On July 27, during the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee held online from Fuzhou in China, Nice was inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List as “the city of the winter resort. of Riviera ”. A “pride” commented the mayor Christian Estrosi, who had made it a goal from his first mandate. But what does this inscription mean? What areas does it concern? And what will she change?
Nice, the capital of the Riviera winter resort, yes, but more?
“From the end of the 18th century, the city was the first site on the coast, known until then not very hospitable and difficult to access, on which a winter resort activity has developed,” the city said. “It was therefore in Nice that the attractions of what was to become the” Riviera “in the later sense of the term were first discovered: the particular picturesque landscapes resulting from the proximity of the mountain and the sea, the mild winter climate, the exoticism of the vegetation and even, to a certain degree, the singularity of the native ways of life ”.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, Nice then became “winter capital” with, in 1900, more than 150,000 residents, English, Russians, but also from all over Europe and the Americas, during this season. “Nice invented winter tourism,” says Rudy Salles, deputy chairman of the Nice Côte d’Azur metropolitan tourism office. The mild winter climate and its exceptional setting made it one of the privileged destinations in all of Europe before also becoming a place for summer holidays. The Tsar of Russia was staying at the Imperial Hotel, Queen Victoria of England was staying at the Hotel Regina, all these meetings from around the world have marked the architecture of the city. “
More than 500 hectares in a classified area
The two and a half centuries of tourist activities have shaped the landscape. 522 hectares were then classified. “It’s remarkable,” comments the deputy chairman of the tourist office. Usually, in cities, it is the monuments that are recognized as Unesco heritage. There, we can see a whole part of the city. “In this area, the Promenade des Anglais, Mont Boron, the hills of Cimiez but also the town planning, the vegetation as well as the architectural heritage of the hotels and villas or pleasure buildings which” express the cosmopolitan character of the resort winter ”, specifies the town hall.
And after ?
Le Havre is also one of the cities registered on the UNESCO heritage list since 2005. For this commune of Seine-Maritime, “tourist traffic has increased by 40%”, indicates Rudy Salles. For the latter, recognition from Unesco will make it possible to develop “quality tourism, which is established throughout the year and which proves that it is pleasant to live in Nice from January 1 to December 31”. According to him, there will be no change in the summer season which is already “complete”.
The president warns all the same. “This title can also be withdrawn if we do not respect the classified heritage”. Thus, for all urban developments within the zone, building and demolition permits will have to obtain the assent of the architect of the Buildings of France.
“This title is extremely positive for the image of the city internationally, particularly in terms of economic attractiveness,” continues Rudy Salles. For the people of Nice, it is also another way of looking at their city, which they may not have suspected. They are also assured that no equipment will disfigure their landscape. This distinction also represents a peaceful city, therefore respectful of the environment, with less nuisance, whether olfactory or sound. We have everything to gain ”.