Castle Hill

The Castle hill

A historic stop on the Nice audio-guided tour, it was on this hill overlooking the sea that the Phocaean Greeks settled, the first inhabitants of ancient Nice, then called Nikaia, which means in ancient Greek she through whom victory comes.

The cradle of Nice

At that time, Nice was already much coveted by its neighbours and constantly fought against the Ligurians. Surrounded, the Greeks asked the Romans for help, and so Nice became Roman. At the fall of the Roman Empire, its position as a border city forced it to protect itself, and it was within a citadel, on this hill, that Nice developed.

What to see

The castle that crowned the hill has now disappeared, but the park that replaced it offers the finest panoramas of Nice, over old Nice, the Bay of Angels and the port. Waterfall, viewpoints and ancient remains make this hill an unmissable place, the cradle of the city.

Practical information

The Castle hill overlooks old Nice and the port, reached on foot, by stairs or by the free lift. Freely accessible, the park can be discovered according to its hours, to be checked depending on the season.

Who first settled on the Castle hill ?

The Phocaean Greeks, the first inhabitants of ancient Nice, then called Nikaia.

What does the name Nikaia mean ?

She through whom victory comes, in ancient Greek, at the origin of the name of Nice.