The Russian Orthodox Cemetery, Nice ( French : Cimetière orthodoxe de Caucade ) also known as the Orthodox cemetery in Caucade, is a cemetery located southwest of Nice , France .
94-568: Nice ( / n iː s / NEESS ; French pronunciation: [nis] ) is a city in and the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes department in France. The Nice agglomeration extends far beyond the administrative city limits, with a population of nearly one million on an area of 744 km (287 sq mi). Located on the French Riviera , the southeastern coast of France on
188-458: A magical aspect. Place Rossetti is in the centre of the old town, streets Jesus , Rossetti , Mascoïnat and the Pont-vieux (old bridge). Alpes-Maritimes Alpes-Maritimes ( French: [alp(ə)maʁitim] ; Occitan : Aups Maritims ; Italian : Alpi Marittime ; lit. ' Maritime Alps ' ) is a department of France located in the country's southeast corner, on
282-533: A permanent settlement and called it Nikaia , after Nike , the goddess of victory. Through the ages, the town has changed hands many times. Its strategic location and port significantly contributed to its maritime strength. From 1388 it was a dominion of Savoy , then became part of the French First Republic between 1792 and 1815, when it was returned to the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia , the legal predecessor of
376-465: A real estate scam and convicted four years later. The President of the Departmental Council has been Charles-Ange Ginésy since 2017, who took office upon succeeding Éric Ciotti . Ciotti remained a councillor and became majority leader. Ginésy, who has been a councillor for the canton of Vence since 2015, has held a seat in the council since 2003. He also was Mayor of Péone (2001–2017) and
470-593: A relatively small role although it has diversified into activities with high technological value. The construction and public works sector is quite important. The economy is very sensitive to changes in the national and international situation. The rate of unemployment is 9.1%. According to the INSEE, in 2005 the GDP per capita of the Alpes-Maritimes was 27,723 euros which ranked it as the thirteenth highest department in France. GDP
564-658: A separate city until the time of the Lombard invasions. The ruins of Cemenelum are in Cimiez , now a district of Nice. In the 7th century, Nice joined the Genoese League formed by the towns of Liguria . In 729 the city repulsed the Saracens ; but in 859 and again in 880 the Saracens pillaged and burned it, and for most of the 10th century remained masters of the surrounding country. During
658-403: A stabbing attack killed three people at the local Notre-Dame de Nice . One of the victims, a woman, was beheaded by the attacker. Several additional victims were injured. The attacker, who was shot by the police, was taken into custody. The Islamic state claimed responsibility for both attacks. In 2021, the city was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO as "Nice, Winter Resort Town of
752-486: A territorial reward for French assistance in the Second Italian War of Independence against Austria , which saw Lombardy united with Piedmont-Sardinia . King Victor-Emmanuel II, on 1 April 1860, solemnly asked the population to accept the change of sovereignty, in the name of Italian unity, and the cession was ratified by a regional referendum . Italophile manifestations and the acclamation of an "Italian Nice" by
846-517: A truck was deliberately driven into a crowd of people by Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel on the Promenade des Anglais . The crowd was watching a fireworks display in celebration of Bastille Day . A total of 87 people were killed, including the perpetrator, who was shot dead by police. Another 434 were injured, with 52 in critical care and 25 in intensive care, according to the Paris prosecutor. On 29 October 2020,
940-559: A well-defended city gate on the main road from Turin . In 1388, the commune placed itself under the protection of the Counts of Savoy . Nice participated – directly or indirectly – in the history of Savoy until 1860. The maritime strength of Nice now rapidly increased until it was able to cope with the Barbary pirates ; the fortifications were largely extended and the roads to the city improved. In 1561 Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy abolished
1034-589: A winter resort town for the European aristocracy and the resulting mix of cultures found in the city, UNESCO proclaimed Nice a World Heritage Site in 2021. The city has the second largest hotel capacity in the country, and it is the second most visited metropolis in Metropolitan France , receiving four million tourists every year. It also has the third busiest airport in France, after the two main Parisian ones. It
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#17328379117011128-549: Is a bay of the Mediterranean in Nice. Before Nice was urbanised, the coastline at Nice was just bordered by a deserted stretch of shingle beach (covered with large pebbles). The first houses were located on higher ground well away from the sea, as wealthy tourists visiting Nice in the 18th century did not come for the beach, but for the gentle winter weather. The areas close to the water were home to Nice's dockworkers and fishermen. In
1222-526: Is commemorated in many of the city's museums, including Musée Marc Chagall , Musée Matisse and Musée des Beaux-Arts . International writers have also been attracted and inspired by the city. Frank Harris wrote several books including his autobiography My Life and Loves in Nice. Friedrich Nietzsche spent six consecutive winters in Nice, and wrote Thus Spoke Zarathustra there. Additionally, Russian writer Anton Chekhov completed his play Three Sisters while living in Nice. Nice's appeal extended to
1316-737: Is covered in winter snow which is visible from the coast. From the west, the Route des Grandes Alpes enters the Cayolle Pass (2,326 metres, 7,631 ft) first on the way to the Alps and the sources of the Var in the commune of Entraunes . Then the route follows the Col de la Bonette – the highest pass in Europe at 2,715 metres (8,907 ft) – to connect to the valley of the Tinée then
1410-417: Is divided into two arrondissements : Grasse and Nice , twenty-seven cantons and 163 communes . As of 1 January 2014, there were seven intercommunalities : The most populous commune is the prefecture Nice . As of 2019, there are 10 communes with more than 20,000 inhabitants: The Roman military district of Alpes Maritimae was created by Augustus in 14 BC. It became a full Roman province in
1504-527: Is located in Italy. There is also Mount Mounier (2,817 metres, 9,242 ft), which dominates the south of the vast Dôme de Barrot , formed of a mass more than 900 metres (3,000 ft) thick of red mudstones deeply indented by the gorges of Daluis and Cians . Except in winter, four passes allow passage to the north of the Mercantour-Argentera massif whose imposing 62-kilometre-long (39 mi) barrier
1598-762: Is named after Giuseppe Garibaldi , hero of the Italian unification (born in Nice in 1807 when Nice was part of the Napoleonic Empire, before reverting to the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia). The square was built at the end of the 18th century and served as the entry gate to the city and end of the road from Turin. It took several names between 1780 and 1870 (Plaça Pairoulièra, Place de la République, Place Napoléon, Place d'Armes, Place Saint-Augustin, Piazza Vittorio) and finally Place Garibaldi in September 1870. A statue of Garibaldi, who
1692-543: Is the historical capital city of the County of Nice ( French : Comté de Nice , Niçard: Countèa de Nissa ). The first known hominid settlements in the Nice area date back about 400,000 years ( homo erectus ); the Terra Amata archeological site shows one of the earliest uses of fire, construction of houses, as well as flint findings dated to around 230,000 years ago. Nice was probably founded around 350 BC by colonists from
1786-516: The 2021 election . The Alpes-Maritimes department is surrounded by the departments of Var in the southwest, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence in the northwest; Italy to the north and east; and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. It surrounds the Principality of Monaco on the west, north and east. Its topography is very mixed. As its name suggests, most of the department is a constituent part of
1880-703: The Cimetière du Château include celebrated jeweler Alfred Van Cleef , Emil Jellinek-Mercedes , founder of the Mercedes car company, film director Louis Feuillade , poet Agathe-Sophie Sasserno , dancer Carolina Otero , Asterix comics creator René Goscinny , The Phantom of the Opera author Gaston Leroux , French prime minister Léon Gambetta , and the first president of the International Court of Justice José Gustavo Guerrero . Because of its historical importance as
1974-672: The French colonies , Morocco and North and South America. After July 1940 and the establishment of the Vichy Regime , antisemitic aggressions accelerated the exodus, starting in July 1941 and continuing through 1942. On 26 August 1942, 655 Jews of foreign origin were rounded up by the Laval government and interned in the Auvare barracks. Of these, 560 were deported to Drancy internment camp on 31 August 1942. Due to
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#17328379117012068-687: The Italian border and Mediterranean coast. Part of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region , it encompasses the French Riviera alongside neighbouring Var . Alpes-Maritimes had a population of 1,094,283 in 2019. Its prefecture (and largest city) is Nice , with Grasse as the sole subprefecture . Alpes-Maritimes has become one of the world's most attractive tourist destinations in recent decades, featuring renowned cities and towns such as Nice , Grasse , Cannes , Antibes , Menton , Èze , Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and Sainte-Agnès , as well as numerous alpine ski resorts. It also entirely surrounds
2162-500: The Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia , negotiated support for Napoleon III in exchange for Savoy and the County of Nice as set forth in the Treaty of Turin . The annexation was confirmed on 15 and 16 April 1860 by 30,712 male electors enrolled in the 89 communes of the County of Nice who, for the first time, had universal male suffrage by plebiscite . The "Yes" vote for reunification with France
2256-522: The La République En Marche! (REM) centrist party. Of the five members of the Senate who represent the department in the upper house of Parliament, four are right-wing (LR) and one is left-wing ( Socialist Party , PS). Of the 54 departmental councillors, 52 are aligned with the right-wing coalition and two are in the left-wing opposition. In the 2022 French presidential election , Marine Le Pen of
2350-491: The MP for Alpes-Maritimes's 2nd constituency (2005–2007; 2007–2008; 2009–2010; 2012–2017). Both are members of The Republicans (LR). The coalition majority in the departmental council is one of the largest majorities in any such institution in France. Out of the 54 seats, only two are held by left-wing councillors, both elected in the canton of Grasse-2 . In neighbouring Var , the right-wing coalition also holds all but two seats in
2444-566: The Mediterranean Sea , at the foot of the French Alps , Nice is the second-largest French city on the Mediterranean coast and second-largest city in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region after Marseille . Nice is approximately 13 kilometres (8 mi) from the principality of Monaco and 30 kilometres (19 mi) from the French–Italian border . Nice's airport serves as a gateway to
2538-637: The Middle Ages , Nice participated in the wars and history of Italy . As an ally of Pisa it was the enemy of Genoa , and both the King of France and the Holy Roman Emperor endeavoured to subjugate it; but in spite of this it maintained its municipal liberties. During the 13th and 14th centuries the city fell more than once into the hands of the Counts of Provence , but it regained its independence even though related to Genoa. The medieval city walls surrounded
2632-529: The National Rally won a plurality in Alpes-Maritimes in the first round; incumbent Emmanuel Macron of La République En Marche! won a majority in the second round. In the 1980s and 1990s, Alpes-Maritimes experienced corruption problems with its politicians, which led to several criminal convictions, including those of Nice Mayor Jacques Médecin and Cannes Mayor Michel Mouillot , as well as that of Antibes Mayor Pierre Merli, criminally indicted in 1995 for
2726-466: The Principality of Monaco . The department's inhabitants are called Maralpins (masculine) or Maralpines (feminine) but are more commonly referred to as "Azuréens"; its flag and arms are those of the City of Nice. In terms of politics, Alpes-Maritimes is one of France's most right-wing departments, as the majority led by The Republicans in the departmental council holds all but two of the 54 seats following
2820-609: The Promenade des Anglais followed by a hairpin turn at the Hotel Negresco to come back eastward and around the Jardin Albert I before heading again east along the beach on the Quai des Etats-Unis. As war broke out in September 1939, Nice became a city of refuge for many displaced foreigners, notably Jews fleeing the Nazi progression into Eastern Europe. From Nice many sought further shelter in
2914-547: The Tramway de Nice electrified its horse-drawn streetcars and spread its network to the entire département from Menton to Cagnes-sur-Mer . By the 1930s more bus connections were added in the area. In the 1930s, Nice hosted international car racing in the Formula Libre (predecessor to Formula One ) on the so-called Circuit Nice. The circuit started along the waterfront just south of the Jardin Albert I, then headed westward along
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3008-589: The commune . Conquered in 1792 by the armies of the First French Republic , the County of Nice continued to be part of France until 1814; but after that date it reverted to the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia . After the Treaty of Turin was signed in 1860 between the Sardinian king and Napoleon III as a consequence of the Plombières Agreement , the county was again and definitively ceded to France as
3102-530: The perfume industry in Grasse , new technologies from Sophia-Antipolis , and the aerospace industry in Cannes-Mandelieu, where there is the first European satellite builders and the first industrial plant dedicated to spacecraft manufacturing. The presence of the Mediterranean Sea and the French Alps under a mild sky has favoured one dominant activity: tourism, which accounts for 64,000 jobs directly in
3196-559: The Alpes-Maritimes. For only the city of Nice the tourism turnover represents a 12 to 13% share of the whole tourism market in France. The capital of the Côte d'Azur is the fifth most populous city in France. The city of Nice also has the second largest airport in France ( Nice Côte d'Azur Airport ), after Paris and its three airports at Roissy , Orly and Le Bourget . There are nearly 13.5 million passengers per year passing through Nice Airport. Russian Orthodox Cemetery, Nice The cemetery
3290-526: The Arrondissement of Puget-Théniers was merged into the Arrondissement of Nice in 1926. Since that time, the department has had two arrondissements . In 1947, in accordance with the Treaty of Paris and as a referendum result favourable to their attachment to France, the communes of Tende and La Brigue (also parts of communes in the high valleys of Vésubie and Tinée: part the commune of Isola ) which had not been ceded to France in 1860, were attached to
3384-488: The English"), was inaugurated by Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught ; it owes its name to visitors to the resort. These included Queen Victoria along with her son Edward VII who spent winters there, as well as Henry Cavendish , born in Nice, who discovered hydrogen. The clear air and soft light have particularly appealed to notable painters, such as Marc Chagall , Henri Matisse , Niki de Saint Phalle and Arman . Their work
3478-693: The Greek city of Phocaea in western Anatolia . It was given the name of Níkaia ( Νίκαια ) in honour of a victory over the neighbouring Ligurians (people from the northwest of Italy , probably the Vediantii kingdom); Nike ( Νίκη ) was the Greek goddess of victory. The city soon became one of the busiest trading ports on the Ligurian coast; but it had an important rival in the Roman town of Cemenelum , which continued to exist as
3572-431: The Kingdom of Italy, until its annexation by France in 1860. The natural environment of the Nice area and its mild Mediterranean climate came to the attention of the English upper classes in the second half of the 18th century, when an increasing number of aristocratic families began spending their winters there. In 1931, following its refurbishment, the city's main seaside promenade, the Promenade des Anglais ("Walkway of
3666-450: The Ligurian towns of Ventimiglia , Bordighera and Ospedaletti , giving rise to a local branch of the movement of the Italian irredentists which considered the re-acquisition of Nice to be one of their nationalist goals. Giuseppe Garibaldi , born in Nice, strongly opposed the cession to France, arguing that the ballot was rigged by the French. Furthermore, for the niçard general his hometown
3760-628: The Old Town. The landward side was protected by the River Paillon , which was later covered over and is now the tram route towards the Acropolis. The east side of the town was protected by fortifications on Castle Hill . Another river flowed into the port on the east side of Castle Hill. Engravings suggest that the port area was also defended by walls. Under Monoprix in Place de Garibaldi are excavated remains of
3854-570: The Opera, was immediately abolished and replaced by French. Discontent over annexation to France led to the emigration of a large part of the Italophile population, also accelerated by Italian unification after 1861. A quarter of the population of Nice, around 11,000 people from Nice, decided to voluntarily exile to Italy. The emigration of a quarter of the Niçard Italians to Italy took the name of Niçard exodus . Many Italians from Nizza then moved to
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3948-550: The Riviera". On 18 July 2024, seven people from the same family, including three young children, three adults and a teenager were killed in an arson attack . The fire also critically injured one other person and caused thirty other people to suffer from smoke inhalation . The Promenade des Anglais ("Walkway of the English") is a promenade along the Baie des Anges ("Bay of the Angels"), which
4042-603: The Russian upper classes. Prince Nicholas Alexandrovich , heir apparent to Imperial Russia , died in Nice and was a patron of the Russian Orthodox Cemetery, Nice where Princess Catherine Dolgorukova , morganatic wife of the Tsar Alexander II of Russia , is buried. Also buried there are General Dmitry Shcherbachev and General Nikolai Yudenich , leaders of the anti-Communist White Movement . Those interred at
4136-464: The Ubaye. Further east, the Col de la Lombarde (2,350 metres, 7,710 ft) above Isola 2000 allows access to the shrine of Saint-Anne de Vinadio in Italy. Finally, at its eastern end, the Col de Tende (1,871 metres, 6,138 ft) links with Cuneo in Italy. The only region of the Alps close to Nice has an afforestation rate of 60.9%, slightly higher than the average of the department and well above
4230-634: The activity of the Jewish banker Angelo Donati and of the Capuchin friar Père Marie-Benoît the local authorities hindered the application of anti-Jewish Vichy laws. The first résistants to the new regime were a group of high school seniors of the Lycée de Nice, now Lycée Masséna [ fr ] , in September 1940, later arrested and executed in 1944 near Castellane . The first public demonstrations occurred on 14 July 1942 when several hundred protesters took to
4324-427: The average of 39.4% for the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. The rivers in alphabetical order are: It is the climate that made the Côte d'Azur famous. The current department of Alpes-Maritimes, however, does not have only one climate, the complex terrain and high mountains divide the department between those who are well exposed (the south-facing side) and those which are less (the north-facing side) and even with
4418-420: The city back to the Duke of Savoy, who was on that same occasion recognised as King of Sicily. In the peaceful years which followed, the "new town" was built. From 1744 until the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748) the French and Spaniards were again in possession. In 1775 the king, who in 1718 had swapped his sovereignty of Sicily for the Kingdom of Sardinia, destroyed all that remained of the ancient liberties of
4512-472: The city include: The Place Masséna is the main square of the city. Before the Paillon River was covered over, the Pont-Neuf was the only practicable way between the old town and the modern one. The square was thus divided into two parts (North and South) in 1824. With the demolition of the Masséna Casino in 1979, the Place Masséna became more spacious and less dense and is now bordered by red ochre buildings of Italian architecture . The recent rebuilding of
4606-479: The city is referred to as the "Zone Piétonne", or "Pedestrian Zone". Cars are not allowed (with exception to delivery trucks), making this avenue a popular walkway. Old Nice is also home to the Opéra de Nice . It was constructed at the end of the 19th century under the design of François Aune, to replace King Charles Félix's Maccarani Theater. Today, it is open to the public and provides a regular program of performances. Other sights include: Religious buildings in
4700-402: The conventions of the time, when the Negresco first opened in 1913 its front opened on the side opposite the Mediterranean. Another place worth mentioning is the small street parallel to the Promenade des Anglais, leading from Nice's downtown, beginning at Place Masséna and running parallel to the promenade in the direction of the airport for a short distance of about four blocks. This section of
4794-447: The crowd are reported on this occasion. A plebiscite was voted on 15 and 16 April 1860. The opponents of annexation called for abstention, hence the very high abstention rate. The "yes" vote won 83% of registered voters throughout the county of Nice and 86% in Nice, partly thanks to pressure from the authorities. This is the result of a masterful operation of information control by the French and Piedmontese governments, in order to influence
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#17328379117014888-417: The department, the interior plains (in particular near Grasse) the climate is a little less temperate but just as sunny. In summer, the temperature very easily exceeds 30 °C (86 °F), while the average is only 27 °C (81 °F) along the Nice coast during July and August. Occasional frost is possible in the interior during winter, unlike in Nice and rest of the coast, where frost is very rare. In
4982-492: The department. Argent, an eagle crowned of gules displayed with wings inverted, on a mountain of three hillocks sable issuant from the pointed waves of a sea azure waved in argent. Since the end of World War II , Alpes-Maritimes has generally voted to the right. It has nine constituencies for the National Assembly . Following the 2017 legislative election , six constituencies are represented by members of The Republicans (LR) right-wing party and three by members of
5076-617: The departmental council, although it is made up of less many seats and the two councillors in opposition are members of the far-right National Rally (RN). Following the 2021 departmental election , the seats were allocated as follows in Alpes-Maritimes: Alpes-Maritimes elected the following MPs to the National Assembly in the 2022 legislative election : As of 2020, the department's five Senators are Marc Daunis (PS, since 2008), Colette Giudicelli (LR, since 2008), Jean-Pierre Leleux (LR, since 2008), Dominique Estrosi Sassone (LR, since 2014) and Henri Leroy (LR, since 2017). In 2011,
5170-465: The draft departmental budget amounted to €1.3 billion of which 498 million (38.3%) was devoted to social action and 346 million to operations (26.6%). Capital expenditures was just over 250 million euros (19.2%). In 2010, the department was the third most indebted in France with €942 million of debt or 68.4% of the annual budget. This debt amounted to 2,460 euros per fiscal tax unit (household) and 859 euros per person. The trend of change in debt over
5264-455: The east of the department, unlike the west, there are no plains. In the Menton region, the altitude increases very rapidly inland, so the sea tempers the atmosphere much more: the maximum in summer is on average 25 °C (77 °F) and the winters are milder than in the interior and frost is very rare. Snow is also rare along the coast, however, it happens that rare snowfall surprises the Côte d'Azur residents (on average every 5–7 years), as
5358-412: The exception of the three large resorts of Valberg (created in 1936), Auron (created in 1937) and Isola 2000 (created in 1971). The highest point of the department is the Cime du Gélas (3,143 metres, 10,312 ft) on the Franco-Italian border which dominates the Vallée des Merveilles further east. The summit of Monte Argentera is higher at 3,297 metres (10,817 ft) above sea level, but it
5452-675: The former Italian zone. Reprisals intensified between December 1943 and July 1944, when many partisans were tortured and executed by the local Gestapo . American paratroopers entered the city on 30 August 1944 and Nice was finally liberated. The consequences of the war were heavy: the population decreased by 15% and economic life was totally disrupted. In the second half of the 20th century, Nice enjoyed an economic boom primarily driven by tourism and construction. Two men dominated this period: Jean Médecin , mayor for 33 years from 1928 to 1943 and from 1947 to 1965, and his son Jacques , mayor for 24 years from 1966 to 1990. Under their leadership, there
5546-406: The high hills warming the air which descends on the city. One of the attractions of the department is its level of sunshine: over 300 days per year. Despite this the department is also the most stormy of France with an average of 70 to 90 thunderstorm days per year, arising from the differences in temperature due to a warm sea in autumn. As soon as one moves away from the coast, towards the west of
5640-424: The institutions of the European Union. In 2003, local Chief Prosecutor Éric de Montgolfier alleged that some judicial cases involving local personalities had been suspiciously derailed by the local judiciary, which he suspected of having unhealthy contacts through Masonic lodges with the defendants. A controversial official report stated later that Montgolfier had made unwarranted accusations. On 14 July 2016,
5734-437: The last decade has been a sharp increase: + 440% between 2001 and 2009 and 26% between 2009 and 2010. There was only €43 million in debt in 2003. The Departmental Council of Alpes-Maritimes is currently sponsoring several large projects: The Alpes-Maritimes Departmental Council has charged 1 euro per vehicle journey in the department, regardless of distance, since 1 January 2008. When Nice became part of France in 1860, it
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#17328379117015828-414: The middle of the 1st century AD, with its capital first at Cemenelum (today Cimiez , a suburb north of Nice ) and subsequently at Embrun . At its greatest extent in AD 297, the province reached north to Digne and Briançon . Conquered by the French First Republic during the French Revolutionary Wars , a department of Alpes-Maritimes was first set up in 1793 with different boundaries from those of
5922-401: The mild Mediterranean climate there can be violent storms and prolonged droughts. The coastal area has a Mediterranean climate (rainfall in autumn November and spring February especially, summer drought, mild winter and dry summer). The interior, especially in the north, has a mountain climate (winter quite bright, summer storms). Around Cannes is a particularly warm micro-climate due to
6016-504: The military procession of 14 July (Bastille Day) or other traditional celebrations and banquets. The Place Masséna is a two-minute walk from the Promenade des Anglais , old town, town centre, and Albert I Garden ( Jardin Albert Ier ). It is also a large crossroads between several of the main streets of the city: avenue Jean Médecin , avenue Félix Faure , boulevard Jean Jaurès , avenue de Verdun and rue Gioffredo . The Place Garibaldi also stands out for its architecture and history. It
6110-402: The modern department. In 1793, Alpes-Maritimes included Monaco ( Port Hercules ), but not Grasse , which was then part of the department of Var as an historical part of France. In 1805, San Remo (San Rème) was included after the disbandment of the Ligurian Republic . In 1812, the department had three arrondissements with the following cantons : The population of the department in 1812
6204-449: The outcome of the vote in relation to the decisions already taken. The irregularities in the plebiscite voting operations were evident. The case of Levens is emblematic: the same official sources recorded, faced with only 407 voters, 481 votes cast, naturally almost all in favor of joining France. The Italian language that was the official language of the County, used by the Church, at the town hall, taught in schools, used in theaters and at
6298-408: The overall topographic Alps – including the Maritime Alps – but it also has the distinction of being a coastal district with its Mediterranean coast. The coastal area, urbanized and densely populated (shaded in red on the map), includes all the cities in an almost continuous conurbation from Cannes to Menton , while the larger but sparsely populated mountainous area (light green) is fully rural with
6392-425: The period 1860–1914, despite the repression carried out since the annexation. The French government implemented a policy of Francization of society, language and culture. The toponyms of the communes of the ancient County have been francized, with the obligation to use French in Nice, as well as certain surnames (for example the Italian surname "Bianchi" was francized into "Leblanc", and the Italian surname "Del Ponte"
6486-411: The population can trace some degree of ancestry back to Italy before it was annexed by France in the 1860s. The economy of the Alpes-Maritimes is characterized by the importance of the tertiary sector . The department has, in addition to tourism and traditional services, a relatively high level of corporate research and higher level of services. Agriculture is of little importance and industry plays
6580-401: The region. The city is nicknamed Nice la Belle ( Nissa La Bella in Niçard), meaning 'Nice the Beautiful', which is also the title of the unofficial anthem of Nice, written by Menica Rondelly in 1912. The area of today's Nice contains Terra Amata , an archaeological site which displays evidence of a very early use of fire 380,000 years ago. Around 350 BC, Greeks of Marseille founded
6674-418: The second half of the 18th century, many wealthy English people took to spending the winter in Nice, enjoying the panorama along the coast. This early aristocratic English colony conceived the building of a promenade with the leadership and financial support of Rev. Lewis Way . With the initial promenade completed, the city of Nice, intrigued by the prospect, greatly increased the scope of the work. The Promenade
6768-427: The square, the cathédrale Sainte-Réparate and the fountain in the centre, place Rossetti is a must-see spot in the old town. By day, the place is invaded by the terraces of traditional restaurants and the finest ice-cream makers. By night, the environment changes radically, with tourists and youths flocking to the square, where music reverberates on the walls of the small square. The square's lighting at night gives it
6862-619: The streets along the Avenue de la Victoire and in the Place Masséna. In November 1942 German troops moved into most of unoccupied France, but Italian troops moved into a smaller zone including Nice. A certain ambivalence remained among the population, many of whom were recent immigrants of Italian ancestry. However, the resistance gained momentum after the Italian surrender in 1943 when the German army occupied
6956-601: The three days of demonstration took the name of " Niçard Vespers ". The revolt was suppressed by French troops. On 13 February, Garibaldi was not allowed to speak at the French parliament meeting in Bordeaux to ask for the reunification of Nice to the newborn Italian unitary state , and he resigned from his post as deputy. The failure of Vespers led to the expulsion of the last pro-Italian intellectuals from Nice, such as Luciano Mereu or Giuseppe Bres, who were expelled or deported. The pro-Italian irredentist movement persisted throughout
7050-578: The total population. The department had 1,083,310 inhabitants in 2017, making it the 20th most populated department in France. There are 163 communes including 107 under 2000 inhabitants (representing a total of 60,065 inhabitants), 38 from 2000 to 9999 inhabitants (total 171,935 inhabitants), 13 between 10,000 and 49,999 inhabitants (total 263,102 inhabitants), 4 between 50,000 and 199,999 inhabitants (Antibes, Cannes, Cagnes-sur-Mer and Grasse, total 248,191 inhabitants), and one with over 200,000 inhabitants (Nice, with 340,017 inhabitants). The population density
7144-510: The town centre. Place Garibaldi is close to the eastern districts of Nice, Port Lympia (Lympia Harbour), and the TNL commercial centre. This square is also a junction of several important streets: the boulevard Jean-Jaurès , the avenue de la République , the rue Cassini and the rue Catherine-Ségurane . Entirely enclosed and pedestrianised, this square is located in the heart of the old town. With typical buildings in red and yellow ochres surrounding
7238-553: The tramline gave the square back to the pedestrians, restoring its status as a real Mediterranean square. It is lined with palm trees and stone pines, instead of being the rectangular roundabout of sorts it had become over the years. Since its construction, the Place Masséna has always been the spot for great public events. It is used for concerts, and particularly during the summer festivals, the Corso carnavalesque (carnival parade) in February,
7332-551: The two monarchs concluded a ten years' truce . In 1543, Nice was attacked by the united Franco-Ottoman forces of Francis I and Barbarossa Hayreddin Pasha , in the Siege of Nice ; though the inhabitants repulsed the assault which followed the terrible bombardment, they were ultimately compelled to surrender, and Barbarossa was allowed to pillage the city and to carry off 2,500 captives. Pestilence appeared again in 1550 and 1580. In 1600, Nice
7426-428: The use of Latin as an administrative language and established the Italian language as the official language of government affairs in Nice. During the struggle between Francis I and Charles V great damage was caused by the passage of the armies invading Provence ; pestilence and famine raged in the city for several years. In 1538, in the nearby town of Villeneuve-Loubet , through the mediation of Pope Paul III ,
7520-472: The votes in the legislative elections (26,534 votes out of 29,428 votes cast), and Garibaldi was elected deputy at the National Assembly . Pro-Italians took to the streets cheering "Viva Nizza! Viva Garibaldi!". The French government sent 10,000 soldiers to Nice, closed the Italian newspaper Il Diritto di Nizza and imprisoned several demonstrators. The population of Nice rose up from 8 to 10 February and
7614-561: Was 131,266, and its area was 3,226.74 square kilometres (1,245.85 sq mi), covering both present-day Arrondissement of Nice , Principality of Monaco and Province of Imperia . In 1814, at the close of the Napoleonic Wars , the territory was restored to the Crown of Savoy by the Congress of Vienna . In 1860 Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour , one of the architects of Italian unity with
7708-512: Was 252 inhabitants per square kilometre in 2017. According to INSEE 39.5% of children born in 2011 in the department of Alpes-Maritimes have at least one parent born abroad (regardless of nationality), 15.4% have a father born in North Africa . The area is also known for its extremely large population of people of Italian descent. About 40% of the population of the Alpes-Maritimes claim their ancestry as being solely Italian, and as many as 80% of
7802-565: Was 29.6 billion euros. According to Eurostat, GDP per capita at market prices in 2008 , the department had a GDP per capita of 30,700 euros, which is also ranked it thirteenth in France. Tourism is an essential industry for the entire coastal region ( Côte d'Azur ) and is highly developed. On the coast, thanks to the mild climate, towns are resort destinations all year round. In the mountains, there are winter sports stations that have received abundant snow in recent years, particularly Isola 2000 . There are also well-developed industries such as
7896-560: Was 83.8% of registered voters and 99.2% of votes. The new department of Alpes-Maritimes consisted of the former County of Nice, divided into an Arrondissement of Nice and an Arrondissement of Puget-Théniers (both arrondissements existed in the former Department (1793–1814)), and a portion of the Var department , which formed the Arrondissement of Grasse . However, the County of Nice did not include Tende and La Brigue , which were still part of Piedmont-Sardinia. For economic reasons,
7990-547: Was briefly taken by the Duke of Guise . By opening the ports of the county to all nations, and proclaiming full freedom of trade (1626), the commerce of the city was given great stimulus, the noble families taking part in its mercantile enterprises. Captured by Nicolas Catinat in 1691, Nice was restored to Savoy in 1696; but it was again besieged by the French in 1705 , and in the following year its citadel and ramparts were demolished. The Treaty of Utrecht (1713) once more gave
8084-515: Was established on a plot bought by Russia in 1867 on the hill of Caucade, at a time when the Russian colony had an important role in the French Riviera . 3,000 Russians, including the descendants of Russian immigrants and refugees after the October Revolution and the members of Royal families, are buried at the cemetery. This includes Galitzine , Naryshkin , Obolensky , Volkonsky , Tsereteli and Gagarin families. The cemetery chapel
8178-645: Was extensive urban renewal, including many new constructions. These included the convention centre, theatres, new thoroughfares and expressways. The arrival of the Pieds-Noirs , refugees from Algeria after 1962 independence, also gave the city a boost and somewhat changed the make-up of its population and traditional views. By the late 1980s, rumors of political corruption in the city government surfaced; and eventually formal accusations against Jacques Médecin forced him to flee France in 1990. Later arrested in Uruguay in 1993, he
8272-410: Was extradited back to France in 1994, convicted of several counts of corruption and associated crimes and sentenced to imprisonment. On 16 October 1979, a landslide and an undersea slide caused two tsunamis that hit the western coast of Nice; these events killed between 8 and 23 people. In February 2001, European leaders met in Nice to negotiate and sign what is now the Treaty of Nice , amending
8366-553: Was fiercely in favour of the union of Nice with Italy, stands in the centre of the square. The recent rebuilding of the area to accommodate the new tramway line gave mostly the entire square to pedestrians. The architecture is in line with the Turin model, which was the norm of urban renewal throughout the entire realm of the House of Savoy. It is a crossroads between the Vieux Nice (old town) and
8460-604: Was first called the Camin dei Anglès (the English Way) by the Niçois in their native dialect Nissart . In 1823, the promenade was named La Promenade des Anglais by the French, a name that would stick after the annexation of Nice by France in 1860. The Hotel Negresco on the Promenade des Anglais was named after Henri Negresco who had the palatial hotel constructed in 1912. In keeping with
8554-538: Was francized into "Dupont"). Italian-language newspapers in Nice were banned. In 1861, La Voce di Nizza was closed (temporarily reopened during the Niçard Vespers), followed by Il Diritto di Nizza , closed in 1871. In 1895 it was the turn of Il Pensiero di Nizza , accused of irredentism. Many journalists and writers from Nice wrote in these newspapers in Italian. Among these are Enrico Sappia, Giuseppe André, Giuseppe Bres, Eugenio Cais di Pierlas and others. In 1900,
8648-412: Was still a small town; the department had fewer than 200,000 inhabitants. However, the population grew quickly from 300,000 at the beginning of the 20th century to over a million. The population is aging because of the number of retirees who move to the coast. The population is now concentrated in the urban region that includes Antibes , Cannes , Grasse , Nice, and Menton , and which constitutes 90% of
8742-557: Was the case in the winter of 2004–2005 when the city of Nice woke up with a few centimetres of snow, often creating traffic problems. More recently, in February 2010, more than 10 centimetres (3.9 in) of snow was measured in Cannes and nearly 30 centimetres (12 in) in the Grasse region. In the north of the department the climate in the Alps is mountainous, and there is decent snow cover from end of November until late April. Alpes-Maritimes
8836-423: Was unquestionably Italian. Politically, the liberals of Nice and the partisans of Garibaldi also appreciated very little Napoleonic authoritarianism. Elements on the right (aristocrats) as on the left (Garibaldians) therefore wanted Nice to return to Italy. Savoy was also transferred to the French crown by similar means. In 1871, during the first free elections in the County, the pro-Italian lists obtained almost all
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