Nice, France

Introducing Nice

Unfurling along the rugged coastline of the French Riviera, Nice is France’s fifth largest city and the launchpad for the cultural attractions and outdoor pursuits of Provence. The city’s historic kernel is Vieux Nice. Along its main street, Cours Saleya, age-old apothecaries, antiquary book stores, and closet-sized ceramic shops sit cheek by jowl with raucous bars, traditional bistros, ornate patisseries, and tacky souvenir stalls. A sunset stroll along the palm-fringed Promenade des Anglais was a rite of passage for the first wave of European tourists who flocked to Nice in the 1950s. Sadly, Nice has fallen victim to her own virtues. The gorgeous 19th-century mansions that line the coastal promenade are now dwarfed by hotel behemoths, tacky casinos, and chain pubs. Still, there’s no doubt that the city’s setting is breathtaking. A heart-pumping walk up the precipitous Colline du Château hill rewards with spectacular views as far as the Cap D’Antibes where many American writers and European aristocrats spent their idle summers. F. Scott Fitzgerald dreamed up Tender is the Night in his waterfront villa on Cap D’Antibes and entertained Hemmingway in the process. Nice’s artistic legacy prevails in the city’s myriad galleries and museums. Arguably the finest museum in the region, the Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain focuses on Pop Art and New Realism. Not to everyone’s taste, Galerie Jean Renoir is the showcase for avant-garde and experimental French art. A 17th-century Genoese villa is the lovely setting for the Musée Matisse which traces the artist’s seminal moments through paintings and personal artifacts.

Airports located within a 50-mile radius of Nice:

• Cote d’Azur Airport (NCE)
  • Mandelieu Airport (CEQ)
  • Le Cannet Airport (LFMC)
  • Albenga Airport (ALL)

Popular aircraft charters* in the Nice area include:

• Citation Excel (super light)
• Learjet 45 XR (super light)
• Citation CJ3 (light)
• Learjet 31ER 400A (light)
• Learjet 60 XR (midsize)
• Citation III (midsize)
• Gulfstream G200 (super midsize)
• Citation Sovereign (super midsize)

*This is just a sample. Zephyr provides access to aircraft at every end of the spectrum, from luxurious VIP airliners, to ultra long range business jet, helicopters, and economical turboprops.