Èze, France - Exploring the enchanting medieval Village

Eze is an enchanting hilltop village in Côte d'Azur with two 5-star hotels and a beautiful exotic garden. The village attracts about 5,000 visitors daily, most of whom go there on a day trip from Nice or Monaco.

Most references to Eze France are about the village. However, Eze is a commune housing two parts: the village of Èze and Èze sur Mer. Eze Sur Mer is the coastal section of the commune, which has its own appeal (more on that later), while the village is the most popular attraction.

Before you make travel plans, note that you must be willing to do a lot of uphill walking to fully appreciate the village's beauty. If you're feeling lazy (after all, you're on vacation), the next best thing is to include Eze in a helicopter tour. However, while that will offer stunning views, you'll be leaving a lot on the table.

The Charm of Eze Village

Stepping into the village is like jumping into a time machine. It is a maze of narrow cobblestone streets with medieval houses built close to each other. You'll likely have a Dr. Who moment as you walk through the pathways and observe the different buildings.

As you wander around the village, you'll notice that most buildings are now gift shops and art galleries displaying various goods and artifacts. These show the storied past of the village and charm visitors.

But beyond the allure of walking through an endearing medieval village, its claim to fame is the panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea it offers. Being 427 meters above sea level gives it an added advantage.

The elevation makes it ideal to marvel at views of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and other nearby towns, including Beaulieu sur Mur and Villefranche-sur-Mer. It's why many call the village the "eagle's nest".

Things to do and see in Eze Village

Jardin Exotique d'Eze

Located on a site that once had a 12th-century medieval fortress, the award-winning Jardin Exotique d'Eze is a marvelous hilltop garden. It occupies the highest peak in the village, and the panoramic views here allow you to see as far as the Gulf of Saint Tropez and the Esterel Mountains.

Commissioned by then mayor of Eze, Rene Gianton, the garden was architected by Jean Gastaud, who is also responsible for Jardin Exotique de Monaco. Beyond the views that make the garden the highlight of a visit to the village, it has various plants and xerophytes from all continents.

The variety of cacti and other xerophytes is so vast that you're not likely to think of cacti the same way ever again. Some of these plants grow out of walls in an apparent boast of their resilience.

Walking through the garden, you’ll see information points offering insights into the village's heritage. Ensure you make it to the Point de Vue observation deck, where you'll find the best views.

Nietzsche Path

The Nietzsche Path, also known as Le Chemin de Nietzsche, is a hiking trail named after German philosopher Friedrich Nietzche. It is a 4.2-kilometer trail up a 1000 ft elevation from bottom to top connecting Eze sur Mer and Eze village.

There's no sugar-coating it. If you plan to visit the village, you must be moderately fit. Even if you get a ride to the village, the narrow pathways don't offer a driving option, so you will be hiking around the village. With that out of the way, consider hiking up the path if you feel up for a challenge.

The panoramic views make the hike worth every minute, but the views walking down are no different from walking up, so you're better off walking down to reduce the strain.

Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption

If you've seen drone/helicopter shots of the village, you may have noticed the mustard-yellow church with a large tower. This is Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption, an 18th-century neo-classical church dedicated to "Our Lady of the Assumption". The church is on the site of the ruins of a 12th-century church. It is a significant landmark in the village, so plan to include it on your list of places to visit.

Galimard factory and Fragonard Perfume Boutiques

If you appreciate fine fragrances, you'll want to tour the Galimard Fragrance Factory. Founded by Jean de Galimard in 1747, it is one of the first French houses of Perfumes. Galimard, a family-owned company, offers complimentary guided tours of the factory and museum seven days a week.

The fragrance lover in you is in for an additional treat. Fragonard is another family-owned perfumer in the village with two boutiques. The first is on Avenue du Jardin Exotique, and the other is on Place de la Colette. Before your visit, you should have a fixed fragrance budget to avoid getting carried away.

Château Eza

A medieval village with a 5-star hotel? That's right. Château Eza is a 400-year-old 14-room boutique hotel offering sea views from every suite and a 50-seat 1 Michelin-starred restaurant. If the hike around the village sounds intimidating, staying at this hotel will take some of the bite away.

But even if you choose not to stay in the glorious hotel, you can always stop by for a sumptuous meal at the restaurant, which offers French and Mediterranean cuisine and floor-to-ceiling windows with unobstructed views of Sean-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.

For an exclusive dining experience, you can opt for one of the two small balconies with four seats each or the 16-seat private dining room with a private terrace. It's perfect for hosting friends or business partners.

If you're in no mood for a meal, you can stop by the lounge for cocktails, tea, and snacks. Once you're feeling refreshed, you can continue your hike.

Chateau de La Chevre d'OR

Inviting guests with a grand wrought iron gateway finished in black and gold, Chateau de La Chevre d'Or is another 5-star hotel within the village. A member of Relais & Châteaux, the hotel has 45 individually decorated rooms and five suites named after famous artists who spent some time in Eze in the past.

The top-of-the-line Panoramic Suite is a floating paradise with generous living areas, a terrace with sublime views, a private pool, and a jacuzzi.

If you're in Eze for a day trip, you can still enjoy a meal at the 2 Michelin Starred La Chèvre d'Or or Le Café du Jardin, where the main draw is the wood oven pizzas and other grilled food and salads. Le Café du Jardin's exterior seating area overlooks a cliff. It offers the illusion of sitting in a garden suspended in the sky.

Other key attractions in Chateau de La Chevre d'Or include an infinity pool and gardens with strategically placed large decorative animal statues.

Eze sur Mer

The main attraction in Eze is the medieval village, but you shouldn't ignore Eze Sur Mer. This beachfront part of Eze offers a pebble beach where you can relax after your hike, gaze at the bay, or picnic with friends. There are a few restaurants and bars along the beach where you can enjoy various seafood and other local cuisine.

There's also a small marina nearby, Port Silva Maris, where you can rent a small boat for sailing, but this isn't the best place for that. You're better off renting in Nice, Cannes, or Monaco, where there's a wider variety of boats and yachts.

Nicely tucked away on a small peninsula in the Eze sur Mer area is the Cap Estel boutique hotel. This ultra-luxury 20-room waterfront hotel is housed in a villa. It offers exclusive world-class amenities and services you won't find in other luxury hotels on the French Riviera. If privacy is essential to you, Cap Estel is the right place to ensure that.

Arriving in Style

The best way to get around the French Riviera is to drive in a convertible car to fully appreciate the essence of Mediterranean living. Nothing beats cruising along the coastline as the cool breeze reassures you that you chose one of the best places on earth for your vacation. Using this mode of transportation to visit Eze is particularly rewarding. One of the best drives in the region is on Av. De la Liberte along Basse Corniche.

The coastal road connects Nice and Eze, and your view of the Mediterranean Sea is mostly unobstructed. However, you have a special incentive to keep your eyes on the road. You don't want to miss going through the Cap Roux tunnel, which welcomes you to the Commune of Eze. You might recognize this road from the scenes with the red Ferrari in the 2010 action comedy "Killers." starring Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcher.

If you enjoy lengthy tunnel runs, drive to Av Raymond Poincare, where the Cap-Estel tunnel awaits you. It's only a few minutes away.

The Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel offers a set of vintage convertibles you can rent for the day, so if you're planning to stay in Nice and are still undecided about where to stay, maybe that nugget of information will help.

However, finding a place to park may be challenging once you arrive in the village. If you don't want to deal with that, you should take a chauffeured ride or the train from Nice instead. It won't be the same experience, but you'll still enjoy breathtaking views.