VIVRE SA VILLE

Terraces looking out over sea or mountains, more sunlight, greater tranquillity, swimming pools and gardens are among the features sought in properties in the Riviera hills.

Although the Promenade des Anglais predominates on postcards, that level seafront is deceptive for Nice is in fact a city of hills, many now residential districts offering quality modern homes. "As of the 1960s-70s, new property developments began to be built in upper Nice. Land was becoming scarce and those areas presented the advantage of uninterrupted views while still being close to the city centre," explains Mathieu Garotta, co-manager of Riviera Réalisation. One of these districts was the elegant Colline de Cimiez.

The Cimiez identity
"When you look at the Cimiez property scene you at once perceive a prestigious history, from when Queen Victoria arrived followed by the aristocracy," explains Miryam Lamonaca-Lepeu of the Cimiez Boulevard estate agency. This bourgeois district dotted with splendid Belle Epoque and Art Deco mansions and villas, but also sporting 1960s apartment blocks, offers a cultural heritage, a pleasant living environment and upmarket appointments. The ultra-chic Mont Boron district on the harbour side is a favourite with sea lovers while Cimiez has excellent services – shops, schools and health services. This is essentially a resale market, although the occasional lovely modern development is built here, such as Riviera Realisation's Millesima and Arcancia residences and the BNP Paribas group's 49 Victoria amidst tranquil greenery.

Near Nice's airport and Eco-Vallée
Sophia-Antipolis's workers are especially keen on Nice's western hills. Above the Magnan district served by the new tramway line, Fabron offers homes with above-average appointments, appreciable living spaces, uninterrupted views and often a swimming pool and tennis court. Here on the Corniche Fleurie we find new developments such as Riviera Realisation's Eleganza residence. The big pluses here are 180° views over sea and mountains, maximum sunshine and fast access to the motorway, airport and soon-to-be Eco-Vallée complex of offices, shops and leisure facilities. The Bellet district's villas above the Var plain also offer a privileged lifestyle near the Niçois vineyards.

Cannes with scenery
Along the coast, between Cannes and Vallauris, we find Super Cannes's sumptuous villas. In the residential La Californie district, advantageously close to the Croisette, superb luxury real-estate developments are built, such as the remarkable Eden Cannes commercialised by Précom Méditerranée for Eiffage Immobilier, boasting a panoramic view over Cap d'Antibes and the Lérins Islands. Le Cannet's hills beloved of painter Pierre Bonnard also offer modern residences such as Bouygues Immobilier's Horizon Croisette: apartments of 150+m² with 100m² terraces, looking out over the sea.

Beausoleil close to Monaco
"As the coastal strip is very built up, the hills of Eze, Cap d’Ail and Menton are being developed, although with green corridors retained to mitigate urbanisation," says Mélanie Rossi, a chartered architect who recently designed the Mirage residence, in Beausoleil but on the edge of Monaco, where she utilised the steep slope to give its 14 dwellings gardens on several levels. A bit higher up, the luxurious Sun Paradise residence commercialised by Précom Méditerranée boasts a rooftop swimming pool and views of Monaco Bay and the nearby Tour Odéon. Magical!

Par Tanja Stojanov