The Côte d'Azur turned its eyes westward on Wednesday evening for a partial solar eclipse, with obscuration reaching between 95 and 97 percent across the Alpes-Maritimes as the sun sank toward the horizon.
The eclipse began around 7.30pm along the coast, with the maximum effect in Nice arriving at 8.24pm, just as the sun itself sat low and close to the horizon, a timing that made viewing conditions tricky wherever trees, buildings or terrain blocked the western sky. Recommended vantage points included Cannes' seafront facing west-northwest and La Croix des Gardes, Antibes' ramparts and the heights of La Garoupe, and the Fort de la Revère near Èze. Further inland, the Préalpes d'Azur offered several elevated spots with open horizons, including the Col de Vence, Gourdon, Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey and Coursegoules.
The eclipse's timing also set up a natural double feature for skywatchers, with the peak of the annual Perseid meteor shower following overnight into Thursday.