History Of Nice
Nice has a rich and interesting history. It was settled approximately 400,000 years ago and the present day site of Terra Amata shows evidence of the early construction of houses.
Roman Nice
On construction of Cemenelum, present day Cimiez, in the 1st century BC, the Romans made this new settlement the provincial capital. Cimiez remained the capital for many centuries until continued infiltrations by Germanic tribes and the Muslim Saracens between the 3rd and 10th centuries forced the inhabitants towards the sea, thus creating Nikaia, what was to become Nice.
The Muslims were eventually driven out of eastern Provence by the Count of Provence in 974 AD, and Provence joined the Roman Empire in the early 10th century. Provence would then be taken by the House of Anjou in the 14th century and then the House of Savoy.
French Unrest
The following 400 years saw Nice change hands again many times, with Louis XIV of France ruling from 1706 to 1713 and the new French Republic controlling Nice at the end of the century for a further 22 years. The French lost Nice again to the Sardinians on Napoleon's downfall, although Italy gave it up in return for France helping them rid the Austrians from northern Italy.
Tourist Destination
Nice became a tourist destination in the 19th century, about the same time that the county returned to French rule. Tourism became the city's main economy and the city attracted the wealthy classes including Queen Victoria, Van Gogh and a slew of English aristocrats who would bask in the mild winter climate and transform the seafront with a sparking promenade and many fine houses. New railways and roads were built during this time to make Nice one of the most accessible and fastest growing cities in Europe.
Modern Times
The Italians occupied Nice during WWII, yet it wasn't long before the tourists flooded back in, particularly with the coming of the jet age during the 1960s and '70s. Today, Nice is a very rich city and one of the Côte d'Azur's most sought after holiday destinations.
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