Nice, The city center of Nice

The city of Nice is a vast territory that can be divided into several areas, each with its own marked identity:

QUARTIER PLACE MASSENA / JEAN MEDECIN

The true heart of the city, the Place Massena officially emerged in 1852, when the project of architect Joseph Vernier was finally completed. With its facades with porches and pillars, balconies and terraces the sqaure "Carree" is the starting point for the development of Nice to the right side of the paillon tunnel.

Place Massena has been completely redesigned and refurbished in 2008 to create a large pedestrian area. It is also a great place to live because many events are held throughout the year here as well as having the most important intersection in the city that is crossed by the new tram line. On the south side of the square is the fountain "Fontaine de Soleil" and five bronze statues sculpted by Alfred Janniot. Each represents a character from Greco-Roman mythology, Mars, Mercury, Saturn, Earth and Venus. In the center of the fountain is a marble statue of seven meters high representing Apollo.

The square is also embellished with works by the Catalan artist Jaume Plensa. These represent the scribes at the top perched on their base, about ten meters above the ground in a squatting or sitting position. The scribes are 7 in number and each symbolize a continent. These statues were erected in translucent resin. Their varying colors represent the reciprocal exchanges between continents.

To the north is Jean Medecin Avenue, with its wide sidewalks, department stores such as Galeries Lafayette and FNAC and its eateries.

Place Massena and the Avenue Jean Medecin offer many residential possibilities whether its a two bedroom apartment ideal for a rental investment due to the close proximity to all public transport, or a great top floor apartment with large terrace, real estate offers are varied and synonymous with great real estate investment.

QUARTIER WILSON

Bordered by Boulevard Carabacel on the east side, Avenue Felix Faure on the south side, Boulevard Dubouchage to the north and Avenue Jean Medecin on the west, is the second oldest district of Nice after the Old Town. The buildings with colorful facades mostly built between 1850 and 1900, and now typically Nicois style and today equipped with elevators, this shopping district is home to a local population that traditionally has in recent decades, largely been internationalized.

Its an ideal location, close to the Place Massena and the Old City, with the bus station, tram and main roads, making it an excellent choice as a main residence and/or secondary. It is also a very interesting area for rental investment, furnished or unfurnished. There is the a very good high school Lycee Massena, the MAMAC Modern Art Museum, the Museum of Photography, the National Theatre of Nice, the former Prefecture, auction houses, as well as many hotels, restaurants and shops, such as Galeries Lafayette or the Nice Etoile shopping center.

You will also soon enjoy the new green corridor overlooking the Place Wilson. This will be a simply beautiful promenade lined with green trees, grass, stones and the largest water mirror of France. Exhibitions of works of art, fun activities and major events will also be held here. The garden will spread over 12 hectares with a part of the green area to be surrounded by two banks planted with Mediterranean species.

CARRE D'OR / PEDESTRIAN ZONE

Marked by the majestic Place Massena on the west side, Victor Hugo Boulevard on the north and Boulevard Gambetta to the east, the Carre d’Or is undoubtedly the most popular area of Nice. Crossed by the rue Masséna, known as the pedestrian zone, it boasts the finest fashion brands and major jewelers, as well as several casinos and hotels. Very commercial and resolutely international, praised by foreign customers as well as locals for the quality of life it provides, this neighborhood is heterogeneous in architecture and will delight those who wish to live in the heart of the city, with all amenities within walking distance.

From the point of view of residential or rental property, the Carre d’Or is a safe bet, with a guarantee of easy and profitable resale. There are of course Nicois buildings with elevators, Bourgeois and Art Deco buildings, and modern buildings as well usually equipped with terraces and parking. And since the average prices have managed to remain fair, there are many who have succumbed to the temptation to buy or invest in the Carré d'Or.

This area has the Anglican Church of Nice dedicated to the Holy Trinity but also the reformed temple of Nice. This area is very popular with foreign residents since it is located two minutes from the beach and close to the pedestrian area and restaurants. In this neighborhood, practicality is the name because everything can be done on foot.

QUARTIER DES MUSICIENS

Elegant, residential, this central district of Nice is named in honor of the many musicians that the streets were dedicated to. Many of them have visited the city and have even stayed. Throughout the streets Rossini, Verdi, Berlioz, Gounod, among other things, you will discover stunning stately buildings ("palaces") and Art Deco inspiration, as well as more recent work with terraces and underground parking. Here, the typical Nicois style buildings are less represented because of the expansion of the area from the late nineteenth century, and the colorful facades were replaced in stone. The area is also the emblem of the "Belle Epoque".

As in other areas of the center, shops abound, and vacationers will find many hotels 2 *, 3 * and 4 *, not to mention restaurants. From a practical point of view, the Musiciens district offers a variety of law firms, doctors, two clinics, a Tourist Office and Convention Bureau and the Central Post Office of Nice. If you are looking for a family apartment in a new residence or a charming pied-à-terre with balcony, the Musiciens district and its wide range of real estate options is for you.

You will find the comfort of a central and a quality environment. It is particularly popular with retirees and foreigners to acquire a second home. It is a quiet area, close to shops and the beach. Residents never tire of walking in the Garden Alsace Lorraine. Several monuments are erected: “la man a l’urne”, the monument to Paul Déroulède and "femme endormie." The Marshals monument in pink granite is also located in this garden. A pond of water in the center and many exotic species contribute to its charm. Cultural events for children are alo organized here.

QUARTIER DES FLEURS / BAUMETTES

On the other side of the boulevard Gambetta, between the sea and the Pierre Mathis expressway that runs east-west through Nice, is a neighborhood with 2 distinct identities. Between Boulevard Gambetta and Boulevard Grosso , the Fleurs quarter offers a mixture of inspirational Bourgeois buildings and new buildings, with some wonders like the Palace of Madrid.

Commercial and quiet, just a few minutes from the Promenade des Anglais, its palaces and casinos, this is an ideal area for a primary or secondary residence, or for rental investment, because the University of Law and Letters are nearby. It is especially popular for its lush greenery and stunning views of the sea.

After the Boulevard Grosso, taking Baumettes Avenue, one enters the Baumettes district, rich in beautiful and stately buildings of impressive architecture such as the Château de la Tour, an amazing mix of Baroque, Renaissance and medieval influence. The name Baumettes comes from Bauma which means cave. Baumettes therefore means ‘Small Caves’ in reference to those who were to remain under the hill. To the west side one can enjoy beautiful views of the hills of Saint-Pierre-de Féric.

This strictly residential area also houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Chéret, where you can admire numerous works of the thirteenth to the twentieth century and especially beautiful Raoul Dufy and Gustave Adolphe Mossa collections. Gloria Mansions, an Art Deco building listed as a historical monument is well worth a visit. Both concrete guarding raptors are emblematic of this building.

QUARTIER DE LA LIBERATION

A traditionally Nicois neighborhood that is popular and lively and located right in the center of the city, the Liberation quarter has recently benefited from an extensive modernization plan with the introduction of the tram, which now connects to the beaches and the Place Massena in minutes.

A sign of the times, the old south train station will house the future multi-purpose complex, the future point of urban attraction and shops. The beauty of this station is also recognized because it is classified as a historical monument. It will now contain 3500 square meters of shops, a theater, a multiplex cinema, a sports center, restaurants, a covered market and underground parking with 700 spaces.