Nice’s annual Christmas swim

If you are lucky enough to be spending Christmas in Nice, you may be tempted to join the hundreds of impulsive winter swimmers and take a Christmas dip in the Mediterranean.

Nice’s annual Christmas swim (Bain de Noel), takes place on Ruhl Beach on December 19.

Both locals and visitors alike brave the chilly water, which have usually dropped to an icy 12 degrees Celsius, to participate in this popular event.

Whilst some of the more sensible winter bathers come kitted out in a wet suit, for the majority, their Christmas plunge into the Med is executed in trunks or a swimming costume and nothing more!

If you feel like joining in with the local traditional Christmas customs, or would prefer just to watch those revelling in the attention this endurance event gives them, then head on down to the Promenade des Anglais and Ruhl Beach for 11.30.

Ruhl Beach is one of the 15 private beaches in Nice. Laid out in 1920, this immaculate beach lies between the stunning views of the Baie des Anges and the Promenade des Anglais.

One of the most celebrated promenades on the Cote d’Azur, the Promenade des Anglais was built in the latter half of the eighteenth century when the rich Englishmen who had taken to spending the winter in Nice decided to give the influx of beggars to the region a ‘useful project’ and construct a walkway along the sea.

The promenade proved popular in Nice and authorities gradually built it up and improved it. Today, the Promenade des Anglais is a popular place to walk and take in the sensational views of Nice, to contemplate the azure water of la Baie des Anges and the landscapes surrounding this magnificent city.

‘La Prom’, as it is often referred to, is also particularly popular with cyclists and skateboarders, and, of course, those watching the daredevils jump into the ocean on December 19!