Èze

A medieval 'eagle's nest' village perched on a 429-meter sea cliff, with stone lanes, a cactus garden and panoramic Mediterranean views. It is the most photogenic stop on the French Riviera.

Èze sits on the Moyenne Corniche between Nice and Monaco. The medieval village is built on a 429-meter rocky peak, and because of its steep setting it is known as a 'village perché' (perched village), or 'eagle's nest'. The village has only stone lanes and archways, so everything is reached on foot. Along the way you will find art studios, craft shops and the terrace restaurants of two top hotels, Château de la Chèvre d'Or and Château Eza. At the very top is the Jardin Exotique d'Èze (entry about €7, open from 09:00 until sunset). Planted with cacti and succulents on the ruins of a castle destroyed in 1706, its terrace offers a 360-degree view of the Cap Ferrat peninsula and the coastline all the way to Italy, the village's main attraction. Outside the village, at the foot of the hill, the Fragonard perfume factory offers free tours where you can learn about perfume making in Grasse. Getting there: from Nice's Vauban bus station, take bus 82 (or 112) for about 25 minutes to the Èze Village stop (€2.5). In peak season the buses fill up, so take an early one. You can also take the train to Èze-sur-Mer station and climb the Chemin de Nietzsche (the Nietzsche Path, where Nietzsche is said to have conceived Thus Spoke Zarathustra) for 45 to 60 minutes to reach the village. Walking down this path is easier. Allow 2 to 3 hours for the visit. A classic day combines Èze in the morning with Monaco in the afternoon. Wear non-slip shoes, since every lane is steps. The garden is in direct sun from 12:00 to 14:00, so mornings or evenings are more comfortable.

Èze

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