Holidays on the South Coast of France. A trip to this region of France would not be complete without a stop-off in Eze, this beautiful Mediterranean village rising up from the waters edge and its pebble beach of Eze-sur-Mer to the 'Grande Corniche' and its striking panoramic views has a long and varied culture written into it's history dating back to the Iron Age (220 before J.C).
Vieux Eze : Perched among the green vegetation the ruins of the medieval castle that are now built into the "Vieux Eze" have helped to construct a labyrinth of paved roads and alleyways leading you ever upwards to the next art gallery or clothing shop.
The village hosts the hotel ***** Chateau de la Chevre d'Or, with its gastronomic ** Michelin restaurant Le Stagioni and its Cafe du Jardin with plunging views over the village and the Mediterranean below.
Jardin Exotique After making your way up to the top of the village a trip to the Jardin Exotique is a must do (at a price). Here you will find cactus and palm trees among the collected plants clinging to the terraced gardens watered by waterfalls and the streams running through the gardens.
Church Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption The beautiful church found in the village of Eze with it's colourful outside is worth a visit (the temperature is fresh inside, ideal if you are visiting in the summer) where you can discover some of the painted dome ceilings dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. Even has a clock which tells a different time depending on how you look at it!
Eze-sur-Mer : Sheltered by the peninsula of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Eze-sur-Mer with it's sea views, pebble beach and chilled out vibe is a rare gem for this coast. The beach of Eze-sur-Mer seems to have been kept for the local population (nobody selling ice creams or tee-shirts on the beach).
Maybe that the access is not easy; you have to cross the railway line, the lack of parking (the small amount of public parking places by the road fill up quickly in the summer) or the pebbles are not comfortable to sleep on, but what ever the reason is, it keeps the numbers down. At the far end of the beach (I'll let you discover which end) things seem to get a bit naturist, this seems to be a tendency in France.
Looking for a place to stay? This sea view appartement has great views and incorporates a beautiful terrace for sunbathing and BBQ's.
Driving around this region can be a bit of fun, the roads climbing from sea level to over 500 m in a few kms lead to some superb hair pin bends! Watch out for the car on the other side.
written : 2016 / latest update : 2021
