Nice, France, with its very fitting name, is unlike any other city a student could study abroad in. With its famously spectacular beaches along the French Riviera, its towering mountain ranges and explorative trails, its libraries full of fascinating history and legend, and its quick accessibility to neighboring European countries, Nice offers relaxation, adventure, history, and so much more.
Arguably the most talked about aspect of Nice is its location on the French Riviera. As part of the Southeast coast of France and neighboring Italy, the French Riviera, or Cote'Azur, is one of the most well-known and popular resorts in the world. With seemingly endless beach real estate, spectacular hotels, and unforgettable shops, the French Riviera plays host to everyone from the world's biggest celebrities to the average family looking for the ultimate vacation. It is also attached to Cannes, which plays host to the Cannes Film Festival, one of the largest and most prestigious film festivals in the industry.
Study Abroad Programs in Nice
Nice, which is the administrative capital of the Alpes-Maritimes Department, offers more than magnificent beach resorts, however. It is a very culturally diverse city with strong Italian and Corsican influences and a large influx of immigrants from as far as Africa being added into the melting pot. The location of the city allows easy access to other French cities as well as Italy, Spain, and other European countries. It has spectacular mountain ranges with impressive nature trails and relishes in its small town feel despite its high tourist rate.
According to Wikipedia.org, Nice was one of the first sites where humans used fire and constructed houses. Nice was founded by the Greeks in 5th Century B.C. after defeating the neighboring Ligurians. Nike was the goddess of victory, so the city was dubbed Nikaia, or Nikaia. It quickly became a busy trading station due to its proximity to the ocean. By the 10th Century, the city was officially called Nice and was one of the leading cities in the surrounding area.
It continued to be an important city throughout the Middle Ages and participated in some heated wars in the 13th and 14th Centuries. In 1543, after successfully staving off a number of attacks and pillages, Nice finally fell to Barbarossa. The city was then taken over by the duke of Guise in 1600 and in 1626, Charles Emmanual opened the ports to all nations and proclaimed full freedom of trade, stimulating the economy of the city, which continued to grow and, despite a French siege in 1705, remained strong. It switched ownership from France to Savoy numerous times before finally being voted as a part of France in 1860.
No matter what a student is interested in, Nice is a perfect place to study. It has an extensive history dating as far back as early cave dwellers and going straight though the height of the Greek empire and the Middle Ages. It has relaxing beaches, great sightseeing, and fantastic trails. It is in a prime travel location, has strong ties to the film industry, and is extremely international. It has everything a student could want. Plus, did we mention it's on the French Riviera? If you want to read about the adventures of one student studying abroad in Nice, visit Tonnia Harry's blog for a first-hand account.
