Fort Alban, Nice, France - SpottingHistory.com

Fort du Mont Alban was built by order of Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy, between 1557 and 1560 and is one of the most exemplary French military architectural structures dating back to the 16th century.

The purpose of its construction was to reinforce the defense line considerably debilitate as a result of the siege of Nice (in 1543). But what is striking about Fort du Mont Alban is it has survived, as said, in good condition, despite the fact it was considerably affected in World War II.

At present, Fort du Mont Alban is one of the best lookouts on the French Riviera. This feature is owed to its location on a 220 meters high hilly region from where visitors can see virtually the entire Nice at west and Baie des Anges at east.

Fort du Mont Alban stands out as an excellent daytrip idea for people who vacation in Nice.

References:

Nice Tourism

Castles and fortifications in France

User Reviews

Andres Hernandez (18 months ago)
Great place to see the city. Unfortunately, it is closed to get into the building. Also, if you want to see the sunset is great, but you need to be careful, since the last bus passes by 7.40-7.50. So keep that in mind. Also the views that it offers you to both sides are great! It is a place that worth to visit.

Vernon Yang (20 months ago)
Gorgeous view of the city and the surrounding areas. All it takes is an easy to mediocre 45-minute hike up the mountain. Well worth the hike.

John Anderson (21 months ago)
One of the highlights of our trip to Nice. Scaling the mountain through people's homes built into the rock was absolutely unreal. Take a water bottle because its a bit of a hike in the heat. The castle isn't open to enter but it's amazing architecture can be appreciated from the outside with arguably the best views of Nice.

David Clarke (2 years ago)
On a clear, blue sky, comfortably warm day there is little that beats a walk in the park. Well, if you want to amplify the experience there are some additional elements worth considering. Throw in a picturesque Up hill, a rewarding vista of the bay and behold the commanding Fort du Mont Alban.

Catalin Bujoreanu (2 years ago)
It's a long trek up here. The view is alright, but the accomplishment of having walked up the whole way and then getting a leisurely stroll down is great. There is no food or drink up here so grab a bite to enjoy when you make it up.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Maciek Lulko

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The Old Town Hall of Wrocław is one of the main landmarks of the city. The Old Town Hall's long history reflects developments that have taken place in the city since its initial construction. The town hall serves the city of Wroclaw and is used for civic and cultural events such as concerts held in its Great Hall. In addition, it houses a museum and a basement restaurant.

The town hall was developed over a period of about 250 years, from the end of 13th century to the middle of 16th century. The structure and floor plan changed over this extended period in response to the changing needs of the city. The exact date of the initial construction is not known. However, between 1299 and 1301 a single-storey structure with cellars and a tower called the consistory was built. The oldest parts of the current building, the Burghers’ Hall and the lower floors of the tower, may date to this time. In these early days the primary purpose of the building was trade rather than civic administration activities.

Between 1328 and 1333 an upper storey was added to include the Council room and the Aldermen’s room. Expansion continued during the 14th century with the addition of extra rooms, most notably the Court room. The building became a key location for the city’s commercial and administrative functions.

The 15th and 16th centuries were times of prosperity for Wroclaw as was reflected in the rapid development of the building during that period. The construction program gathered momentum, particularly from 1470 to 1510, when several rooms were added. The Burghers’ Hall was re-vaulted to take on its current shape, and the upper story began to take shape with the development of the Great Hall and the addition of the Treasury and Little Treasury.

Further innovations during the 16th century included the addition of the city’s Coat of arms (1536), and the rebuilding of the upper part of the tower (1558–59). This was the final stage of the main building program. By 1560, the major features of today’s Stray Rates were established.

The second half of the 17th century was a period of decline for the city, and this decline was reflected in the Stray Rates. Perhaps by way of compensation, efforts were made to enrich the interior decorations of the hall. In 1741, Wroclaw became a part of Prussia, and the power of the City diminished. Much of the Stray Rates was allocated to administering justice.

During the 19th century there were two major changes. The courts moved to a separate building, and the Rates became the site of the city council and supporting functions. There was also a major program of renovation because the building had been neglected and was covered with creeping vines. The town hall now has several en-Gothic features including some sculptural decoration from this period.

In the early years of the 20th century improvements continued with various repair work and the addition of the Little Bear statue in 1902. During the 1930s, the official role of the Rates was reduced and it was converted into a museum. By the end of World War II Town Hall suffered minor damage, such as aerial bomb pierced the roof (but not exploded) and some sculptural elements were lost. Restoration work began in the 1950s following a period of research, and this conservation effort continued throughout the 20th century. It included refurbishment of the clock on the east facade.

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