Attraction
Promenade des Anglais
Nice's seafront avenue curves for almost seven kilometres around the Baie des Anges, lined with palms, pebble beaches and the city's famous blue chairs.
Castle Hill (Colline du Château)
A wooded hilltop park between the old town and the port, with free entry, an artificial waterfall and the classic view over the Baie des Anges.
At a glance
- Type
- Hilltop park and viewpoint
- Area
- Vieux Nice, Nice, France
- Official site
- nice.fr
Good to know
- Free entry
- Waterfall
- Children's play area
- Public toilets
- Snack kiosks
- Picnics allowed
- Dogs allowed
Why we recommend it
Castle Hill, or the Colline du Château, is the rocky headland that closes the eastern end of the Baie des Anges and separates the old town from the port. It is where Nice began, and today it is a free public park of 19.3 hectares with the best-known view in the city, from a belvedere 92 metres above the rooftops.
Greek settlers from Massalia, today's Marseille, founded a trading post called Nikaia here to trade with the local Ligurians, and a castle occupied the summit for around a thousand years. Archaeologists have excavated parts of the medieval site, including a cemetery, and the remains can still be seen on the summit. Louis XIV later had the fortress razed, and little of it remains above ground. In 1882 the city took over the hill and turned it into a public promenade, and the park is part of the area inscribed by UNESCO as Nice, Winter Resort Town of the Riviera.
The park is a maze of shaded paths, pines and terraces. Several viewpoints look west along the Promenade des Anglais and over the roofs of Vieux Nice, east over the port, and north to the hills and the Pre-Alps behind the city. In the shady undergrowth there is an artificial waterfall that cools the air on hot days. Families will find a recently redesigned play area of 1,600 square metres with inclusive equipment and a wooden castle, a spider-web climbing frame for children over six and a meadow for ball games. There are public toilets, two snack kiosks and space for picnics, and dogs are allowed.
Entry is free. The park opens daily at 08:30 and closes earlier in winter than in summer, so check the city's page if you plan an evening visit. The climb from the seafront is by steps and sloping paths, which is part of the fun but takes some effort in the heat. Morning light is good for photographs of the bay, while late afternoon suits the view towards the port. Allow an hour to walk around, or longer for a picnic.
Paths climb from Rue des Ponchettes at the end of the Promenade, from the old town and from the port side via Montée Montfort. Afterwards, walk down into Vieux Nice for the Cours Saleya market and Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate, or descend to the port for lunch by the water.
Castle Hill (Colline du Château) FAQs
Is Castle Hill free?
Yes, entry to the Parc de la Colline du Château is free.
What are the opening hours?
The park opens daily from 08:30. It closes at 18:00 in winter and at 20:00 in summer.
Is there still a castle?
No. The fortress was razed on the orders of Louis XIV and only remains survive. The name refers to the hill's history.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. There is a redesigned inclusive play area, a climbing structure for children over six and a meadow for ball games.
Can you bring a picnic?
Yes, picnics are allowed and there are also two snack kiosks in the park.
Is the park accessible?
The tourism office lists it as accessible for wheelchair users and buggies, although the walk up from the seafront involves slopes and steps.
Are dogs allowed?
Yes, animals are accepted in the park.
How long should I allow?
About an hour for the main viewpoints and the waterfall, more if you stop for a picnic.