Nice on UNESCO’s World Heritage List

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Visit a unique and listed city during your next holiday!

2021. Nice listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO

The city of Nice is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its beauty, history, architecture and natural spaces.

Indeed, the capital of the French Riviera has seen the four letters of its name inscribed on the World Heritage List as “Riviera Winter Resort City”. At a glance, you can see why it is called “Nissa La Bella”.

Hôtel Le Négresco
@Ville de Nice
Palais Miramar
@Ville de Nice
Cours Saleya
@Ville de Nice
@OTM NCA /H.Lagarde
Temple de Diane
@Ville de Nice

A broad scope

Explore this exceptional urban ensemble of 522 hectares.

The perimeter includes :

  • The entire coastline, from the Promenade des Anglais to the foot of Mont Boron. All this while passing by the Quai des États-Unis, the Quai Rauba Capeù, and the Port of Nice.
  • The must-sees: Place Masséna, Colline du Château and Quai des Ponchettes.
  • The heart of Nice with the pedestrian zone, the Carré d’Or and its luxury boutiques, the musicians’ district, Avenue Jean Médecin, and the Promenade du Paillon, a veritable green lung in the city centre.
  • The Libération district, its fish market. Visit also the Gare du Sud, a place of life and festivity that nestles behind a sublime historical façade.
  • The listed area also includes some exceptional gems. Among them, the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, the Cimiez hills, its arenas, and its sublime gardens.

“[…] With this decision, UNESCO recognises the Outstanding Universal Value of Nice’s architectural, landscape and urban heritage, and in particular of the vast 552-hectare urban complex, an eminent example of the fusion of international cultural influences, shaped from the middle of the 18th century to the middle of the 20th century by the cosmopolitan winter resort.”

Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice, President of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis

The site is surrounded by 4,243 hectares of “buffer zone”. This protects its coherence and extends to the communes of Falicon, Saint André de la Roche, Aspremont and Tourrette-Levens.

To obtain the precious inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the city of Nice had to justify an “Exceptional Universal Value” by its international cultural influences, the architectural variety of its buildings but also its abundant and varied vegetation.

In fact, see for yourself and explore this magnificent picture of cultural richness that invites you to escape and get away from it all. Immerse yourself in the scenery and admire the beauty of the buildings that stand all around you. Discover the snow-capped mountains in the background. In front of you, admire the azure blue of the sea as far as the eye can see. Colours that will brighten up your holiday in Nice Côte d’Azur, whether you stay for a day, a week or forever.

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