Les Moulins

Nestled between Nice and Saint-Laurent-du-Var lies Les Moulins, a neighborhood steeped in history and transformation. Les Moulins wasn’t always a bustling urban landscape. Originally a floodplain prone to the Var River’s unpredictable nature, the area underwent a significant shift in the 16th century. Dikes, irrigation canals, and channels were constructed, not only protecting the land but also powering mills and sawmills, giving the district its name, Les Moulins (The Mills). This innovative engineering feat transformed the landscape, fostering a thriving agricultural community that persisted until the late 1960s. Fast forward to the post-WWII era, and Les Moulins, like many areas in France, faced a housing crisis. The “Trente Glorieuses” (Glorious Thirty) saw a population boom, and Les Moulins became a key location for social housing projects. Starting in 1965, large residential complexes sprang up, dramatically altering the neighborhood’s character. This rapid urbanization, while addressing a pressing need, created its own set of challenges. Les Moulins, now home to around 7,000 residents, has been the focus of extensive urban renewal projects. The first program, launched in 2009, saw the demolition and replacement of hundreds of housing units, alongside the creation of new public amenities. A new avenue, named after Martin Luther King Jr., was carved through the heart of Les Moulins, improving connectivity and symbolizing the neighborhood’s ongoing transformation. The arrival of the Nice tramway in 2019 further enhanced accessibility, linking Les Moulins to the city center, airport, and other key areas. Despite the challenges, Les Moulins remains a vibrant community. It has fostered notable figures, including film director Abdellatif Kechiche, who grew up in the neighborhood’s iconic horseshoe-shaped buildings. Footballer Malang Sarr, another local, inaugurated a street park bearing his name in 2019, a testament to the community’s resilience and pride. Les Moulins stands as a testament to the constant evolution of urban spaces. From a floodplain dominated by agriculture to a modern residential area, it continues to adapt and redefine itself.