The five most beautiful walks in Nice
Departure from Pointe de Rauba-Capeu which is an elevated point on the sea where the wind and sea spray can blow with force. Formerly called “Pointe des Ponchettes”, the people of Nice nicknamed it Rauba-Capeu, in Nice: “steals hat”.
The famous #ILoveNice was erected at this location. From this place you will have a superb view of the 8 km legendary Promenade des Anglais, the Castle Hill and the sea.
From there, we will walk towards the Port of Nice leaving on the left the monumental monument to the dead and the statue of Charles-Félix who points to the sea (if a Nice resident who owes you money tells you to go and get paid at Charles-Félix or Carlo-Felice , …. Say goodbye to your money and go throw yourself into the sea, as the statue showsyou.
Let’s return to the Port of Nice, so typical with its colorful buildings which date back to the time when Nice was part of the Kingdom of Sardinia. It is a very pretty Mediterranean port where luxury yachts rub shoulders with traditional fishing boats. This port is deep enough to accommodate, like Marseille and Toulon, the ferry coming from Corsica.
The walk from Rauba-Capeu to the Port of Nice
Walk to Gairaut Hill
Walk along the Gairaut Canal which supplies Nice with water from the Vésubie river. This walk was once very natural and today in a somewhat urbanized setting following the construction of numerous villas but the setting remains very pleasant with a magnificent view of the Bay of Angels. Departing from Avenue de Rimiez (at the “Super Rimez” bus stop), we will walk among the century-old olive trees, while enjoying the view and the bucolic setting with its small bridges, to reach the Gairaut waterfall and its church.
The five most beautiful walks in Nice
The Cap de Nice coastal path
Departing from Square Théodore de Banville (east of the port of Nice) after stopping at the “La Kekka” snack bar at 56, boulevard Stalingrad to buy a pan-bagnat, a slice of chard pie and a gratta- kekka (the traditional Nice granita) to refresh yourself. We follow a very pleasant path along the seaside among rocks while enjoying a magical setting and blue water. It is a calm and peaceful place particularly popular with the people of Nice.
Castle Hill
Don’t look for the castle!!! It was demolished in 1706 on the orders of Louis XIV!!! Today it is a place in the heart of Nice to which the people of Nice are particularly attached. To get there, you have to cross the picturesque streets of Old Nice and follow the stairs, or take the elevator or the Little Tourist Train.
From up there, you can enjoy the view of the Promenade des Anglais and the entire city. Emperor Napoleon III, visiting Nice, declared: “It is the most beautiful landscape I have ever seen, it is admirable! “.
Then we will stroll along the paths and groves without forgetting the Bellanda Tower and the Waterfall. We will not forget the Château Cemetery, one of the most beautiful in France where many personalities are buried (Léon Gambetta, René Gosciny, Georges Lautner, Louis Nucera, etc.) in often sumptuously decorated tombs.
Ah, one last thing! At noon sharp, a detonation will make you jump. Keep calm. This custom dates back to 1860 when an English Lord, former colonel in the English army, a certain Sir Thomas Coventry, settled in Old Nice with his wife. The latter, a little too talkative, was often late in returning from her walk, which forced Monsieur to wait before having lunch. the latter then had the idea of imagining a solution to remind his dear wife of her marital duties: have a cannon fired at noon to remind her that it is time to stick her nose in and prepare her meals . The mayor at the time accepted the idea because the lord took everything at his expense. The English Lord left Nice one day, but the inhabitants demanded that the cannon fire be maintained at noon and in November 1885, a decree established “lou cannon de miejou“. In English, “The gun of noon“.
The five most beautiful walks in Nice
A stone’s throw from the famous Nice museums dedicated to Chagall and Matisse, right next to the Jardin de Arènes de Cimiez, we discover the gardens of the Cimiez Monastery.
In summer, it is a favorite place for newlyweds from Nice who come to have their photos taken with their loved ones, as the gardens and rose garden are so magnificent. This is a little stroll, light and located as if outside of time, like a parenthesis in this beautiful French garden located in one of the most exclusive districts of Nice.
I never tire of admiring its rose garden, its well and its pergolas, this garden entrusted to attentive gardeners and landscapers who work all year round to maintain its beauty, in an ecological manner. No pesticides, insect hotels, a real taste of nature.
It is also a privileged viewpoint over Nice and the Baie des Anges.
Walk in the gardens of the Cimiez Monastery.
The five most beautiful walks in Nice
