NICE
Why visit Nice
"He had come a long way to this blue lawn, and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it." -
F.Scott Fitzgerald (The Great Gatsby, written on the French Riviera).
There are a hundred and one reasons why to go to Nice and those reasons have been bringing visitors and tourists to Nice for hundreds of years. It's a place of dramatic natural beauty that no matter how it had grown, developed or changed throughout the generations, remains unchanged in its ability to captivate, inspire and charm.
Nice has become, over time, a city of incredible diversity. A holiday in Nice is a city break, a beach holiday, a family holiday, a mountain holiday, an activity holiday. It's a culture trip, historically fascinating and a shoppers paradise. It's a sailing trip, a kids playground, a teenagers first night out, a glamourous springboard onto the French Riviera. It's all things to all people and on top of it all it's an ordinary vibrant European city. It's every holiday all rolled into one destination.
A glimpse at Nice's History'Nizza - Neither(ne) here (za)nor there- from High Season by Robert Kanigel.
Nice City springs from incredibly varied and interesting beginings with Greeks, Romans, Moors, Sardinians, French and Italians all laying claim to some part of its founding history, while just about every nation with a royal family can lay claim to bringing to bear considerable influence on it's later day development, from the British to Russians, especially in the later part of the 18th Century when Europewide travel became easier and royalty and the worlds nobility were want to display their idle wealth.
With so many influences it is said, even today, that the Nicoise people wear their French nationality loosely and there is an independent streak that runs through the proud people of the south. A thought that has run through the course of Nice's history. In 1517 an Italian cleric passing through Nice with his master, a Roman cardinal, commented on Nice being neither French nor Italian and suggested that none other than the city's own emblem reinforced this sentiment, "An eagle with one foot raised, and not resting anywhere".
It may be considered 'neither here nor there' but there is one place that Nice has been, and always will be, and that is in the hearts of the millions of visitors who have come to see her natural beauty and revel under her blue skies, for quite literally, hundreds of years.
The earliest traces of humans and human habitation were found in Nice 400,000 years ago at the site of Terra Amata where evidence of 'Homo Erectus' era humans have been unearthed who pre date even neanderthals. From just a site of habitation it has grown to a world reknowned city of rich and varied history.
In 350BC the ancient Grecian tribe called the Phoceens established the city of Marseille from where, in the 5th century BC, they expanded out and founded the town of Nikaia which centred around the site of the, now non existent, Citadelle. Nice was an important trading post.
The Romans arrived next but they choose a site further inland in what is now a suburb of Nice. They established the town, Cemenelum, or Cimiez as it is known today, and an uneasy truce between the two nations existed.
It was an incredibly turbulent time however and Nice has had to wage battle against marauding Saracens, Vandals, Goths, Burgundians, Lombards, Ligurians, French and Barbary Pirates during the course of its history.
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Nice's uncertain path In the 7th Century Nice signed up to Genoese league for protection against the constant invasion and threat, which brought it under Italian influence, although more specifically under Genoan influence as Italy was still, at this time, a nation of Kingdoms. It didn't become unified until the late 1800's.
Nice later prospered under the, now extinct, Counts of Provence, a title that had its roots in Roman and Frankish history, but turned again to Italy and the House of Savoy for protection.
So began the ping pong effect of Nice between French and Italian rule. In the 1600's Nice became French, under the House of Guise, following a siege. It remained French until the end of the 1600's when it was recaptured and returned to Italy under the House of Savoy. Like centuries before, when Greek Nikaia and Roman Cimiez had uneasily coexisted, now the French border was just across a river from Savoy ruled Nice.
The begining of the 1700's saw all of Europe in conflict as the War of the Spanish Succession raged. Nation was pitched against nation as each tried to claw back territories from the other.
Nice, ruled by Savoy, enemy to France, became somthing of a frontline. Tucked high on its hill behind the indestructible defences of it's walled citadelle it was a constant taunt to France. It was beseiged by 8000 French troops who kept up a barage of canon fire for over a month and still failed to indent on her city walls.
Finally King Louis XIV ordered his army to deal with it fully and firmly. It was a determined and imposing French army that took up residence across the river Paillon with much to prove, this one small city defying a great nation. Canon fire rained on Nice's ancient city walls for nearly 6 long months, from February to July. Nice fell and all remnants of the fortified citadelle on the Chateau hill were wiped out.
| | France reigned but, rather than exist as a broken captured city, Nice adapted, spread along the flood plains and foothills of her surrounding mountains, and thrived.
In 1713, The Treaty of Utrecht, returned Nice to Italy until the treaty expired in 1860 and the city, finally and fully, came under French domain after a vote was taken. Peace endured and Nice had found her final home. |
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Stability at last for NiceThe early 1800's saw visitors arriving in Nice of a more benign dispostion. People were travelling from different countries but still in very small numbers and more as 'great explorers' or 'adventurers' than as tourists. Word was spreading nevertheless and as diaries and accounts of travels were published more and more people were interested in braving the arduous journey to witness for themselves the magical land of light and beauty.
Travel during this time was long, difficult and expensive. It became the preserve of the very wealthy who could both afford the time away and the expense of doing it in as great a style as possible. People flocked to Nice from the cold northern European climates to wile a way the long dark winters on Nice's glittering shores.
Nice's entire 'raison d'etre' became about looking after and catering to her illustrious visitors and it was during this time that many of the grand and imposing hotels were built. The'modern' face of Nice was being constructed and with such well to do and wealthy clientele each was more grand, more embellished and prettier than the next. The beautiful buildings of the 'Belle Epoch', or beautiful era, began to take shape, changing Nice forever from a poor mongrel trading post into one of the most glamourous and beautiful cities in Europe where the worlds elite opted to spend their winters.
“Fashion fades, only style remains the same.”-
Coco ChanelThe railroad arrived in Nice in the 1850 and as travel became easier more people arrived. Not just any people however. Most of Europe's royalty arrived. Queen Victoria wintered in Cimiez, King Leopold of Belgium built a palace on Cap Ferrat and Russian royalty forged a relationship in Villefranche.
The standard was being set and has remained; the glamour, the luxury of the French Riviera. In this wake came artists, writers, actresses, singers.
In the early 1900's, around the time of the Great War, Americans began to arrive. Ernest Hemingway, F Scott Fitzgerald aswell as lots of ordinary service men. They weren't afraid of the hot summer sun and breathed life and action into the regions beaches.
Coco Chanel, ever causing a stir, stayed on the French Riviera and bodly wore a deep golden tan. It was a first, a dramatic fashion statement and Nice resisted. The season was Winter, that was how it was and that was how it would stay. | | It was impossible to hold back the shift to a year round season and circumstances colluded to ensure that it became a necessity.
The Great depression and World War II hit tourism hard but as the people kept coming then Nice had little choice but to open her arms and welcome them.
New events were planned, new ways of entertaining tourists were born and, with personal travel and motor cars now a regular fixture, towns began to compete for attention. |
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Renting holiday Accommodation in Nice
So now you know a little of the history and culture of Nice, as you can see, there is a lot to explore and discover and the city of Nice, one of the founding cities of the French Riviera tourist industry, is well versed in providing you with an incredible vacation experience.
To get some ideas on what to do in Nice during your holiday continue on into the next section where we have some suggestions. To begin browsing Nice holiday rental apartments simply select the accomodations type below or go straight to 'Browse Rentals' on the menu on the left. To learn more about Nice please continue on to the next section.
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A selection of our holiday rentals in Nice |
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Stylish and beautifully appointed 3 bedroom apartment in a landmark, period building in Nice Port. Close to the restaurants, bars and night-life of Nice this is an unusually large and airy city centre apartment, perfect for several couples sharing.
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Large 2 bedroom, loft apartment in the heart of atmospheric Old Nice. Located amongst the narrow winding streets of Old Nice this vast, luxury bright apartment brings you directly into into the atmospheric centre of Nice just 110 metres from the beach.
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Beautiful large two bedroomed apartment in the heart of Old Nice. This is the perfect apartment for visiting this famously exciting and romantic city. The apartment is newly fitted out and delightfully appointed.
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Find your holiday rental in Nice |
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