Nice
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| Nice
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 Nice harbour |
The harbour of Nice lies on the Mediterranean coast of France, five miles E of the marina of Port St Laurent du Var and six miles W of the marina of Beaulieu sur Mer. Founded in the 4th century BC by Greeks from the nearby settlement of Massilia (Marseilles), Nice derives its name from the Greek goddess of victory, Nikaia, in honour of a victory in battle over the neighbouring Ligurians. Later a busy Roman trading port, it grew in importance and by the Middle Ages played a key role as an ally of the Italian city state of Pisa in the politics of the region, thus attracting attacks by both the French king and the Holy Roman emperor. At the end of the 14th century the city fell under the protection of the Count of Savoy and by the 16th century Italian even became the official language. Although taken by the French revolutionary forces in 1792, Nice was back in Italian hands by 1814 and only finally became part of the French state in 1860 as a reward for French support for the Italian war of independence against Austria.
Nice’s reputation as a fashionable tourist destination began during the early 19th century, when wealthy English and Russian aristocrats descended on the city. Queen Victoria herself visited the city five years in succession with a vast retinue of staff. The Excelsior Hôtel Regina in Cimiez, a few kilometers inland from the harbour, was supposedly constructed especially for her later visits. Steady improvements in transport links to the city over the next century, including the construction of an airport which is now the third busiest in France, have transformed Nice into a destination for mass tourism and its world-famous beachfront boulevard, the Promenade des Anglais, has long since ceased to echo to the sound of aristocratic accents.
Charts
- Imray
- M15 Marseille to San Remo
- British Admiralty
- 1974 Toulon to San Remo
- 1998 Nice to Livorno
Weather
Climate here is mild all year round, with typical summer highs of 24 - 27 degrees C. Coastal seabreezes predominate and even when the mistral is blowing its full effects are only felt around 10-15 miles offshore. Occasionally, Nice may be affected by the scirocco, a hot southerly wind that blows up from the Sahara and can last for several days, depositing its cargo of dust over everything in sight.
Sources for Weather forecasts:
- VHF
- Continuous forecast on channel 23
- Channel 80 (0803 – 1333 – 2003)
- NAVTEX - Cross La Garde (W)
- INTERNET
Passages
Islands
None
Communication
Also see Cruiser's Nets
The entrance to Nice can be difficult to spot as the port is protected from seaward by a very long breakwater. The capitainerie recommends yachts to ‘Steer a course 012° towards the Mont Gros observatory as far as the lighthouse. Follow the jetty wall, leaving the end of the Poudriere breakwater to starboard.’ The port is equipped with signal masts in order to control traffic and ensure the safety of all. Light signals are transmitted by the masts, located around the lighthouse at the entrance to the port, and by the repeater on the breakwater at the level of Amiral Infernet quay.
NO SIGNALS: ENTRANCE AND EXIT ARE AUTHORISED; 3 RED FLASHING LIGHTS: NAVIGATION FORBIDDEN (other than in exceptional situations: pollution, fire etc); 3 RED OCCULTING LIGHTS: ENTRANCE AND EXIT ARE FORBIDDEN EXCEPT FOR THE SHIP THAT HAS RECEIVED AUTHORISATION.
Be aware that large ferries plying between Nice and Corsica often leave the harbour at speed.
Entrance
Nice is a port of entry/exit to France.
Submit details about facilities for checking in - location of immigration & customs, etc.
Berthing
Call Port de Nice on channel 9 to request a berth. It may be wise in high season to call the capitainerie on +34 (0) 492 00 42 14 at least 48 hours before your visit.
Marinas & Yacht Clubs
Port de Nice has 503 berths, of which 103 are allegedly reserved for visitors. Yachts berth stern or bows to on pontoons. Visitors are usually directed to the west side of the harbour near the customs quay. Water and electricity are provided at all berths and there is a fuel station at the entrance to the inner basin. Toilets and showers are on the quay at the SE corner of the yacht basin in the capitainerie building.
An alternative option is the marina of Port St Laurent du Var at the settlement of the same name, six miles W of Nice. The marina has 1100 berths for yachts of up to 23 metres in depths of up to 4.0 metres. Click on the link for details.
Anchorages
The nearest anchorage is NE of Nice harbour in the bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer.
Yacht Repairs & Services
Limited. Antibes is better for anything major.
Marine Stores
Submit addresses and contact details of marine related businesses that are of interest to cruisers.
Repairs/yards
Fuel, Water, & Electricity
In the Port de Nice.
Things to do ashore
Tourism
The world-famous Promenade des Anglais, initiated by wealthy English villa-owners in the 19th century, is a must. Stretching for three kilometers west of the harbour, it overlooks a dazzling crescent of golden sand (assuming you can see it for bodies) and hosts more palatial hotels than you can shake a stick at. The old town, with its pedestrianised streets and pokey shops, is well worth a couple of hours stroll. The walk up to Colline du Chateau between the harbour and the old town offers spectacular viewpoints down over old Nice and the beach, as well as a refreshing man-made waterfall. A trip to the ancient Roman settlement of Cimiez (which is within walking distance if you are fit) enables you to take in the Matisse Museum, the adjacent old Franciscan monastery with its lovely gardens and museum, and the Museum of Archaeology, built on the site of the old Roman settlement, which contains some interesting funerary monuments and objets d’art. If you are walking back along Boulevard de Cimiez, you can admire all the 19th/early 20th century villas and huge luxury apartment blocks, including the Excelsior Hôtel Regina, built for the visits of Queen Victoria and later converted to an apartment block in which Matisse lived.
Nice harbour |
 Fishing boats, Nice |
 Rooftops of old Nice |
 Sculpture on Promenade des Anglais |
Grocery & Supply Stores
Numerous supermarkets and produce shops, including huge Carrefour and Intermarche.
Eateries
Good restaurants round the port and better ones in the old town west of the harbour. If lunching out, Nice is the place to sample the genuine salade nicoise.
Internet/WiFi
Available?
Laundry
Launderette in the town.
Motorbike & Car Rentals
Several outlets in the city.
Garbage Disposal
Bins around the port.
Transportation
- Electric cars and bicycles for hire in city
- Trains to Paris and other major destinations
- International airport with flights to most European destinations
- Fast tramway service to airport
Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forums
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
Links
- Nice at the Wikipedia
- Nice tourism
References
See France.
Comments
We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.
- If you’re a sashimi fan, try the carpaccio d’espadon (swordfish carpaccio) offered by some of the fish restaurants in Nice - s/y Athene of Lymington.
Verified by
Date of member's last visit to Nice and this page's details validated:
- July 2002 --Atheneoflymington
| This is a usable page of the cruising guide. However, please contribute if you can to help it grow further. Click on Comments to add your personal notes on this page or to discuss its contents. Alternatively, if you feel confident to edit the page, click on the edit tab at the top and enter your changes directly. |
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Names: Lighthouse, Atheneoflymington |
