Located on the Cote d'Azur, the French city is a real magnet for a huge number of tourists who come to the fashionable resort for pleasure. It captivates with its color and is famous for a huge number of attractions, among which the main promenade stands out. The wide Promenade des Anglais in Nice, the photo of which freezes with admiration, separates residential buildings from the golden beach and is considered the main symbol of the Mediterranean city.
History of the creation of the embankment
Once the coast of the resort was a deserted pebble beach, and the houses of residents were far from the sea. In the second half of the 18th century, aristocrats from England began to arrive in Nice to hide in the sunny pearl of the French Riviera from harsh winters. Enchanted by the beauty of the resort, its wonderful nature, comfortable climate, the British began to buy land in order to build villas on them in the future.
The British fell in love with Nice so much that they decided to do its beautification. First, a small rocky road appeared, stretching along the seashore, which later turned into a spacious boulevard. During its existence, the Promenade des Anglais in Nice has expanded repeatedly, the address of which is 06200 Nice, France, Promenade des Anglais.
At the beginning of the last century, vehicles were launched along it, and the carriageway was separated from the pedestrian palm alley and bright flower beds.
It got a modern look at the beginning of the 20th century, when it was inaugurated with the participation of the Duke of Connaught, Prince of Great Britain. In 1965, the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, which is six kilometers long, reached the airport of the capital of the Cote d'Azur. In the east, it begins in its very heart, not far from Place Massena, and ends in the area of the Phoenix Natural Park, located next to the air gates of the resort in the west.
Modern look
Of course, the modern Promenade des Anglais in Nice, which serves as a place of relaxation and meetings, is very different from what the British aristocrats built. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, small villas were located along the road, some of which were demolished, and in their place appeared residential houses and hotel complexes. The colorful facades of the Mediterranean Palace, built in 1921, and the legendary Negresco Hotel, famous for its chic interiors, now remind of its former splendor.
The Promenade des Anglais in Nice, surrounded by greenery, the photo of which conveys all its charm, is a pedestrian zone about 15 meters wide, and a busy road passes next to it.
Resort symbol
Stretching along the beaches of the picturesque Bay of Angels, the resort's visiting card is considered the most luxurious area of the city. Not only aristocrats from England lived here, all the nobility came here from different countries of the world. In the middle of the XIX century, the mansion was acquired by Empress Alexandra Fedorovna. A tragic story is also connected with the embankment, which shocked the whole world: the famous Isadora Duncan died in 1927.
Now the Promenade des Anglais in Nice is the most popular pedestrian promenade on the entire French coast.
Hotel Negresco
Of course, the most famous building is the hotel "Negresco", made in the neoclassical style. Built in 1912, a local attraction with a bright pink dome is located near the garden of Prince Albert I, and most guests who have come to rest stop there.
The interior of the hotel is amazing: painted ceilings, antique chandeliers and even a working fireplace will not leave anyone indifferent. Nearby is one of the most popular restaurants in Nice, Chauntecleer.
Massen Museum
The Promenade des Anglais in Nice is famous for its beautiful palace surrounded by palm trees, which has turned into the Massena Museum. Named after the marshal, who made a military career, he has a unique collection that tells the history of the city. The exhibition halls store many priceless treasures illuminating presented in the museum of the era.
Palais de la mediterranee
On the waterfront is the Mediterranean Palace, built in 1929 by order of the billionaire. The architectural monument with an Art Deco-style facade was originally a whole entertainment center: there were a casino, a restaurant and a theater in which the great Edith Piaf performed. After the crisis, visitors stopped coming to the palace, and the building was in very poor condition until 1990.
After 11 years, the restoration of the historical monument began, which opened as a hotel, completely rebuilt. The facade with unique columns and bas-reliefs remained from the former building, and it is he who recalls a happy era that has gone forever.
Promenade des Anglais: how to get there?
You can get to Nice's business card by taxi, T1 tram or city bus number 98.
The Promenade des Anglais in Nice captivates with its splendor, for the spellbinding mansions are just a small part of what it boasts. The very famous French street, located outside of Paris, attracts rich people and celebrities, so tourists walking along the promenade feel they are involved in high society. Here you can find the most fashionable restaurants and expensive boutiques, and the blue benches installed everywhere allow everyone to relax and enjoy the rolling waves of the gentle sea.