But ... Where is Nice Castle?
Chateau Hill is one of Nice's most famous landmarks, but there's always one question on the minds of new visitors... Where is the castle?
Nice's Chateau Hill is an emblematic site of the city, both for its history, its strategic role and its natural beauty. Situated between the old town and the port, it rises to an altitude of around 93 meters and offers exceptional views over the Baie des Anges. But as you wander around the different areas of the hill, you may feel that something is missing... Although the Château de Nice is much talked about, there's not much left of it.
Dominating the old town, the Château de Nice has long been a symbol of power and protection for the city of Nice. However, this monument, once a strategic military fortress, now exists only as ruins and remains. Why was the castle destroyed?
Château de Nice: a fortress with a major defensive role
Château de Nice was built in the Middle Ages, between the 11th and 12th centuries. Its strategic location on the hill of the same name enabled it to keep watch over the Bay of Angels, the Var plain and the Nice hinterland.
Under the rule of the Counts of Provence, then the House of Savoy from 1388, the fortress was constantly reinforced to protect the town from invasion. The citadel became a virtually impregnable military stronghold, with solid ramparts, watchtowers and cannons.
Around the castle, a veritable town had developed, with housing, churches and military infrastructures. Nice was an essential stronghold for the Dukes of Savoy, who established a permanent garrison here.
Over the course of its history, the castle underwent various offensives. This was notably the case during the 1543 siege of Nice, led by the coalition between the Kingdom of France and the Ottoman Empire, against the Holy Roman Empire, of which Savoy was a part. This attempted invasion of Nice led to the construction of the Mont-Alban fort and the Saint-Elme citadel in Villefranche-sur-Mer.
The siege of 1705: a historic turning point
The destruction of the Château de Nice is directly linked to the War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714). At the time, Europe was torn apart by a conflict between the powers that supported Philip V of Spain (grandson of Louis XIV) and those that wanted to place Archduke Charles of Austria on the Spanish throne.
Victor-Amédée II of Savoy, ruler of Nice, initially chose to ally himself with France, but later changed alliances and drew closer to the Austrian Empire and England. This reversal angered Louis XIV, who decided to invade the County of Nice in 1705.
In November 1705, the French army under Marshal de La Feuillade laid siege to Nice. Despite its imposing defenses, the fortress came under intense bombardment for 54 days. The attackers used artillery to weaken the ramparts and isolate the garrison. Finally, in January 1706, the stronghold capitulated and fell into the hands of French troops.
Louis XIV's decision: raze the château to the ground
After the capture of Nice, Louis XIV ordered the complete destruction of the castle and its fortifications. This decision was part of a policy to neutralize enemy strongholds to prevent them from being used against France again.
The Sun King also wanted to send a strong message to the other European powers: any territory that opposed France would suffer a similar fate. Destroying the fortress would definitively weaken Nice's defensive capacity and make it easier to submit to French influence.
Demolition began in 1706. Mines were placed under the castle walls, and a series of explosions reduced the ramparts to rubble. The citadel was razed to the ground, and the stones used for other constructions.
The consequences of destruction
With the disappearance of the fortress, Château hill lost its military role and began a slow transformation. The population, once living within the castle walls, had to move to the old town and the newly-developed districts.
In the 19th century, under the impetus of local authorities and French influences, the hill became a place for walks and leisure activities. A cemetery was created, gardens were laid out, lookouts were built and places of remembrance took their place.
Archeological digs carried out on the site have shed light on the fortress's organization and strategic role. Today, the castle ruins are a place of remembrance, where the history of Nice is revealed to visitors: an absolute must-see in local history.
