Pete Horton
A Proposal on Castle Hill, Nice
One of the French Riviera's most popular spots to get engaged
Castle Hill, or Colline du Chateau, is one of the most picturesque and romantic locations for a proposal on the French Riviera; albeit with some caveats.
The location is a a 20-minute walk from Nice old town, in fact you’re still in the heart of Nice when you’re there - albeit 200 or so meters above the city. There is a lift, accessible from near the Promenade, but is notoriously unreliable. If you take the stairs in the summer, take your time, you’re going to get hot, but the views on the way up are beautiful. Fortunately there are cafés up there and decent public toilets (which cost 50 cents) a visit.
Castle Hill is very close to Nice’s touristy old town and there are viewing platforms looking over the Promenade des Anglais, and Nice’s Port Lympa. Some of these photos were taken at the very top viewing platform (with the stone-pillar wall, not the black fence), while some are of a re-created proposal a few minutes later on the more popular viewing platform with the black iron railings. Both platforms look out in the same direction, but the one at the very top is more panoramic.
Proposing on Castle Hill
This place is so close to the heart of Nice and so beautiful that it’s no wonder it’s crowded. Avoid proposing here if you’re concerned about privacy.
I’d also avoid proposing here late afternoon to evening as the sun’s position will mean the sea and sky will lose their blue hue. Morning, lunch, and sunset would be better - although sunset could be crowded and you’d have to time it right, knowing the time of sunset for the day you’re visiting and getting there 30 minutes before it happens.
If you're not headed there for sunset, the best time would be 8-9AM if you want fewer people. One final thing to know is you should avoid arriving too late as the authorities shut the entrance at sundown; so arrive in good time before this happens. The only motorised way up is on Nice’s little white tourist train (which is a road train, not a real, rail-way train), or else a taxi.
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