Pairolière street

Here you are in one of Old town’s most iconic streets! During the Middle Ages, it housed the coppersmith’s guild, or “parouliers” in Niçois dialect, hence the name of the street. Today, the narrow and oh-so-typical street is lined with food shops. Bakery, butcher shop, tripe shop, fishmonger, delicatessens, and more – it’s the entire Niçois culinary tradition that reveals itself to you as you stroll along Rue Pairolière. On the small square that opens up on the side, you can see a beautiful 50-meter-tall clock tower. This is the Saint-Francois tower, an old belltower for the Franciscans, which became the communal clock during the French Revolution, after the monastery was destroyed. Throughout the 20th, century the tower was renovated a few times, before being rehabilitated and converted to allow public to visit it. Unfortunately, this tower is not open everyday and it offers paying visits mainly during weekends, and on certain Fridays.  However, if you’re lucky enough to come on a day where it is open and you feel like it, do climb to the top of Saint-François’s tower, and discover a panoramic view over Nice!