The Castle Hill often comes up when talking about the city of Nice. But do tourists or even the locals of Nice know its origin? If you don’t know it yet, here is its story… We were helped by Tom Obry, “NiceStorique” on Instagram: a blog where he explains with the utmost precision everything there is to know about the history and culture of our metropolis.
Castle Hill gets its name from the very first fortifications dating back to the 11th century. By the 15th century, the city of Nice fortified the place to make it a symbol of military political power in the 16th century. The castle present on the site at that time served extensively and resisted during the Ottoman siege in 1543, as well as during the siege by Louis XIV from 1691 to 1705.
Unfortunately, as significant as the castle was, it was destroyed in January 1706 by Louis XIV: “He wanted to take away from the city its only means of defense. It was a way to get rid of a symbol of power. Louis XIV stated ‘so that nothing remains.’ The people of Nice found themselves with a hill without a castle, hence its current name,” explains Tom Obry.
Did you know?
There are several very interesting anecdotes to know about the famous Castle Hill. Tom Obry shared some fun facts with us: “The elevator used to go up to the top of the hill was once a very large well. It was used to collect water and supply the city during the Nazi occupation in 1943. You will also notice that when passing through the tunnels to reach the elevator, there is a door. This door leads to a staircase, which leads to old remains of the former Casino of the Promenade des Anglais. Unfortunately, these galleries are closed to the public.”
Moreover, Castle Hill houses the only remaining vestige of the Niçoise Arc de Triomphe. Indeed, it can be found on a signboard at the Nietzsche Terrace, which is the highest point of the hill.
Right in the center of Nice!
But then why do both locals of Nice and tourists from all over the world climb the 500 steps of this hill? Well, it’s quite simple: it’s a viewpoint offering a 360-degree view of the entire city and the Mediterranean Sea.
The hill encompasses 19 hectares of historic parkland and greenery. The main reason is the tranquility, calm, and romance of this place, even though it is right in the heart of the city. It provides a vantage point to gain perspective on Nice.
