The word
Corniche has its
etymology in the
French phrase
route en corniche, meaning
road (
route) on (
en) a
rock ledge (
corniche). The English word
cornice has similar
connotations.
The most well known corniche in the world is the
Corniche du Littoral which winds along the length of the French
Riviera. The Corniche du Littoral actually consists of three roads, the
Grande Corniche at the top of the cliffs (built by
Napoleon), the
Corniche Inférieur, which winds its way along
the water's edge (built by the prince of
Monaco), and the
Corniche Moyenne, the primary road, which traverses the cliffs halfway between the other two.
In recent years, the word "corniche" in the
Middle East has come to refer to a waterfront
promenade,
parkway or
boulevard, with connotations of all three. This usage was first engendered by the splendid corniche in
Alexandria,
Egypt. Many modern Middle Eastern cities have impressive corniches which act as a centerpiece to the city and a source of local pride. Among these are:
- Casablanca, Morocco
- Alexandria, Egypt
- Cairo, Egypt
- Beirut, Lebanon
- Tripoli, Lebanon
- Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Muscat, Oman
- Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Sharjah, UAE
- Doha, Qatar
- Manama, Bahrain
- Kuwait City, Kuwait
- Basra, Iraq