Nice has been hosting a winter carnival for the last 700 years, traditionally seen as a last chance to eat, drink and make merry before the start of Lent and 40 days of fasting began. From 1294 up until 1872, the carnival was a festive whirl of balls, dances, masquerades and enormous battles carried out on the streets of Nice by masked revellers who threw flour, eggs and confetti at one another. Why should this year be any different?!
The first ‘modern carnival‘ was organised by local man Andriot Saëtone in 1873 and he also founded the ‘Comité des Fêtes‘ which continues to organise the Nice carnival today. He was also responsible for introducing the enormous floats which parade up and down the Promenade both day and night and providing the tiers of seats which line the Prom and Place Masséna for the spectators to watch the action close-up.
