It is not Rio de Janeiro, but the Nice Carnival, the first international carnival celebration in France, is the top winter event on the French Riviera.
"CARNIVAL - The earliest mention of Carnival in Nice goes back to 1294. In the Middle Age, before Lent, excesses were made until Mardi Gras - though controlled by the «Abbés des Fous». Mocking everything and everybody, behind masks or protected by disguises, was common. Until the 18th century, there were masked balls in the streets; during the 18th century and under the influence of the Carnival of Venice, the Carnival went inside, to the Salons. By the end of the century, during the French Revolution and the First Empire, Carnival was suspended. In 1830, a new form was launched, again in the streets: a cortège of carriages paraded in front of the rulers of Piedmont-Sardinia, disguises were worn, eggs and confetti were thrown at each other. In 1873, Andriot Saëtone, responsable for the charity services in the city and consul of Greece and Argentina, founded the «Festival Committee» to organize the Carnival of Nice. On February 23, 1873, King Carnival, the First, entered the city: modern Carnival was born!"
