Imperial Park and Pines Hill

Why is it significant?

Climb into the sunlit terraced greenery of the Parc Impérial, a natural hillside amphitheatre cradled on the gentle slopes of the Saint-Philippe hill overlooking the sparkling coastal city below.

Key Facts

Open the walk

Climb into the sunlit terraced greenery of the Parc Impérial, a natural hillside amphitheatre cradled on the gentle slopes of the Saint-Philippe hill overlooking the sparkling coastal city below. Here, among former terraced orchards of fig trees and ancient olive groves, prominent Russian imperial families and aristocratic European winter travelers settled in the late nineteenth century, drawn by the peaceful seclusion and thermal microclimate protected from northern alpine winds. The neighbourhood earned international sporting fame as the historic home of the Nice Lawn Tennis Club, founded in 1890, whose red clay courts nurtured the athletic genius of legendary champion Suzanne Lenglen, the trailblazing tennis icon who trained here each morning under the watchful eye of her devoted father. Avenues shaded by fragrant umbrella pines, golden mimosas, and Belle Époque mansions with slate mansard roofs create an enduring atmosphere of aristocratic leisure and Mediterranean charm. This peaceful residential district chronicles the pioneering outdoor sporting culture of the French Riviera, where winter convalescence and athletic recreation merged into a glamorous Mediterranean legend that captivated travelers worldwide across generations. Prepare for a captivating journey through royal winter retreats, sacred imperial monuments, and cutting-edge contemporary art sanctuaries high above the Bay of Angels.

Look out over the red rooftops of Nice: the verdant canopy of umbrella pines frames glimpses of the glistening Orthodox cathedral domes rising gracefully above the dense urban foliage of the valley.

The historic tennis club welcomed international royalty including the kings of Sweden and Great Britain, who regularly played spirited friendly exhibition matches here before cheering winter crowds of international aristocrats.

Suzanne Lenglen, born in 1899, captured six Wimbledon singles titles and two Olympic gold medals after perfecting her balletic court technique on these very grounds during her teenage years.

Stroll downhill along Avenue Suzanne-Lenglen to behold the colossal Belle Époque facade of the former Grand Hôtel du Parc Impérial.