Enjoy an French language course in France
at our language school in the city of Nice

Nice is the fifth-largest city in France with 350,000 people and an additional 600,000 in the greater urban area. Located on the south east coast of France on the Mediterranean, Nice is considered one of the oldest human settlements in Europe. The name “Nice” derives from the Greek settlement of 350 BC, Nikaia, named after the Greek goddess of victory Nike. Since then the city has been controlled by many different peoples and, in recent history, has deep Italian influences as well as French making it a cosmopolitan city. In the later 18th century Nice became expremely popular with the English upper classes as a resort destination and the now famous Promenade des Anglais is named after them. The beautiful scenery, clear air and soft light have made Nice a favourite place for many influential painters such as Chagall, Matisse, Sait Phalle and Arman and their influence extends with major art museums throughout the city. After Paris it is the second-most visited city in France with around 4 million tourists anually. While there is much to see during the course of your visit the greatest appeal of Nice is the incredible climate and long sunny days.


The oldest artifacts from Nice indicate a human settlement from 400,000 years ago. As a Greek city it became a major trading port and passed through many hands and entered many treaties and leagues while maintaining a large degree of independence. In 1388 Nice entered under the protection of the Counts of Savoy and began to grow in maritime importance and was held intermittently by Savoy until 1860. From the 1600s onwards Nice was contested for between France and Italy and since 1861 has been part of France. During WWII Nice was a place of refuge for many and had a strong resistance movement though the war was very costly both economically and in lives lost. Afterwards, however, Nice experienced a major economic boom with an increasing tourist industry and the construction of major institutions and infrastructure. It is now a city with immense history alongside many amenities and modern construction.


If you walk up the Colline du Chateau you can get a view 90m above Nice of the Baie des Anges and the city and, surrounded by the crumbling castle walls, you might realize how the city has inspired so many painters. Set along with the ruins of the arenas of Cimiez is the charming Musée Matisse housed in a 17th century Genoese villa. Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Chéret features an excellent collection of his work and many others. Museum of Naïve arts and Museum of Asian Art are also worth a visit while the Museum of Modern Art and Contemporary Art is four connected towers of contemporary installations and with incredible rooftop terraces. Culture is also available in the form of many festivals with the Nice Jazz Festival and the Carnaval de Nice along with many others. There are also numerous beaches which are excellent for swimming but are generally quite pebbly. For sandy beaches Villefranche-sur-Mer, Antibes and Cannes are close by. Nice was a city for tourists since long before beaches were the main attraction offering its own character, beauty and culture to expand the mind and give inspiration. To pair you visit with lessons in French could surely be the experience of a lifetime!


What we like about French in Nice:

  • As a historic tourist destination there are plenty of places to visit within a relaxed and inviting culture.
  • The beauty of Nice is legendary and you can experience it both artistically and personally.
  • The incredible climate and warm sun drenched days makes the city a pleasure to visit.