Nice seafront pushes for World Heritage status

Nice’s celebrated seaside boulevard lined with palm trees and glitzy turn-of-the-century hotels could become the latest French landmark to join Unesco’s World Heritage list.

The Promenade des Anglais in Nice Wikimedia Commons

Local authorities are preparing a bid to Unesco judges to add the famed promenade that curves along the French Riviera to its list of protected sites.

Nice’s deputy mayor Christian Estrosi and former French cultural minister Jean-Jacques Aillagon have submitted an application, which will then be presented to the French government who will decide whether to forward it to Unesco.

Built in 1822, the Promenade des Anglais was one of the first urban developments to promote seaside leisure and inspired other famous coasts from Copacabana in Rio, Le Malecon in Havana and Venice Beach in Los Angeles.

But, it's not the only French region vying to get its landmarks onto the prestigious list.

Local authorities in Normandy are also trying to push the French government to recommend the D-Day landing beaches as a potential World Heritage site.