Nice

Learn French in Nice and discover the Côte d'Azur with Azurlingua !

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A little bit of history regarding the term "Côte d'Azur
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The term "Côte d'Azur" was not used until the last years of the nineteenth century. It was a poet, Stephen Liegeard, that coined the term in 1887. Since then, the term has paved the way for similar expressions (la côte vermeille, la côte d'amour).
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400 000 years ago, the first "Niçois",

they settled in the area of Terra-Amata and hunted elephants.

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In the year of 300BC, the Massaliotes were victorious over the Barbares and founded NIKAIA,

a trading post by the sea, on the slopes of the castle. From before 13BC, the Romans built a second city, CEMENELUM, neighbouring NIKAIA, situated on the slope of Cimiez. The ruins suggest it had a population of 15 000 to 20 000 inhabitants.

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NICE was placed under the protection of the Comté de Savoie, Amédée VII

Nice became a major defense system for the Comtes de Savoie against the French and their allies. In 1543 the Turkish fleet retreated thanks to the courage of the people of Nice, symbolized by Catherine SEGURANE. The story goes that Catherine Ségurane had shown her bare behind to the Turks who subsequently retreated out of the sheer ugliness of it. The seventeenth century marked an explosion of Baroque art.
 
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The loyalty of the Duke of Savoie, later the King of Sardinia in 1720,

Nice was invaded by the French Revolutionary army in 1792 and the Alpes-Maritimes region was created in 1793. Given back to the King of Sardinia in 1814, Nice became part of France in 1860.
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A departing point for new economic development

Construction of roads, the arrival of railroads, spectacular emergence of demography and urbanisation encouraged tourism sector development. Nice and its region became the Côte d'Azur, which is now often painted and photographed.
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Nice is proud of its tumultuous past

The city has preserved its heritage and language (Nissart) and preserved its food culture. The city still celebrates traditional festials such as Carnaval, les Batailles de Fleurs, la Fête des Cougourdons, la Fête des Mais, le renouvellement des Voeux, la Fête de la Vigne, la Fête de la Saint-Pierre and la Fête de la Saint Jean.

Main attractions: Old town - Flower market (cours Saleya) - Promenade des Anglais - Colline du Château - the beaches - Historic monuments (Palais Lascaris, Russian church...).