Place of the Nice Courthouse ★ 4 / 5

Updated 26/09/2026by HOIZEY François-Olivier6 min read

Courthouse
The Place du Palais de Justice, at the entrance to Old Nice, sets two emblematic buildings face to face: the neoclassical courthouse of 1892 and the Palais Rusca, a former military barracks turned courthouse annex. It also hosts three Saturday markets.

Updated on 26 September 2026

The short answer: Place du Palais de justice hosts its market every Saturday (old books, postcards, artists' creations), from 7am to 5pm: from 7am to 7pm between 1 June and 30 September. On Wednesdays in July and August, it becomes an open-air dance floor with the Rendez-Vous Latino (free, 7.30pm-11pm). The courthouse itself is a working court building: it cannot be visited.

Place du Palais de justice sits at the entrance to Old Nice, a few metres from the Cours Saleya. This triangular pedestrian square links the historic core, the port and the seafront: you almost have to pass through it, and you are happy to stop for a coffee on its terraces, in an atmosphere that is neither too busy nor badly placed.

The Nice courthouse

The Palais de justice is an imposing neoclassical building opened on 17 October 1892, the work of departmental architect Auguste-Vincent Dieudé-Defly. It was built on the site of the former Dominican convent, first raised here in 1243 and later demolished to clear the ground.

The building was completely refurbished and modernised between 1996 and 1999. It now houses the Nice judicial court, the bar association and several court services, open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. As it is a working building it cannot be visited: you admire it from the square, above all for its monumental façade overlooking the whole western side.

The Palais Rusca, the former barracks

Opposite the courthouse, the Palais Rusca is a former military barracks built between 1775 and 1776 by engineer Filippo Nicolis di Robilant, one of the builders of Port Lympia. The square was then a parade ground and the building housed the garrison until the early 1990s.

It has been a listed historic monument since 1976 and has housed district court services since 1993. Its façade, leaning against the Clock Tower, is a good example of Savoyard military architecture: look at it from the centre of the square, with the tower as a backdrop.

What to look at on the square

• The courthouse façade: pediment, columns and grand staircase, best admired from the bottom of the steps.
• The Clock Tower rising above the Palais Rusca, a landmark in Old Nice.
• The fountain, which links the two buildings and gives the square its calm, stony feel.
• The arcades and terraces: this is where the life of the square happens, between brasserie customers and passers-by.
• The view: from the eastern side, the eye runs straight towards the port and the sea.

The square is also the best starting point for the rest of Old Nice: place Rossetti is two minutes away.

The Saturday market on the square

The square hosts a weekly market on Saturdays, centred on books, art and crafts. Entry is free, no ticket needed.

• General hours: Saturday 7am to 5pm, and 7am to 7pm from 1 June to 30 September.
• The exact mix of stalls can vary from one Saturday to another: if in doubt, the Tourist Office calendar is the reference.
• The market is far quieter than the Cours Saleya, a short walk away, ideal for browsing without the crush. For every market in the city, see our guide to Nice markets.

Summer Wednesdays: the Rendez-Vous Latino

Every Wednesday in July and August, the square becomes an open-air dance floor: the Rendez-Vous Latino, a fixture on the Côte d'Azur for more than fifteen years, draws hundreds of people.

• When: Wednesdays in July and August, from 7.30pm to 11pm.
• Price: free, outdoors (a voluntary contribution may be offered to support the event).
• Styles: salsa, bachata, kizomba, rock, konpa, merengue, open to beginners and experienced dancers alike.
• The concept proved so successful that it has been extended to other key dates of the year on the same square.

If you are on the Côte d'Azur on a summer Wednesday, this is one of the liveliest free nights out in Nice.

Where to eat around the square

The square itself is lined with brasseries with terraces: a good place to stop, less crowded than Old Nice, and handy after a walk. To go further, it is two minutes to the addresses of Old Nice and three to the Cours Saleya; our guide to Niçoise cuisine lists the dishes to try.

As everywhere in the centre, book ahead on summer evenings: it is the smartest reflex, especially in July and August.

Around the neighbourhood

The square is the ideal starting point for a walk through Old Nice: place Rossetti and its cathedral are two minutes away, the Palais Lascaris three minutes, and the marina five minutes on foot.

After the visit, a rest on a terrace lets you recharge before heading to the Promenade des Anglais or the Colline du Château. Everything worth seeing is gathered in our guide to visits and activities.

Getting to Place du Palais de justice

• On foot: two minutes from the Cours Saleya or Old Nice; about fifteen minutes from the Promenade des Anglais.
• Tram: Garibaldi stop (lines 1 and 2), then a five-minute walk; see our guide to Nice transport.
• Bus: several lines serve the port and Garibaldi, right next door.
• Car: parking in the centre is difficult; a car park on the edge of town is a better bet, as explained in our safety and good-practice guide.

Local tips

• Saturday morning: that is the best time of the week to see the square animated by its market; after 11am the stalls start to empty.
• Summer Wednesday evenings: walk or take the tram back, since the square is taken over by the party.
• Light: in late morning the courthouse façade is lit from the front, the best angle for a photo.
• Keep your belongings with you: as in any tourist spot in Nice, stay alert (see our safety page).

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