Nice is a town in the southeast of France, the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes department and the second city of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region behind Marseille. It lies between the sea and mountains and is the fifth largest city in France.
Located about thirty kilometers from the Franco-Italian border, it is established on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, along the Baie des Anges and at the mouth of the Paillon. It is part of the Mediterranean Riviera, known as “the French Riviera, ” which is the western end. It is bordered by the Baie des Anges and surrounded by several hills. The city is located 930 km from Paris, 198 km from Marseille, the regional capital, 195 km from Genoa, and 206 km from Turin, the historic capital of the States of Savoy. The architecture of the city underlines the particular evolution of its history.
The old town is characteristic of the planning of an Italian fortified city in modern times. The streets are very narrow and winding, the buildings are covered with plaster in warm colors (ochre and Sardinian red). The many churches are in the Baroque style. The districts built at the end of the modern period and at the beginning of the 19th century reflect the influence of Turin’s town planning: the streets are wider and straighter, and the buildings are colorful.
The districts built after the annexation to France in 1860 are much more Haussmannian in style: the streets are wide and straight, but exposed stone replaces the colored facades. These neighborhoods look much more “French” than the others, which remain aesthetically very “Italian”.
The city also has many buildings built during the Belle Époque and 1930s, with pastel-colored facades sometimes embellished with friezes. Finally, a peculiarity of Nice is the large number of buildings qualified as “palaces”: they are from all periods and of just as variable quality.
With all its assets, Nice is a perfect setting for the practice of photography of all kinds. You will find in this article the most photogenic places in order to leave with a memorable experience and memories of this city that are worth the detour.
Table of Contents
Promenade des Anglais
The Promenade des Anglais or “Prom'” is an avenue along the seaside facing the Baie des Anges, in Nice. Its history, linked to the beginnings of international tourism, and its exceptional location by the sea, bordered by prestigious hotels, make it one of the most famous avenues in the world. The promenade has become a meeting place for rollerblades.
Benefiting from an almost constant light offshore breeze, it is a privileged place for jogging enthusiasts. A cycle path having been traced on the south sidewalk, is the fastest way to cycle through the city from east to west. In addition to numerous events (Nice Carnival, flower battles, etc.), the promenade is renowned for its “blue chairs” and its pergolas which are particularly photogenic.
Cours Saleya Market
The Cours Saleya market in Nice is ranked among the Exceptional Markets in France. It is in the heart of the old town and it is still beating with life. Striped awnings cover its center and house the goods offered in the daily market.
Crowds of locals and tourists come here to shop or sometimes just to watch and take pictures of the colorful stalls. The scents of fresh products and flowers seem to put everyone in a good mood and the atmosphere is friendly. In the extension of the rue Saint-François de Paule, from early morning, the Cours Saleya has flooded with colors thanks to its tents which shelter mimosas, geraniums, dahlias or birds of paradise which can be seen blooming everywhere on the French Riviera.
From Tuesday to Saturday, in addition to the flower market, there are dozens of market gardeners selling their vegetables and you can discover a few foods or local product stalls such as the lavender product stalls. The people of Nice like to stroll in the heart of this picturesque place a few meters from the sea and generally stop in one of the cafes along the flower market such as La Civette du Cours or Les Ponchettes at the end of the alleys. An ideal photo walk between sunshine and shimmering colors from architecture to flowers.
The Old Town (Vieux-Nice)
The Vieux-Nice is the old part of the city of Nice. It is animated during the day by many shops, which can be both extremely typical (sale of olives and spices of all kinds, local vegetables or flowers from the region) and very modern (fashionable clothing shops, many tattoo artists) as well as artists’ galleries. At night, it is a place of meeting and going out for the people of Nice. Its narrow streets are lined with restaurants, pubs, and nightclubs of all kinds.
It, therefore, makes it a perfect theater for the practice of street photography, whatever time you indulge in strolling. The old town of Nice has kept its Italian aspect. With its narrow streets, its ocher or Sardinian red buildings embellished with shutters, its Baroque churches, its squares, and some unusual curiosities. The light is very changeable and can give a particularly interesting patchwork of shadows and lights. It is, therefore, necessary to return there several times in order to see all its richness.
The Castle Hill (La Colline du Chateau)
Located at the top of Castle Hill, the park is a vast labyrinth of greenery overlooking the city of Nice. Nowadays, it is a large landscaped park in the heart of Old Nice. Castle Hill takes its name from the imposing fortification which was built there and which was destroyed by Louis XIV in 1706. The medieval city took place there entirely before the habitat extends below (from the 12th century).
In particular, there was the palace of the Counts of Provence and the cathedral, two major elements of the medieval town. Undoubtedly one of the most peaceful and exotic parks in the city, the park covers 19 hectares at the top of the Hill. There are panoramic views all around the park over the entire Baie des Anges, the port of Nice, and the city, so it is a particularly popular setting for photographers.
Place Masséna and Avenue Jean Médecin
Recognizable by its red facades, its fountain of the sun, and its black and white paving, Place Masséna is the meeting point of the Riviera residents in the heart of Nice. Created in 1840, the most famous square on the Côte d’Azur has been constantly renewed. Its location marks the meeting point between Old Nice, the access to the Promenade des Anglais, the beginning of rue Masséna which is more commonly called “the pedestrian zone” as well as the beginning of the very commercial avenue Jean Médecin. Moreover, the Galeries Lafayette of Nice is located here, behind a majestic red facade. It also gives the turning point for the color of the other buildings surrounding the square.
The Spanish artist Jaume Plensa gave this place a new perspective by installing his work “Conversation in Nice”. He imagined seven statues perched about ten meters above the ground, representing the seven continents and which light up after dark.
Crossed by the Promenade du Paillon, a 12-hectare park in the heart of the city, it fits into a setting between iconic architecture, green vegetation, and azure blue sky. A real meeting place, it is partly here that the major events of the city take place and that the famous Nice Carnival floats parade each year.
The Promenade du Paillon or “Coulée Verte”
A beautiful arc of greenery borders the old town of Nice to the delight of the people of Nice, walkers, and tourists. A kind of plant border between “the old”, as we say here, and the modern city. In the heart of the city is a space about 1.3 km long and more than 50 meters wide, starting, from the top, of the Museum of Modern Art (Mamac) and the National Theater of Nice (TNT) to the seashores. Many species of plants were chosen by the designer of the place, a veritable plant architect, the landscaper Michel Péna. The idea of representing the five continents, through the choice of species, aims, in a way, to make the place a small representation of the world. The large paved areas allow pedestrians to walk around the premises.
A few jungle-like paths, with a little imagination, give access to more “wild” areas. A large space, adjoining Place Masséna, offers a spectacle of fountains gushing from the ground with a water mirror which is a perfect setting for the photo. One hundred and twenty-eight jets spurt out at regular intervals, accompanied by music, and the ballet soars into the sky of the Côte d’Azur. A real treat during the summer heat waves! Many children run in the middle of the aquatic maze, unleashed by the pleasure of having fun in a group.
Conclusion
Of course, there are many other interesting places to practice photography in Nice: Port Lympia, Liberation district, La Réserve, Place Garibaldi…etc. And this article aims to give you starting points for peregrinations that will be personal to you because it is good to get lost in the city of Nice in order to be surprised by all that it can offer you. So grab your cameras and show off your best photos!
