Nice bids to join UNESCO list
Côte d’Azur city preparing an application to have seafront Promenade des Anglais declared a World Heritage Site
THE PROMENADE des Anglais in Nice could become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The mayor, Christian Estrosi, has asked former culture minister Jean-Jacques Aillagon to prepare an application for the famous seafront area of the Cote D’Azur city.
Since it was created in the 19th century, tourists from around the world have walked along the promenade on the edge of the Baie des Anges.
It was the first urban development promoting seaside leisure, and was named in honour of the Victorian English visitors who visited the area in the winter and who inspired its creation.
Copacabana in Rio, the Malecon in Havana and Venice Beach in Los Angeles are all said to have copied the template of “La Prom”.
The application has to be filed with the French government, before being passed on to UNESCO.
There are currently 38 UNESCO World Heritage sites in France, including the episcopal city of Albi, Amiens Cathedral, the historical centre of Avignon, and the decorated caves of the Vézère Valley.
If the application is successful, the Promenade des Anglais will become the first UNESCO World Heritage site in Alpes-Maritimes.
The full list of France's World Heritage sites is available here, and you can watch a live video stream of the scene at the Promenade des Anglais here.
Photo: Olga Khomitsevich
