image of Vieux Nice and the Riviera's Baie des Anges


Pont Vieux NiceTM holiday studio apartments

Riviera rental in Nice - capital of the Côte d'Azur
welcome apartment Vieux Nice booking
by Place Rossetti and above the crowds: a secret holiday haven in the heart of historic Vieux Nice
photo of Nice apartment kitchen drenched with Nice sunlight
 picture of Nice self catering apartment flooded with sunlight from balcony image of fully fitted Nice apartment kitchen for al fresco dining on the balcony
 pic of Traditional balcony shutters shading air conditioned Nice apartment from the afternoon sun
  • fitted kitchen
  • fridge/freezer
  • dishwasher with eco-cycle
  • 4-ring ceramic hob/stove top
  • full-size fan-assisted oven
  • solid oak counter tops
  • stainless steel splashback
  • marble dining table
  • sunny balcony
  • air conditioning
  • heating
  • traditional niçoise shutters
  • luxury leather sofabed
  • extra pillows
  • washing machine
  • iron & ironing board
  • modern fitted shower
  • sliding glass shower doors
  • glass basin & wash stand
  • automatic hot water
  • wood duckboard & towel rail
  • dual flush wc
  • halogen downlighting
  • fully tiled bathroom
  • flat screen TV
  • multi-channel access
  • wifi internet
  • DVD player + library
  • iPod dock
  • alarm clock/radio
  • local guidebooks
  • reading selection
photo of local gourmet treats from Vieux Nice and Provence brought back to your Vieux Nice apartment image of sunny balcony with Vieux Nice views picture of Vieux Nice apartment: tempered glass wash basin image of Mazzoli luxury leather sofa bed in Vieux Nice holiday apartment

Pont Vieux is the ideal pied-à-terre on the 4th floor of a 17th Century palazzo, right in the heart of beautiful, historic Vieux Nice.  It sits on the quieter west side of the résidence above the ruelle Halle aux Herbes and overlooks Place Halle aux Herbes right beside Cathédrale Sainte Réparate.  Place Halle aux Herbes is a tranquil corner of Place Rossetti where the Old Town's fruit & vegetable market used to take place before it was relocated to the Cours Saleya in 1861.

Plenty of natural light and afternoon sun streams onto the balcony and inside thanks to Pont Vieux being on the fourth floor  – most apartments on lower floors in Vieux Nice receive precious little – but the upper floors of facing buildings happen to be set back from the street, opening up even more blue sky and open space to enjoy.  So its cute balcony gets loads more sunshine - and privacy! - than you would expect: the solid teak bench is an idyllic spot for a bit of tanning if you'd rather hang out at home with a cool glass of Provençal rosé than take that four minute stroll down to the beach at Castel Plage.
Two can dine al fresco on the balcony (it's just big enough) or indoors at the marble dining table.

And the stairs - don't come to Vieux Nice expecting an elevator –  Pont Vieux enjoys elegant flights of wide, shallow, marble steps, well lit by big windows and electric lamps and with a foyer on each floor should you need a pause. The shabby chic charm of centuries-old frescoed walls and ceiling set off by polished wood banister and wrought iron railings brings plenty of envious comments from folk familiar with other apartment buildings* in the Vieille Ville.  Taken together with the apartment's modern interior and luxurious touches it's a charming, naturally evolved instance of the shabbalism zeitgeist - a bit of Rough Luxe style.

We love the way Pont Vieux is such an oasis of serenity above the summertime bustle of the winding streets and alleys of Vieux Nice, and also such a cosy bolthole with all mod-cons during the cooler, quieter months of winter: any time of year it's a joy to stay here.
image of red chillies from Sicily for sale at the Cours Saleya market
 photo of Old Town view from the balcony image: view from balcony of Vieux Nice apartment photo of colourful fresh fruit and vegetables for sale at the Cours Saleya market in Vieux Nice
photo of drying laundry nicois style on sunny Nice apartment balcony

Pont Vieux’s kitchen complements the fabulous local produce with its carefully considered batterie de cuisine, including decent quality table, flat and stemware, plus electric kettle and classic Bodum cafetière; even steel hooks for hanging herbs and charcuterie ...
Pont Vieux is at the crossroads of Vieux Nice’s epicurean paradise with many family-run specialty provisioners close by: forage at the Cours Saleya market for fabulous farm-fresh produce and gourmet products, check out the crottins, St. Marcellins and cabecou cheeses, all perfectly à point at la Poulette, bag a (or even fill your own) bottle from Caves Caprioglio’s wide range of wines, pick up silky-fresh pasta from la clé aux pâtes, buy your bio-baguette from Espuno’s Four aux Bois boulangerie then nip into Oliviera for a tasting of fine Provençal olive oils before braving the bouchéries strung along rue Pairolière.  There's so much to taste and see in just this one neighborhood, it's amazing.

 image of cool, holiday apartment interior: hot Mediterranean holiday
Lou trincot: a perfect location in the very heart of Vieux Nice, the area chosen by wealthy merchants in the 17th century to build their grand domiciles: close to the protection and prestige of Cathédrale de Sainte Réparate, patron saint of the city, and right by the loveliest square of all, Place Rossetti, with its grand façades, cafés and elegant fountain.
The piazza was created in 1825 by the levelling of  buildings in front of the Old Town cathedral's baroque edifice to open the city space to the fresh air currents descending from the Colline du Château. Enjoying the serenity of Place Halle aux Herbes, the former fruit & vegetable market flanking the cathedral, (removed to the Cours Saleya in the late 19th century), our studio apartment is quiet yet only steps from all manner of al fresco dining and entertainment.
 		image of entrance portico to Pont Vieux Nice apartment buildingpicture of sunlit stairwell, fresco wall, ceiling & wide marble steps
photo of Halle aux Herbes at Place Rossettipic of Nice Old Town apartment building entrance hall with frescoed ceiling		 Although the precise history of our building is obscure, it features in a map18 of 1624.  This same map shows  traversing the Paillon river the former "Pont Vieux"24, first constructed in 1252 and known as Porte Ste. Antoine; the only bridge between old and new Nice until the Pont Neuf was built in 1824. The Pont Vieux met its final end with the covering over of the Paillon in 1921; its ancient stone gateway already taken in the 19th century to ornament the cascade waterfall at the top of the Chateau Hill.
At both ends of rue du Pont Vieux ogival stone arches dating from the Middle Ages reveal the noble antiquity of this corner of Vieux Nice.
The modern style and conveniences of the apartment, however, provide a blissful counterpoint to its historic surroundings.
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image of Place Rossetti picture: top of rue du Pont Vieux (former Porte Sainte Antoine) Nice Old Townphoto of rue du Pont Vieux, rue Mascoinat at Place Rossetti the heart of Old Town Niceimage of rue du Pont Vieux, lovely street in Nice Old Town image of Place Rossetti, Place Halle aux Herbes at rear : most beautiful square in all Old Nice
 find rue du Pont Vieux on this interactive map of Nice
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