Eze, French Riviera

The Perched Village of Èze

French writer George Sand put it nicely when describing Èze:

“It is really an enchantment the panorama of the corniche… The curves of the coast offer at each step a splendid background. The ruins of Eze, planted on a cone-shaped rock, with a picturesque village perched on a sugar loaf, stop the glance inevitably. This is the most beautiful point of view of the road, the most complete, the best composed. At the foreground there is the tremendous opening of mountains that open to let appear the Saracen fortress at the bottom of an abyss dominating another abyss.“

 Unlike villages like Peillon, Èze has sometimes been described as a “Museum-Village” (Musée-Village) as only a few people of local origin reside within the walls of the old perched village. Many gift shops, art galleries, and restaurants cater for tourists but might repel some of them looking for more off the beaten path sites. However the charms of the village is undeniable, particularly when the high-season of summer is avoided. From above the lofty cliffs, the panoramic and stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea are unforgettable.

The old village is made up of a maze of narrow winding little streets punctuated by shady small squares and vaulted passages. The rocky spur is crowned with the ruins of the 12th century castle where lies a fine exotic garden.

The entrance to the pedestrian village is marked by the double fortified gate of “La Poterne” built by the counts of Savoy in the 14th century as part of their plans to improve the fortifications of Èze. This was the unique access to the village during the Middle-Ages.

Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs

The main street (Rue Principale) winds up to the Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs. Also known as Chapelle de la Sainte-Croix, this is Èze’s oldest monument, built in 1306. The sanctuary hold the meetings of the White Penitents who were in charge of helping victims of the Plague. The particularly shape of its bell-tower recalls the time when Èze was linked to the Republic of Genoa. Inside are old crucifixes and statues of the Virgin dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries. On 15 and 16 April 1860, it was in this chapel that the people of Èze voted unanimously to be joined to France.

Notre-Dame de l’Assomption Church

The light-ochre church of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption was rebuilt between 1764 and 1778 on the foundation of a former sanctuary that was falling apart. The bell tower was added in the 19th century. Contrasting with the Neo-classical façade, the interior of the church displays a rich Baroque decoration with altarpieces and trompe-l’œil windows. The church has been listed by the State as a Historic Monument in 1984.

Eza Castle and the Exotic Garden

At the very top of the village, the ruined castle of Eza boasts one of the most beautiful botanical gardens on the French Riviera and offers a breathtaking view over the sea and the coastline. The garden was created on a steep sloping ground after World War II by Mayor André Gianton and Jean Gastaud of the Exotic Garden of Monaco.