Nice is first Metropolis

The new metropolis is made up of a community of at least 500,000 residents. Copyright Moody Dreiza.

The new metropolis unites 46 communes stretching from the Mediterranean waters to the Mercantour mountains. Spearheaded by Mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi, it targets economic, social and cultural development, as well as local housing and the protection of the environment. Estrosi hopes that it will also create more jobs. 

Other responsibilities of the new unit focus on financing school transport and public facilities, including sanitation, roads and street lighting in urban and rural areas. 

Patrick German, head of the local socialist party, told 20 minutes that the innovative regional unit was a "moment in history". However, he also expressed fears of "competition between territories."

The latest additions to Nice Côte d'Azur are Vésubie, Tinée and the Mercantour mountains. Residents and tourists can now drive from Nice airport to the Mercantour ski slopes without leaving the metropolis of Nice. 

The overall budget is 80 million euros for investment and 34 million for the operation. 

Sarah Lloyd