Christian Estrosi inaugurated, on Thursday, November 23, the pétanque court of the Nice Municipal Police, at the bottom of the Castle Hill.
Proud of its municipal police, the largest in terms of staff in France with 150 officers, the city of Nice wanted to offer them a true “place of conviviality”. Last January, when the mayor presented his New Year’s greetings to the 550 officers involved in the security of the residents, he shared this idea with them.
“This place will allow you to gather and share moments of conviviality outside of work,” explained Christian Estrosi, emphasizing that “among all the municipal services, one of those where you find the most spirit of solidarity, fraternity, and support is the Municipal Police.”
After rehabilitation work, the Clos Fleury, hidden at the foot of Castle Hill, accessible from Montfort ascent, is ready to welcome the public again. From now on, this pétanque court is reserved for the municipal police of Nice.
This space is open to retirees as well as those still working and all the security forces of the Nice Côte d’Azur metropolis. “We have customs officers, gendarmes, and national police officers as members,” informs Jean-Michel Truglio, president of this pétanque court. Barely opened, the club already counts 71 members. Its honorary president is Daniel Véran, and its treasurer is Jean-Luc Angelini.
A courtyard inaugurated for the first time 53 years ago
It is a first, but it is not entirely the first life of this rather unique place, completely sheltered from the city by abundant vegetation. The Clos Fleury was first called “Les Pères tranquilles,” a nickname given to war veterans.
Jean-Michel Truglio, former director of the Nice municipal police now retired, tells us: “This is a courtyard that was inaugurated for the first time in 1970, 53 years ago, by André Bonny, then deputy to Jacques Médecin, for the war veterans.”
And it later became Le Clos Fleury, in honor of Madame la Colonel Fleury, a former resistance fighter. In 1989, it was inaugurated again, with Christian Estrosi already present at the time as a young municipal councilor and sports deputy to Jacques Médecin.
Modernization work
“The pétanque courts are a specificity of Nice,” emphasizes the mayor. Nice has 72 scattered throughout its neighborhoods.
Therefore, some work was necessary to spruce up and modernize a run-down place unused for a few years, turning it into a warm venue. Brand new restrooms and showers replace the “Turkish toilets.”
The large hall is now equipped with a false ceiling and better lighting, and the kitchen has been completely redone. The outdoor space has been renovated to allow pétanque to be practiced in a pleasant setting.
