Cimiez
Belle Époque palaces and Roman gardens.
Photo: GFreihalter · CC BY-SA 4.0 · edited
Cimiez is Nice’s most elegant residential hill: Belle Époque palaces, gardens and Roman ruins, a few minutes above the city centre. Calm, green and generous in space, it suits families and buyers who want room to breathe.
Character and history
Long before modern Nice, the Romans built Cemenelum on this hill, and the remains of its arena and baths can still be seen in the olive grove of the Parc des Arènes. In the late 19th century Cimiez became the favourite winter resort of European high society. Grand hotels rose along Boulevard de Cimiez, the most famous being the Excelsior Régina, built for Queen Victoria’s stays in Nice and later home to Henri Matisse.
Many of those palaces have since been converted into apartments, and they still give the district its character: monumental façades, sweeping staircases and gardens of palms, cypresses and pines. Around them lie quiet avenues of villas and residences. The Musée Matisse, the archaeological museum, the Franciscan monastery with its rose garden and the Musée Marc Chagall at the foot of the hill make Cimiez as rich in culture as it is calm.
Typical properties and price levels
Cimiez offers some of the most spacious homes in Nice. Typical properties include:
- Apartments in former Belle Époque palaces, with high ceilings, large reception rooms and grand common areas.
- Family apartments in residences with gardens, a caretaker and often a pool, tennis court or parking.
- Villas and bourgeois houses with gardens on the quieter avenues.
- Views over the city, the hills or, from the upper floors, the sea.
Prices vary widely with the building, the floor, the outlook and the outside space. Apartments in the historic palaces and residences with grounds and views command a premium. As a buyer’s agent we help you compare buildings, review the copropriété (co-ownership) finances and planned works, and negotiate on your behalf.
Photo: GFreihalter · CC BY-SA 4.0 · edited
Daily life: shops, restaurants, schools and parks
Life in Cimiez is residential and relaxed. Everyday shops, bakeries and cafés are found along Boulevard de Cimiez and the surrounding avenues, and the larger shops of the city centre are a short bus ride or a walk downhill away.
The district is green: the Parc des Arènes, the monastery gardens and the many private grounds make it one of the leafiest parts of Nice. Families appreciate the calm and the schools in and around the district, and the university campus of Valrose lies close by. The beaches are around 15 minutes away by bus or car.
Transport and connections
Buses run along Boulevard de Cimiez to the city centre and Place Masséna, and the tram and Nice-Ville train station are reached easily from the foot of the hill. A car is practical here and many residences offer parking. Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is around 20–25 minutes by car.
Who is Cimiez for?
Cimiez suits buyers who value space, calm and greenery:
- Families looking for large apartments or houses close to schools and parks
- Permanent residents who want a quiet address a few minutes from the centre
- Lovers of Belle Époque architecture and grand period buildings
- Buyers who want a garden, a terrace or a residence with a pool
Buyers who want the sea and the shops on their doorstep may prefer the Carré d’Or, the Promenade des Anglais or the Port.
Thinking of buying in Cimiez? Contact Warde Property and we will guide you through the market and the buying process – from first viewing to signing at the notaire.
Thinking of selling in Cimiez?
It starts with a valuation, which costs nothing and commits you to nothing: an honest view of what your home is worth, based on the local market and recent sales nearby.
