rest of the town, being more vulnerable to marine air and winds from the Var valley. Airport temperatures are therefore different than town ones : daytime airport temperatures are slightly higher, while nighttime temperatures are significantly lower. For example, the 24th of January 2007, a minimum of 0.9°C was recorded at the airport while the temperature didn't go below 6°C in the city itself. The following statistics and descriptions use official temperatures.

Nice has a mediterranean climate : the city enjoys mild temperatures most of the year; rainfall is very moderate and mainly concentrated in the darkest part of the year (September to March).


Winters, starting in December, are cool to mild with daytime temperature generally remaining between 10°C and 17°C and colder overnight lows, however rarely freezing; once or twice a year perhaps. During Winter, overcast skies are common and sporadic rain falls.
As winter ends in March, weather becomes more unstable and unpredictable : warm, sunny days (26°C the 2nd of March 2007) can be followed by sudden hailstorms and cold fronts (7°C the 1st of April 2007).However, generally, the weather becomes increasingly sunny as summer approaches.
Summers start quite late because of a notable season lag. Drought starts in July, and really hot temperatures become common in August, which is the warmest month with daytime highs frequently reaching 30°C. Summer heat is however often moderated by a cool and pleasant sea breeze.
Autumn, starting in late September, is generally warm until mid-November, and rainy (especially October with an average rainfall of 140mm).

Nice is a windy city, especially in Spring.

Snow is so rare that it is remembered by inhabitants as special events.

{| class="wikitable" style="width: 75%; margin: 0 auto 0 auto;"|+ Climate Table|-!   !! Jan !! Feb !! Mar !! Apr !! May !! Jun !! Jul !! Aug !! Sep !! Oct !! Nov !! Dec|-! Mean daily maximum temperature (Celsius)| 13 || 13 || 15 || 17 || 20 || 24 || 27 || 28 || 25 || 21 || 16 || 14|-! Mean daily minimum temperature (Celsius)| 6 || 6 || 8 || 10 || 14 || 17 || 20 || 20 || 17 || 14 || 9 || 6|-| colspan="15" style="text-align: center;" | Source: MSN Meteo|}

Economy Nice is the seat of Chambre de commerce et d'industrie Nice Côte d'Azur. It manages both the Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, theCannes-Mandelieu Airport as well as the Port of Nice.

Nice has the second market of national interest of France, the first port cement-manufacturer of France as well as great number of museums and hotels (second town of France after Paris)

Nice is the second city touristic French after Paris, which, combined with the difficulties of the terrestrial communications at long distance (because of the Alpes), allows him to have the second airport of France in terms of frequentation (close to 10  000  000 passengers in 2005).

Two palais des congrès Acropolis and palais des congrès de nice..Several Parks of businesses, Districts of businesses Niçoise L' Arenas, Districts of Niçoise Nice businesses Plaine, Districts of businesses Niçoise Nice Méridia, Districts of businesses Niçoise Saint Isidore, Northern Forum.Several shopping Centres, like Nice Star, Nice TNL, Nice Lingostière, Northern Forum, St-Isidore, the Trinity (around the Auchan hypermarket) and Cape 3000 with Saint-Laurent-du-Var Sophia Antipolis is a technology park northwest of Antibes and southwest of Nice, France. Much of the park falls within the commune of Valbonne. Created in 1970~84, it houses primarily 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.

Sophia Antipolis is named after Sophie Glikman-Toumarkine, the wife of French Senator Pierre Laffitte, founder of the park, and incidentally, Sophia, the goddess of wisdom, and Antipolis, the ancient Greek name of Antibes.

Port of Nice of NiceThe port of Nice bears also the name of Lympia port. This name comes from the Lympia source which fed a small lake in a marshy zone where into 1745 work of the port ¹ was started. It constitutes today the principal harbour installation of Nice - there is also a small port in the Carras district.The port of Nice is the first port cement manufacturer of France in connection with the treatment plants of the rollers of the valley of Paillon.

A actitivity of fishing remains but the number of professional fishermen is now lower than 10.Nice being the point of continental France nearest to Corsica, the connections with the island developed with the arrival of NGV or navires at high speed. Two companies ensure the connections:SNCM, a partially public company andCorsica Ferries - Sardinia Ferries, an entirely private company.Located in front of the port, the place Cassini was renamed place of Corsica.

Nice Côte d'Azur Airport The Côte d'Azur International Airport or Nice Côte d'Azur Airport () is an airport in Nice, in the Alpes-Maritimes department of France. It is the third most important airport in France after Charles de Gaulle International Airport and Orly Airport (Paris), both in Paris. It is on the Promenade des Anglais, near l'Arénas and has two Airport terminal. Due to its proximity to the Principality of Monaco, it also serves as that city-state's airport, with helicopter service linking the city and airport.

It is run by the Chamber of Commerce and the Nice Côte d'Azur industry. Its director is Hervé de Place, director of the Côte d'Azur airports, which includes Côte d'Azur International Airport's cousin airport, Cannes-Mandelieu-la-Napoule. In 2006, 9,948,035 passengers travelled through the airport. Places of interest

The Promenade des Anglais ("Walk of the English") is a celebrated promenade along the Mediterranean Sea at Nice, France. Before Nice 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 Nice, enjoying the panorama along the coast. When a particularly harsh winter up north brought an influx of beggars to Nice, some of the rich Englishmen proposed a useful project for them: the construction of walkway (chemin de promenade) along the sea.

The city of Nice, 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 their native dialect Niçard. After the annexation of Nice by France in 1860 it was rechristened La Promenade des Anglais, replacing the former Nissart name with its French translation.

The Hotel Negresco on the Promenade des Anglais on the Baie des Anges in Nice, France was named for Henri Negresco (1868-1920) who had the palatial hotel constructed in 1912. In keeping with the conventions of the times, when the Negresco first opened in 1913 its front opened on the side opposite the Mediterranean. Religious Sports and entertainment

Demography According to the estimates of INSEE, the population of the town of Nice east of 347.900 habitants to the January 1 2005. Nice thus asserts the place of fifth town of France, behind Paris, Marseilles, Lyon and Toulouse. Agglomeration, defined by INSEE, understands 888.784 inhabitants (fifth of France) and it urban surface adds up 933.080 of them what makes the sixth of France of it.

The city knew a big demographic rise in second half of XIXe century, period when the population made more than to double, mainly thanks to Italian immigration. At the beginning of the , this rise intensified with the arrival of populations come from common the close relations (of the County of Nice itself).

After First World War, the city found a strong increase in population. It is again the immigration which constitutait the essence of this growth. The hotel activity and that of constructions, in full rise in the years 1920, attracted world more and more and thus made it possible in Nice to become a town of national importance. In 1921, Nice then became the eleventh town of France, then in 1931, the eighth, before being classified with the sixth rank in 1946. The population increased then very quickly in the years 1950 with in particular the arrival of sixty thousand people. Thereafter, the city reached its current demographic level thanks to the repatriates of old French colonies, in particular of Algeria.

Since the years 1970, the number of inhabitants does not evolve/move practically any more: migratory balance, the relatively high one, being compensated by natural increase the negative one, having with the strong proportion of old people.

Currently the population of the city is growing again, the reason of which is undoubtedly heliotropism. It is projected besides citizens for 2005, for 2008, for 2012.

Places Like any Mediterranean city, the town of Nice has several places, forums or courts; allowing people to gather, to organize great shows, performances or public display, or just to sit down at a terrace.

The main place of the city. Before the covering of the river Paillon, the Pont-Neuf was the only practicable path between the old town and the modern one, the place was thus divided into two parts (North and South) in 1824. Since the destruction of the Masséna Casino in 1979, the Place Masséna became more spacious and less dense and is now bordered by red ochre buildings of Italy architecture.

The recent re-building ot the tram gave the place back to the pedestrians, restoring its status of real Meditaerranean place, lined with palm trees and stone pines, instead of being the rectangular roundabout of sorts it had become over the years. Since its construction, the Place Masséna has always been the spot for great public events, for concerts for example, and particularly during the summer festivals, the Corse carnavalesque (carnival parade) in February, the military procession of July 14th (France National Day) or other traditionnal celebrations and banquets.

Situation: Two minutes walk to the Promenade des Anglais, old town and center town, and to gardens Albert the 1st. It is also a large crossroads between several of the main streets of the city: avenue Jean Médecin, avenue Felix Faure, boulevard Jean Jaurès, avenue de Verdun and rue Gioffredo.

see also (sites in French) : Nissa la bella, Nice Tourisme

The Place Garibaldi also stands out by its architecture and history. It is named after Giuseppe Garibaldi, hero of the italian unification, though born French, and ferociously attached to the independance of Nice.A Statue of Garibaldi is erected in the center of the place. The re-building (still ongoing) will make this place semi-pedestrian, also making it nicer.

Situation: Also a crossroads between the Vieux Nice (old town) and center-town, it's close to the east districts of Nice, The Port Lympia (Lympia Harbor), and the TNL commercial center.This place also is a crossroads of important streets : the boulevard Jean Jaurès, the avenue de la république, the rue Cassini and the rue Catherine Ségurane.

Entirely enclosed and pedestrian, this place is located in the heart of the old town. With the typical buildings in red and yellow ochres that surrounds it, with the cathédrale Sainte-Réparateand the fountain in the center, the place Rossetti is a must-see spot in the old town. By day, the place is invaded by the terasses of the traditionnal restaurants and the finest ice-cream makers. By night, the environment changes radically, tourists and youngs flow into the place, the music reverberate on the walls of the square and shallow place, the lighting giving it a magic aspect.

Situation: Center of the old town, streets Jesus, Rossetti, Mascoïnat and the Pont-vieux (old bridge)



In the past, it belonged to the upper classes, it probably is the most traditional place of the town, with its daily flower market. The court Saleya also opens on the Palais des rois Sard (Sardigna king palace). Nowadays, the court mostly is a place of entertainment, in between the good restaurants to eat typical food of nice, the markets and the multiple pubs. It no doubt is one of the most active spot in Nice.

Situation: Parallel to the Quai des Etats-Unis (east prolongation of the promenade), gives on the streets St François de Paule, Louis Gassin and Benoit Bunico.



As its name indicates, the place du palais is where the Palais de Justice (Law courts) of Nice is located. On this place, there also is the Palais Rusca, also belonging to the justice department (home of the tribunal de grande instance), the place is also emblematic due to the presence of the clock of the city.Nowadays, the place du palais, alive day and night, is particularly appreciated by the young who meet and sit on the steps leading to the Palais de justice, often alcohol bottles in hand. The place is not a large open-air bar, though, concerts, animations and events are frequent.

Situation: Halfway between the court Saleya and the place Masséna, almost adjacent.

Nice Observatory The Observatoire de Nice (Nice Observatory) is located in Nice, France on the summit of Mont Gros. The observatory was initiated in 1879 by the banker Raphaël Bischoffsheim. The architect was Charles Garnier (architect), and Gustave Eiffel designed the main dome.

The 76-centimetre (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.

Culture Nice is one of the oldest hearths of settlement in the world. It is in particular on its grounds, on the site of Terra-Amata, which was discovered the remainders of oldest human fire of planet. Greek city then Roman, the hill of Cimiez abounds, moreover, of archaeological treasures of which only one small part is updated today (thermal baths, arenas, Roman way…).

Since two centuries, the light of the city attracted the most famous painters (Chagall, Matisse, Niki de Saint Phalle, Ben, Arman…) and inspired by many artists and intellectuals in different dommaines (Berlioz, Nietzsche, Rossini…).

Nice also counts a dense network of museums of all kinds: museums Chagall, Matisse, of Art schools ( Jules Cherret ), of Naïve arts, of Prehistory ( Terra-Amata ), of Arts Asian, Mamac ( Musée of Modern art and Contemporary art which devotes a broad place to famous “the Ecole of Nice ”), Museum of Natural History, Musée Massena… It is thus about the city which has the most museums in France after Paris.

Vacation resort throughout the year, Nice proposes, in addition, with its inhabitants and its many tourists, various festivals whatever the season: Carnival pluricentenaire, Festivals of but, Festival of Jazz.Nice has a distinct culture due to its unique history. The local language Niçard (Nissart) is an Occitan dialect, still spoken by a minority. Strong Italian culture and (less) Corsican influences make it more intelligible than other non-extinct Provençal dialects.

Localpie with onions and anchovy sauce; 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.

In the past Nice welcomed many immigrants from Italy (who continue to make a large proportion of the population), as well as Spanish people and Portuguese people immigrants. However, in the past few decades immigration has been opened to include immigrants from all over the world particularly immigrants from other parts of the world, mainly former Northern and Western African colonies, as well as southeastern Asia. Traditions are still alive, especially in the folk music and the dances. The most famous is the farandole.

Gastronomy The cuisine of Nice uses the resources of the local countryside (olive oil, anchovies, fruit and vegetables, etc…) but also of more remote regions, in particular from Northern Europe because the ships which came to seek olive oil arrived the holds full with food products. Thus one finds specialities such as those using stockfish made from dried haddock.

Local meat comes from the neighbouring valleys, such as the sheep of Sisteron. Local fish, such as mullets, bream, sea urchins, and anchovies (alevins) are 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.” Naturally, this refers to the olive oil made in the Nice hills. Indeed, seafood is generally much appreciated in the delicate and healthy cuisine of Nice.

Examples of Niçois specialties include:

Education Nice is home to many preparatory schools which prepare students for entrance to the Grandes Ecoles (e.g. the Ecole Normale Supérieure).

Sister cities Nice's Town twinning are:







See also

Sources and references

External links



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