Castle Hill in Nice

Of all the places that are essential to see in Nice, there are two attractions that are a must.  It’s hard to ignore them because they are both in the open-air and very visible. One of them is Castle Hill, with its ruins of a defensive walls, an artificial waterfall, and a elevator built into the rock. The second is, of course, the Promenade des Anglais.

Castle Hill in Nice (Colline du Château) dominates the city and divides the seaside part of Nice into two parts: the eastern part with the port, and the western part with the Old Town of Nice. The 92 m high hill offers views from all sides, and tourists take the most recognizable photos of Nice from here.

Castle Hill at a glance

• What: a park on a 92 m hill between the Old Town and the port, with the most famous view of Nice.
• Price: free, including the lift.
• Getting up: the lift or the stairs at the end of the Promenade des Anglais, or paths from the Old Town and the port.
• Don’t miss: the viewpoint above the waterfall, the view of the Old Port on the other side, and the cemeteries.
• How long: about an hour and a half.

See also our Nice travel guide.

In 4th century BC there was a Greek settlement called Nikaia situated here, while the first mention of the castle and cathedral dates back to the 11th century when these buildings were the center of the town on the hill. Though it can be seen on numerous historical engravings, the castle itself was unfortunately demolished in 1706 at the request of Louis XIV after it had been handed over to the French a year earlier. Later on, a place for a cemetery was made on the hill, and a large municipal park with a restaurant was built. Part of the park is an archaeological site, where you can see the foundations of the medieval cathedral.

To the top of Castle Hill in Nice, by lift or stairs

There are several possibilities for getting to the top of Castle Hill. I recommend choosing the staircase right next to the Promenade des Anglais, or the lift that is available in the same place. The elevator is free and usually runs from 10AM to 6PM. It looks old and run-down, but it works. It is worth knowing that it was built into the place where a well supplying the former castle used to be. By the way, a small but useful digression: elevator in French is “ascenseur.” In Nice, signs with this word point you to the lift, and in Monaco to the many public lifts of the principality.

The building that looks like a huge barrel just by the stairs is the Bellanda Tower. It was built in 1826 and is a reconstruction of one of the bastions of the former castle. The French composer Hector Berlioz lived in it. Here he wrote, among others, the famous “King Lear” overture.

On Castle Hill in Nice it is worth seeing:

• the artificial waterfall that was built at the end of the 19th century;
• the panorama of Nice from the observation deck, which is located above the waterfall;
• the ruins of the cathedral in the center;
• the view of the Old Port of Nice on the other side of the hill.

After you’ve seen everything, it is worth going to the cemetery. You will find the path to the cemetery on the port side, just behind the public toilet (head towards the land with the sea behind you). After descending the stairs (about 200 m), you will reach a high wall, behind which is the cemetery. Now just turn left to reach its gate.

Being on Castle Hill, it’s worth looking at your watch so you don’t get scared. Every day, punctually at noon, you can hear a cannon shot in Nice. The especially loud rumble can be heard on Castle Hill. According to the story, Sir Thomas Coventry-More, firing his cannon, notified his wife to come back from the market for lunch. Today it is a loud firecracker rather than a cannon, and on April 1 it is fired at 11am or 1pm as a joke.

There are two historic cemeteries on Castle Hill in Nice. First, you pass the Jewish cemetery, and then you enter the Catholic cemetery. There are the tombs of aristocrats and famous people, among others the grave of Emil Jellinek, the creator of the Mercedes brand (which was his daughter’s name). After visiting the necropolis, you can go down the stairs leading to the Old Town, where you will pass nearby to the fish market.

Visiting Castle Hill: practical tips

The park is open every day from the morning until the evening, later in summer, and it is a good place for a picnic in the shade, with a playground for children and public toilets. Wear comfortable shoes: the paths are steep and partly stony. The most beautiful light over the Bay of Angels is in the late afternoon; then go down to the Promenade des Anglais for the sunset. Castle Hill is part of my one day in Nice walk, between the Old Town and the Promenade, and you will find it on our map of Nice.