Menica Rondelly Stairway and Castle Ramparts
Why is it significant?
Begin your scenic ascent of Castle Hill via the comfortably shaded stone steps of Montée Menica Rondelly, named in everlasting honour of the beloved local poet and songwriter who composed the official patriotic anthem of Nice, Nissa la Bella, in 1903.
Key Facts
| Place | Menica Rondelly Stairway and Castle Ramparts |
|---|---|
| Address | Montée Menica Rondelly, 06300 Nice, France |
| Geo Coordinates | 43.69920, 7.28180 |
| Part of Walk | Old Town, Cours Saleya and Castle Hill: Baroque Splendour and Ancient Heights |
| Generated | Generated |
Begin your scenic ascent of Castle Hill via the comfortably shaded stone steps of Montée Menica Rondelly, named in everlasting honour of the beloved local poet and songwriter who composed the official patriotic anthem of Nice, Nissa la Bella, in 1903. As you steadily climb above the weathered terracotta rooftops of Old Nice, the urban hum gently gives way to the rustle of maritime pines, fragrant evergreen holm oaks, and silver-tipped agave plants clinging tenaciously to the dramatic limestone crags. The terraced stone stairways follow the historic zigzag trace of ancient curtain walls, gun loops, and fortified bastions that once fiercely guarded the citadel of the Counts of Provence and the royal Dukes of Savoy. Weathered stone rubble masonry, medieval bastion foundations, and ancient defensive arrow slits emerge from lush thickets of pink oleander and century-old cypresses. Strategic clearings in the lush foliage frame breathtaking, postcard-perfect vistas of the terracotta roofs, the ornate glazed dome of Sainte-Réparate Cathedral, and the endless expanse of turquoise sea stretching out towards the southern horizon. This scenic garden stairway provides an enchanting physical transition from the lively chatter of the old town streets below to the tranquil, pine-scented panoramas of the fortified hilltop parklands above.
Look at the exposed limestone cliffs: this natural fortified citadel stood high above the sea, sheltering human settlements from the Bronze Age through the Roman era.
Menica Rondelly founded the first traditional folk troupe of Nice, La Ciamada Nissarda, in 1900 to safeguard local dialect, music, and dances.
During the heroic siege of 1543 against a combined French and Ottoman fleet, local washerwoman Catherine Ségurane repelled enemy soldiers on these ramparts with her laundry paddle.
Follow the shaded pathways upward to hear the thunderous roar of the great Castle Hill waterfall.