Nice Tramway is back!
Fifty years after the tramway was removed, it is now back again to improve links with various City districts, to reduce traffic, congestion and pollution.
The fifth largest city in France and the capital of the French Riviera, Nice has always been dogged with too much traffic and too little room for pedestrians. The re-introduction of the tramway, the limitation in car usage, and the extension of pedestrian/cycling areas, particularly in the town centre/old town, will go a long way towards restoring Nice's old charm.
Practical information
- Line T1 will be operational from Saturday 24th November 2007.
- Length of line: 8.7 km
- Number of stops: 28
- Average distance between stops: 350 to 400m
- Stops with larger platforms and an increased height of 21cm for easier access to disabled
- Nearest stop to Palais du Pin: Place Garibaldi - distance 150m
- Tram frequency: every 4 minutes during rush hour, otherwise every 15 minutes.
- Ligne d'Azur is the same Tram and Bus operator
- One way Ticket Price €1.30 - The same ticket is valid for Trams or Buses
- 1 day pass €4 - This pass can be also used on the Direct Aéroport Nr. 98 Bus to Nice Central Bus Station - Gare Routère and Nr 99 to Nice's main Train Station - Gare SNCF
- 7 days pass €15; same services as above
- MULTI €10 for 10 one way trips. Also valid for connections over a 74 minutes' period .
- Parcazur €2.60 return one day pass includes 24 hours free parking.
- Tickets can be bought from dispensers at tram stops, from "Ligne d' Azur" bus drivers, from newspaper shops, " Infobus" and at each of the 3 Parcazur Park & Ride: "Las Planas", "Pont Saint Michel" and "Saint Jean d'Angély".
- Tram and bus services from Sunday to Monday: start
from about 4.30am - terminate at about 1.30am
For additional informazionvisit: Ligne d'Azur.
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Tram @ Bd Jean Jaurès -
Place Garibaldi being built
Treasure trove
During the excavation works for the new tramway along Bulevard Jean Jaurès, two important archeological sites were earmarked for further explorations respectively south and north of Nice’s Bus terminal:
1) Pont Vieux or Pont Saint-Antoine - Vestiges of this old bridge were found during excavations works over an area of 230m². The aim was to verify the presence and date the original (possibly timber) bridge mentioned as back as 1250 as well as to to assess if the brick built arches discovered, relate to those rebuilt in 1545 after the siege by the French and Turks. Escavations around the steps of Rue du Pont Vieux also aim find a link between the bridge and the original walls sourrounding Nice old town.
2) Porte Parolière near Place Garibaldi is the most important of the 3 gates to enter the fortified old town of Nice from Tourin (Savoy). Louis Brea’s 1516 painting shows this gate flanked by a round tower and its draw-bridge.
A surface of 1800m² was excavated to produce a large 6m deep chamber which is then covered by a large slab of reinforced cement to enable the tramwy to run above it during prolongued excavation works. Eventually all archeological finds will be restaured and exhibited.
From left to right: Parolière's Gate by Louis Brea, Victor-Amédée II of Savoy entering Nice in 1689 and Porte Parolière in XIX Century.
