Nature / Park Sights in Nice — 11 of Our Favourites

The footpaths that weave in and out of the forested areas loop round, sometimes doubling back on themselves, so it can be quite confusing trying to find your way around. Just enjoy the wander and see what you stumble across!

The park is built on a steep rock that towers over the bay of Nice on one side and the port on the other; there are various vantage points where you can take stunning photographs that look like they should be on a postcard. Come up at dusk to admire one of the best sunsets around.

One of the parks most impressive features is the large waterfall that cascades down over a short cliff; you can walk up to the base of it and feel the cool spray or stand at the top and watch the torrent come crashing down from the viewing balcony.

The park has a safe playground for children with climbing frames to suit all ages; it is fenced in and there are benches nearby for parents to relax while they keep an eye on the kids. Large lawns dotted with shady trees make excellent picnic spots and you can pick up fresh baguettes and local cheese from the old town on your way up.

There are two cafés up here, both serve reasonably priced snacks, hot meals, ice creams and drinks and have sunny outdoor seating. One has a children’s play area nearby, while the other is more peaceful and is located near the old castle wall where you can still see a dent from a cannonball strike. Neither has toilets though, you have to pay a small charge to use the park facilities which are clean and well-kept (if a little hidden).

The summit of Colline du Chateau is at 93m and you can walk up either from the old town of Nice, from the eastern end of Promenade des Anglais or from the port area. There is also an elevator which you can access at Quai Rauba Capeu at the far end of the Promenade des Anglais just before the road swings up and round into the port.

Public transport comes courtesy of the little white tourist train that includes the park on it’s tour of Nice - you can pick up the train from the Promenade des Anglais.

A large animal reserve where over 500 native European breeds can be seen in their natural surroundings.

Enjoy guided walking safari tours, horse drawn wagon rides, or even see the animals at dawn and dusk on an overnight stay in the reserve's on-site accommodation. The reserve also carries out important ecological work with rare species, which you can learn more about at the centre.

Open to the public from 1 March to the first weekend of January. To respect the high ecological standards established by the scientific team, the number of daily visitors is limited and guided visits are preferably booked in advance. Guided safaris start at around 20€, with discount prices for teenagers and children.

Home to chamois, ibex and mouflons in the mountains, red deer, roe deer and wild boars in the forests, and black grouse, golden eagle and the bearded vulture. There are around 30 wolves in the park. In the valleys you will find gorges and waterfalls, grassy plains and dales.

There are some remains of historical human habitation, and villages are also dotted throughout the Park. The Lac d'Allos is a highlight - a beautiful blue glacial lake that is Europe's largest natural high altitude lake at 2226 metres.

There are plenty of trails to explore, both in summer and winter. Several ski resorts are open during the winter. Other activities include mountain biking, rock climbing, horse riding and whitewater sports. There are information points in Tende, St Martine Vesubie & Valberg (open year round), and other tourist information points open seasonally.

The protected National Park area covers an area of 14,000 hectares where you can get both guided or self guided tours to learn more about the area. The cliffs and mountains rise steeply from the coast, the deep red colour of the rock comes from Rhyolite, an igneous rock formed in the Paleozoic era. If you decide to take a walk to one of the higher peaks then each has its own attractions, and most have impressive views stretching far out along the coast and across the Mediterranean.

There is a coastal road which follows the southern edge of l'Esterel National Park and could be considered to one of the most scenic coast roads in France. Small coves are formed as the cliffs reach the sea, with more jagged rocks emerging dramatically from the sea.

Originally there was a river of the same name that ran through this area; the more serpentine of the paved paths apparently follows where it used to flow. The river separated Old Nice from the more modern part of town but after a series of serious floods it was gradually filled in and built over, being used for markets and trade fairs until the bus station was built in the 1970’s.

The Promenade begins in Place Massena with the Miroir d’Eau (mirror of water), a 3000m² paved section dotted with water jets; sometimes they puff out a gentle cooling mist that is pure relief on a hot day, sometimes they shoot fountains of water high into the air - they can switch at a moment’s notice, so walk amongst them at your own risk! They are a huge hit with children who love running in and out of the jets and shrieking with laughter every time they change.

Further down the Promenade is a children’s play area with fantastical weird wooden creatures that they can climb and swing on. The ground is cushioned and covered with fake grass, while a gated fence prevents them from straying into the road.

The last section of the Promenade is a long stretch of lawn lined with olive trees; this section is the most peaceful and where you’re most likely to find office workers enjoying a packed lunch or elderly locals reading the newspaper.

The Promenade has paved walkways weaving through it and plenty of benches along both sides. With over 1000 trees and 50,000 plants, it has been planned so that there are always some botanical varieties in bloom all year round. There are also a few shaded areas with wooden armchairs near to the public toilets and tourist information desk.

Entry to the Promenade du Paillon is completely free and opening hours are from 07:00-23:00 in summer and 07:00-21:00 in winter.

Cycling is not permitted in the park but a cycle path runs along the outside of it on Avenue Felix Faure and there are Véloblue stations at either end if you want to ride there and park up nearby.

There is a path that will take you to all the corners of the park, which has more than 500 centenary olive trees, as well as oak and pine trees. There are also historic buildings in the park, such as the 1740 Sorguebelle Villa at the entrance, the Bellevue Villa, former mansion of the Estienne d'Orves count covered with trompe-l'oeil friezes, or the Vicina Villa, which was the count's painting studio.

From the top, there are wonderful views of the city and out across the Mediterranean over the Anges Bay. There is also a children's park. It's a great place to escape to for a walk, lunch with a view or a kick around.

The park is neither one of the largest nor one of the oldest parks in Nice as it was only recently built in 1971 on the property of a former local viscount, Achille Georges Vigier.

The greenery consists mainly of Mediterranean species, palm trees and sundry exotic specimens. Most importantly, the first Phoenix Canariensis was planted on this site.

Opens at 08:00. Closing time depends on the time of year (19:00 in April, May and September; 20:00 from June to August; 18:00 from October to March)

The park has great views over the Baie des Anges and over towards Villefranche.

Paths run through the nature park and if you are lucky, you may spot some local wildlife - migratory and sedentary birds and small mammals (don't worry, no bears here!).

The rich soil conditions also give rise to a wonderful variety of plants and flowers.

From 1st April - 31st October: 7:30-20:00, 1st November - 31st March: 08:00-18:00.

In 10 hectares of natural beauty, this is a great and informative day out. The park is divided into 2 main areas. One tells the story of the relationship between farmers and wolves through audiovisual shows, while the other allows you to see the wolves.

There is a gift shop in the park and a snack bar.

Open in July & August from 10:00 to 18:00, and in May, June and September from 10:00 to 17:00. Open during some weekends the rest of the year.

The park itself is home to a forest that covers 57 hectares of Mediterranean plants, including olive trees and Alesso pine. Like many parks in the region, it is a “Parc Zéro Pesticide”, meaning that no pesticides are used to by their groundskeepers.

If you’ve had enough of the beach, the Parc du Mont Boron is an ideal escape from the hustle and heat of Nice. 11km of footpaths allow you to explore the forest and take you up to Fort Alban - a 16th century castle that is impressively well-preserved. You can’t go in unless you are part of an organised group, but you can walk all around the walls and go up the stone steps to the front door. Contact the Centre de Patrimonie (+33 (0) 4 92 00 41 90) to book a place on a guided tour if you want to see inside.

Shaded picnic areas with plenty of space for children to throw a frisbee make the park popular with families, while retired locals can often be found playing leisurely games of boules (or petanque, we’ve not yet figured out the difference) on one of the nearby pitches.

For the more energetic there is a 1.5km fitness trail that weaves through the forest past exercise stations that are designed to put you through your paces with pull-ups, sit-ups and other resistance moves. If you really want to punish yourself you can warm up by running to the park via one of the trails that come up from Nice or Villefranche-Sur-Mer; the following paths all lead to the park:

• Escalier de Verre (Avenue des Hespéride, between Nice and Villefranche-Sur-Mer)
• Sentier des Agaves (Avenue Pierrette, just off Boulevard Princesse Grace de Monaco at Cap de Nice)
• Chemin Tranquille (Route Forestière, just before Avenue des Hespéride)
• Chemin des Crêtes du Mont Boron (Boulevard du Mont Boron, just before Plateau du Mont Boron)

If you’d rather take it easy then hop on the number bus 14, which will take you directly to Mont Boron. There is also free parking that can be accessed via the Route Forestiere or Avenue des Hesperide.

Parc du Mont Boron has no café, shops or toilets so make sure you are well-prepared before you arrive.

About 4 km up the deep gorges, the Cascade de Courmes (waterfall) comes down over the rocks and then spills over large mossy boulders into the pool, 40m below the top. A spectacular sight!