The prototypical history behind the Promenade Des Anglia

• Admin France
• January 10, 2023
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The most famous stretch of seafront in Nice – if not France then it’s the vast paved Promenade des Anglais which gets its name from the English ex-pat patrons who paid for it in 1822. It runs for the whole 4km sweep of the Baie des Agnes with a dedicated lane for cyclists and skaters; if you fancy joining them, you can get skates, scooters, and bikes on rent from a nearby Roller station.

In Nice, we can also call it Prom but still its full name is the Promenade des Anglais which is a walkway of the English. Its name comes from the English aristocrats who came to Nice in the 18^th century to enjoy the health benefits of the local climate. At that point in time, the shoreline was not so regular, and because the lords of their wives wanted to walk comfortably, a seaside promenade was built. The English names of the hotels nearby, such as Westminster and West End, still bear witness to the influence of the islanders on this place.

The ex-pats began the custom of walking up and down the beautiful coastline, taking in the scenery, and were keen to build a formal walkway. There was one particularly harsh winter in 1820, after two bad harvests when many beggars came to the town in search of work, money, and food. The Anglican Church had built up a very large congregation at that point and believed that – instead of offering them handouts – they should be allowed to work for a living. They basically believed that handouts were bad for morale and that it was better to work for money. The Reverend Lewis Way, who was very senior in the Church, was staying in Nice at that time on his way to Lebanon and paid for the construction of the route. It was earlier known as the “Camin Deis Angles” in local dialect but was later rechristened La Promenade des Anglais in 1860. Since then the town has taken it under their wing and extended and developed it. Now it is used for many cultural events such as the Nice carnival.

Promenade des Anglais Location

Why is Promenade des Anglais the main tourist attraction in Nice?

• The Promenade des Anglais is also where many events are organized. It is here that part of the famous Nice Carnival takes place, as well as sporting events, exhibitions, and meetings. It also leads to many interesting places and attractions in Nice. It includes magnificent parks, museums, fashionable beaches, and of course, luxurious hotels and casinos. One of the most expensive hotels nearby is the Le Negresco hotel, in which Michael Jackson has stayed.
• From here you can also reach Castle hill and enter the Old Town of Nice. If you try going the other way, you will pass the Massena Museum, which is housed in a beautiful villa with a magnificent garden, further along, you will reach the Museum of Fine arts in Nice and of course, the airport. During the high season, most planes come into land just above the Bay of Angels. Emirates aircraft is especially low-flying.
• If you walk along the promenade you will also see a metal structure out in the water the height of the Mediterranean Palace hotel and casino. Basically, these are the remains of the impressive Casino De la Jetee-Promenade, which was built out over the water during the La Belle Époque period. Unfortunately, the building could not survive World War Second. It is often said in Nice that this building should be rebuilt, but it is not likely that such plans will be implemented any time soon.
• Very close to Castle hill, in front of Place Massena stands another huge metal construction, which is usually called toothpicks. This sculpture, by Bernar Venet, is called Neuf Lignes Oblique’s and commemorates the 150^th anniversary of the annexation of Nice by France. This is 30 m tall and is made up of nine poles separately growing from the ground, which merge at their tops. This monument symbolizes the nine regions that were joined to France in 1860. Also, it is worth mentioning that just a few meters away, in front of the Nice Opera House, there is a miniature of the Statue of Liberty.

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