Located at the foot of the Château, between the Vieux Nice and Quai des États-Unis, Rue des Ponchettes is a place laden with history which today combines local culture and gastronomy.
Located a short walk from the iconic Promenade des Anglais and down from the Castle Hill, Rue des Ponchettes marks the origin of the Nice resort.
Indeed, in 1726, it was decided to build a row of stores and warehouses along the demolished wall that protected the town from the sea. While the Promenade des Anglais was still just a dirt track, the Ponchettes (from the Nice dialect Pounchetta, meaning "little point") were a popular place for strolling.
Nowadays this series of buildings offers visitors an opportunity to discover Nice specialities while enjoying local culture through the many shops in the area. Les Ponchettes is really an unusual little area of the city. Small single-storey houses which have survived the huge turbulence of modernisation and urban development, marking the division of Cours Saleya in the Vieux Nice and the seaside promenade, known for its pebble beaches. One of the features of this district: the terraces on the roof. Inaccessible nowadays, they were, however, very popular with locals during the Belle Epoque. A historical and architectural curiosity not to be missed.
Adapted tourism
- Accessible for self-propelled wheelchairs
