Nice is a coastal town in the south of France, located between Marseille and Genoa on the Mediterranean coast. One of the world’s foremost tourist destinations, Nice is as remarkable for its many impressive natural features as it is for its cultural and historical attractions. Of particular note is the many town squares all over the city where tourists and local residents gather to organize performances and plays, or even just sit down to enjoy the afternoon breeze.
Residential Places in Nice
Nice enjoys a healthy influx of tourists throughout most of the year, but that does not mean that the city isn’t an ideal place to settle in for a longer period as well!
The villas and old country estate properties in the hills beyond the city can be quite expensive, but if you are willing to pay the price you will be rewarded by a luxurious private haven that you can call your own.
Far more affordable are the apartments that are located within the city itself, many of which are newly constructed and conveniently situated just a few minutes walk from the beach. For these types of accommodations, you can expect to pay around £85,000 to £90,000.
Their Culture and History
If you are interested in immersing yourself totally in the local culture of Nice, the Old Town district is worth a closer look. The area is characterized by narrow old streets and charming apartment buildings built in the Italianate style. It is admittedly not for everyone–particularly if you are after a more “touristy” location–but the prices are generally lower here than any other area in the city, and the area provides a unique glimpse into the local way of life.
While it is still possible to purchase some of the older properties, mostly from families who are eager to sell them off, the recent influx of property buyers in the area has made this task a little bit more difficult over the years. If you are looking to purchase property in the area, you may find it easier and more affordable to go for one of the newer apartment development projects.
Hospitals and Universities of Nice
Medical and health care services in Nice are generally top notch, although most attendants will only be able to converse in French. You may be able to find a doctor who can understand English, but it will be useful to learn a few phrases in French in case of any emergencies.
For such emergency medical cases, you can call the Hôpital St-Roch at 04 92 03 33 33 or you can call 0 801 850 101 for 24 hour doctor’s assistance. There is also a night pharmacy at 7 rue Masséna which you can call at 04 93 87 78 94, and for emergency dental care you can go to Hospital St Roch at 5 rue Pierre Dévoluy.
Some of the educational institutions that can be found in Nice are Université Pierre et Marie Curie, the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, the EDHEC Business School, WLE French Language Immersion Program (USD), the IPAG Business School, and the CERAM Sophia Antipolis – ESC Nice.
There are also several preparatory schools in the city that prepare students for eventual enrollment into to the Grandes Ecoles, such as the Ecole Normale Supérieure. The prep school in Nice is particularly outstanding, and is considered among the 10 best schools in the country.
Commercial Places in Nice
Since France is a country that is known worldwide for its culinary tradition, Nice is no exception. L’Escalinada, although located in one of the most tourist-frequented areas, enjoys a healthy mix of tourists and local residents, mainly because of its superb menu of local specialties. Cafe Turin is worth looking into if seafood is what you are after, and for pizza, you will want to check out the appropriately named La Pizza and Taverne Massèna.
Shopping is no less a rewarding experience, with specialty fashion boutiques and quaint market stores in equal abundance all over the city. Check out the Tartine et Chocolat for great clothing deals, and the Etam lingerie for the best in fashionable sleepwear.
Service Establishments of Nice
Owing to the lack of domestic oil production facilities in France, the country has had to depend on nuclear power for the majority of its electrical production. At present, up to 78% of the country’s electrical production comes from nuclear energy, with the rest being provided by hydroelectric plants, fossil fuel power generators that use coal and natural gas, and a small amount being provided by other means such as wind power and waste-to-energy conversion processes.
The Electricité de France or EDF is the largest electricity provider in the country and along with the Compagnie nationale du Rhône and Endesa provides electrical service to Nice and the rest of the country.
Embassies in Nice
For any diplomatic concerns you may have while in Nice, you can contact the office of the British Consulate-General in Marseille at 24 Avenue de Prado. You can reach them by telephone at (33) (4) 91 15 72 10 and fax them at (33) (4) 91 37 47 06. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 0900 to 1200 and then again at 1400 to 1700 local time.
You can also contact the British Embassy in Paris at 35 Rue du Faubourg St Honoré 75383 Paris Cedex 08. Their telephone numbers are (33) 1 44 51 31 00 and (33) 1 49 55 73 00 for the British Council and you can fax them at the following numbers:
(33) 1 44 51 32 88 for management inquiries,
(33) 1 44 51 34 01 for commercial concerns,
(33) 1 44 51 32 34 for press & communications related concerns,
(33) 1 44 51 34 85 for political and economic issues,
(33) 1 44 51 34 40 for defense and global issues and strategic threats,
(33) 1 44 51 31 27 for consular services,
(33) 1 44 51 31 28 for Visa related concerns, and
(33) 1 47 05 77 02 for the British Council.
You can also email them at webmaster.paris@fco.gov.uk or visit their website at http://www.amb-grandebretagne.fr/. Office hours are from Monday to Friday, 0930 to 1300 and then again at 1430 to 1700.
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