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Nice
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Nice
There is no doubt whatsoever about the success of Nice through
the world. But, what are the reasons for it? The mildness of
the climate, which is said sub-tropical? The diversity of the
landscapes, the richness of the flora, the beauty of the great
Mediterranean Sea?
In fact, everything is accentuated in Nice, the light is so
bright that the colours are flashing. The pines are green and
are happily rubbing shoulders with the blue shades of the
Mediterranean Sea and the sky, the sun is highlighting the
yellow tones of the flowers, the ochre sides of the houses,
in a natural setting of rocks and hills : it is indeed easy
to understand the fascination exerted by the Côte d'Azur on
the artists, painters, writers, sculptors, musicians, who
contributed to her fame and to whom the museums of Nice are
paying a deserved tribute.
The tourist trade was born in Nice in the eighteenth century with
the winter stays of famous aristocrats, first English, than Russian
and American who gave to the region a bright and fashionable way
of life. Slowly, the popular touring has been developing and after
the second world war, the summer season is definitely taking over
the winter one. Today, the tourist industry is the first economical
activity of Nice. All kind of leisure and touring are offered : green
touring, sea, sportive, luxury, alpine, congress and trade tourism.
The Acropolis, the Arts, Tourism and Congress Exhibition Centre is
ranking among the first congress centres of the world.
The continuous improvements of the infrastructures - rail, road, airport
and port - allow an easy access and a direct link to most of the biggest
cities in the world. The total amount of tourist accommodation is placing
Nice, second town in terms of hotel, just before Paris. If the Carnival
of Nice has been for a long time the major tourist event of Nice, now,
there are numerous international events which are giving a rhythm to
the life of the town, such as the Nice Jazz Festival, without mentioning
the sportive meetings - Nikaïa, Triathlon, Semi-Marathon. In the same
time, the cultural aspects are generating an intense artistic life.
Although Nice may be considered as a modern town, it has not forgotten
its traditions. They are celebrated through the May, the Cougourdons,
the Vineyards feasts, where the gastronomy of Nice is honoured and the
‘niçois‘, the local dialect coming from the langue d'oc, the southern
French is king of the day.
The heritage of Nice is constantly under care, by protecting the frescos
and the trompe l'oeil which are ornamenting the façades of the houses of
the Old-Nice, by maintaining the activity of the Cours Saleya, where is
held every day the flower, fruit and vegetable market, and the Saint-François
Square with its fish market. The beauty of Nice is also due to its green
spaces, 300 hectares of garden, its trees, plane trees, linden trees,
bay-trees, pine and palm trees, which are lining the avenues, the fountains
of the forum Masséna or the Acropolis esplanade.
Nice has been classified, for over ten years, as the first town of France
for its flowering and for the beauty of its gardens. Today, Nice is shown
outside the competition, for outstanding merits. The pedestrian roads which
are surrounding Nice allow the discovery, from various points of view of
the Baie des Anges, the Angels' Bay.
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