The History of a Coastline

Exhibition at the Centre du Patrimoine - 14 rue Jules-Gilly
Mondays 1pm to 5pm / Tuesdays to Fridays 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm
Free entry

The Bay of Nice is world-famous for the quality of its landscape and for its legendary Promenade des Anglais. This shoreline is the result of a dual process. On the one hand, the action of nature, which has gradually filled in the Gulf of Nice and reclaimed land from the sea, offering new prospects for the people of Nice. On the other, from the mid-nineteenth century onwards, man gradually developed the shoreline, sometimes even building on the water, and eliminating obstacles (rivers, valleys, rocks right down to the sea).
This exhibition offers an insight into these transformations.

Label Nice Historic Hotels

The Metropolitan Tourism Office and the Nice World Heritage Centre have created a labelling programme for the historic hotels that are characteristic of Nice's inclusion on the World Heritage List.
The programme has two aims: to offer visitors an immersive experience of the ‘Riviera winter resort’, and to encourage the current owners and managers to play an active role in developing and preserving these hotels.
To be eligible, a hotel must be located in Nice, have been operating since before 1939, and be currently classified as a hotel by Atout France. A committee of experts has been set up to select hotels that truly showcase their built heritage (inside and out) and history. This committee comprises representatives from the Regional Department of Cultural Affairs, the State Architect for Heritage, the Local Hotels Union, the City of Nice, and the Nice Côte d'Azur Metropolitan Tourism Office.

Nine of the first 15 applicants were awarded the label in 2024. Applications are now open for the next session!

Gold level

Hôtel Le Negresco *****

Hôtel Gounod ****

Hôtel Villa Rivoli ***

Silver level

Hôtel Boscolo *****

Hôtel Westminster ****

Hôtel Vendôme ***

Bronze level

Hôtel Masséna****

Hôtel Le Grimaldi ****

Hôtel Petit Palais ****

NICE CÔTE d'AZUR application

Discover the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Nice with the NICE CÔTE d'AZUR app.
Thanks to this creation of the Nice Côte d'Azur Metropolitan Tourist Office, immerse yourself in the universal history and outstanding beauty of Nice!
Available on App Store
Available on Google Play

Nice World Heritage signage

Thanks to a partnership between the Mission Nice Patrimoine Mondial and the Nice Côte d'Azur Tourism Office, 152 nails emblazoned with the UNESCO World Heritage emblem have been installed within the perimeter of the “Nice, Winter Resort Town of the Riviera” property inscribed in 2021, to mark this major heritage site. On the most emblematic sites, 6 totems and 5 bilingual plaques were also installed.

These points of interest are linked to the official guided tours, as well as to the smartphone city tour apps, which can be found using the QRcode on the plaques and totems, as well as on the NCA Tourism Office website.

Genealogy of a forgotten princely resort in the Mantega district

By Fanny Lelandais, published in the Revue Archéologique des Alpes du Sud (ARCHEAM).

This fine article traces the history of Prince Maurice of Savoy's former property in the Mantega district. This country house was built for him in the 17th century. After being transformed into a hotel, it is now a condominium. Thanks to the vigilance of one of the owners, but also to the passionate research of Fanny Lelandais, a member of the Nice Côte d'Azur Archaeology Department, this heritage has been revealed! It is now presented with other Nice resorts of this period, such as Villa des Arènes, Villa Arson, Villa de Châteauneuf and many others.

See ARCHEAM F. Lelandais / Nice Genealogy of a forgotten princely resort in the Mantega district (French version only).

Maintain or restore your heritage

Projects for the upcoming season?

The Practical Guide will help you better understand the characteristics of Nice’s heritage and the best practices for preservation.

Discover the Practical Guide - French

When writers talk about Nice...

Literary perspectives

Crossed perspectives on Nice from the 18th to the 20th century
Our Literary Gallery begins!
A first selection of texts, travel memories, newspaper articles, essays, novels, diaries or correspondence to discover different perspectives on Nice, winter resort town of the Riviera.

Let's explore!

2023 : New photo collection

Do you like exploring Nice’s resort heritage: the buildings and their ornamentation, the exotic gardens ?
Share your favorites by clicking on «Your urban explorations»

Let's explore !

Inauguration of the Nice World Heritage Local Commission, November 24th 2022

Chaired by of the prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes and the Mayor of Nice, this commission which brings together the services of the State, the City and the Nice Cote Azur Metropolitan Authority as well as experts and associations dedicated to heritage, met at the Palais Préfectoral.
At the head of the governance system, the commission can decide every year on the strategy and the intangible principles which will allow to protect and enhance the urban settlement of Nice inscribed on the World Heritage List.

First anniversary of Nice's inclusion in UNESCO's World Heritage List

27th of July 2021

« Nice, winter resort town of the Riviera » included on the UNESCO World Heritage List

During the 44th extended session of the World Heritage Committee organized by UNESCO in cooperation with the host country, The People’s Republic of China, in Fuzhou, « Nice, winter resort town of the Riviera » inscribed on the World Heritage List.

Nice, the birth of a city of “promenades”

The first urban promenades of Nice, from the river to the Promenade du Paillon.

Watch the video

Are you fascinated by the World Heritage Site of Nice listed by UNESCO? Are you captivated by the interior decorations or the details on the facades ? Share your favorite pictures on our site!
Your photos will participate to our heritage inventory and will show the exceptional richness of this urban landscape, shaped by cosmopolitan winter tourism between 1760 and 1940.

Download your photos