All About Nice, France

Nice is the capital of the Riviera and the 5th largest city in France with a population of 400,000 -- and more than just a "blue umbrella beach town." It is the largest resort city on the Cote d'Azur - in fact - anywhere in France. The city is a mix of modern and old world charm. It has something for everyone; a medieval old town with grand architectural monuments; a wide selection of museums; an opera house, lots of bars and restaurants of all types; the fine Mediterranean climate; and of course, easy access to beaches. The only challenge for cruisers will be in deciding what to do in the limited time available during a visit.

Nice Beachfront

HISTORY Nice was settled around 350BC by Greek mariners and named “Nikaia”after the goddess Nike to commemorate a victory over a nearby town. In 154BC, the Romans followed the Greeks and settled uphill in an independent Roman city named Cemenelum, near Nice, where the hill of Cimiez is located. It is an archaeological site with treasures, of which only a small part has been excavated. The excavated site includes thermal baths, arenas and Roman road. The Romans called the area Alpes Maritimae, which, of course, is now the current administrative name of the area where Nice is located. The Department of the Alpes Maritimes was created in 1793. After a period, this region became a part of France (1860) and eventually was known as the Côte d'Azur.

GEOGRAPHY Situated in a remarkably natural site in the heart of the picturesque French Riviera in Southern Europe, Nice enjoys the advantages of being located between the Alps, Provence, Corsica and Italy. The city stretches over a coastal plain opening southward onto the Mediterranean and bordered from East to West by wooded hills. In the background, the first peaks of the Alpine foothills are visible, some reaching over 9000 ft above sea level and only 31 miles from the coast.

CURRENCY The national currency in France (and in the European Union ) is the Euro. U.S. dollars are not accepted in most establishments; however, some hotels, shops and restaurants may accept your U.S. dollars at an agreed upon exchange rate. Credit Cards are accepted in a large number of shops, hotels and restaurants. Shopkeepers often state a minimum amount required to be spent (between €7 and €15).

PEOPLE Nice has a distinct culture due to its unique history. The local language Niçard (Nissart) is an Occitan dialect (but some Italian scholars argue that it is a Ligurian dialect). It is still spoken by a substantial minority. Strong Italian and (to a lesser extent) Corsican influences make it more intelligible than other existing Provençal dialects.

ECONOMY Although its economy depends largely on tourism, Nice is also a seaport, handling commercial fishing and a passenger service to Corsica. Nice's industrial development has taken place relatively recently, and has focused on electronics and research facilities. Other local manufacturing includes soap, perfumes, musical instruments, furniture, chocolate, and cotton goods. But the tourist trade remains the city's main source of income, and service industries are the main source of employment.