Nice, France City Guide

Introduction History Things to do Shopping & Restaurants Museums Parks Nice Connection Bed and Breakfasts in Nice, France

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History

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The history of Provence dates back to prehistoric times, and throughout the centuries many different cultures have inhabited the area. The first known human settlements in the area of Nice date back approximately 400,000 years; the Terra Amata archeological site offers evidence of one of the earliest known uses of fire and house construction.

Nice, or Nicaea, was probably founded around 350 BC by the Greeks, and was named after Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. The city soon became one of the busiest trading ports on the Ligurian coast; the ruins of its important Roman rival, Cemenelum, are located in Cimiez, now a district in Nice; the well preserved ruins include a 5,000-seat amphitheater and the largest known bath complex in Gaul.

Medieval Nice grew up around the cathedral on the Colline du Chateau. In the 12th century, the Count of Provence ruled Nice. In 1388, eastern Provence passed under the rule of the Maison de Savoie, and the "Comté de Nice" was formed as a new province, with Nice as the principal city. In 1543, after combined French and Turkish forces took momentary control of the citadel, the inhabitants of the upper city regrouped down below, at the site of old Nikaia, to form what eventually became the present city of Nice.

Nice became a tourist destination in the 19th century, about the same time that the county returned to French rule. The city attracted the wealthy classes to bask in the mild winter climate, including Queen Victoria, Van Gogh and a slew of English aristocrats, who transformed the seafront with a sparking promenade and many fine houses. New railways and roads were built during this time to make Nice one of the most accessible and fastest growing cities in Europe. Tourism has become the city's main industry and with the coming of the jet age, Nice today is a very rich city, one of the Côte d'Azur's most sought-after holiday destinations.

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