Nice - Baumettes

The Origins of the Baumettes District

The district gets its name from the caves located beneath the hill, derived from the Niçois word "bauma" with the suffix "ettes" meaning small. It stretches from the main coastal roads to the heights of Boulevard François-Grosso, west of the Gambetta and Carré d'Or districts. While very urban near Magnan, it becomes more residential as you ascend. In the 17th century, the Baumette district (singular at the time) was rural and served as a favorite walking spot for families outside the city. By the 19th century, it had already become a vast suburb of Nice. The Baumettes hill rises to just over 50 meters above sea level. It is traversed by the main artery of Avenue des Baumettes, from which many other streets and cul-de-sacs branch off. Today, the Baumettes is an important residential area of the Nice metropolis, and has also become a tourist destination due to its proximity to the old town, its seaside location, and its cultural landmarks. Discover all the properties for sale in the area with our agency, a specialist in real estate in Baumettes, Nice.

The Highlights of the Baumettes District

At the heart of the Baumettes district is the Nice Museum of Fine Arts, one of the most renowned in France, with a significant collection of works by the poster artist and painter Jules Chéret. The museum is housed in a prestigious 19th-century palace inspired by Italian Renaissance architecture. Its Belle Époque apartments contain art collections spanning from the 16th to the 20th century, including remarkable works by Rodin, Eastern art objects, and paintings by Brueghel and Pierre Bonnard. The Baumettes district is also known for the vast Gloria Mansions building, constructed in the 1930s in a typical Art Deco style and adorned with a monumental stained glass window. Across the Pierre-Matthis expressway lies the large campus of Nice Sophia Antipolis and the expansive green spaces of the Honoré d'Estienne d'Orves Park.

Living in the Baumettes District

The Baumettes district is residential and highly sought after for its stunning panoramas of the Bay of Angels. Local shops are abundant but mainly located on the peripheral axes of the district: the Magnan area on the seafront, Avenue de France, and Boulevard François Grosso. The urban landscape of the district is open and green in its residential part. High-end residences with pools and gardens are predominant here. Larger complexes have been built near the Mathis expressway. The district is popular among retirees who find a calm and well-served environment close to the beaches, as well as among families who benefit from the presence of several schools. Increasingly touristic due to the quality of its surroundings and its proximity to Nice's key sites, the Baumettes district also hosts hotels and vacation villas. As a result, the area is prized for rental investments, especially seasonal ones. Tram line 2 connects the lower Baumettes to the rest of the metropolis, while bus 38 runs through the residential district.