Of all the Cote d'Azur's perched villages, Eze has the most impressive position. Looming over the sea at an altitude of 427m, Eze is the highest seaside village in France and makes a dramatic exclamation point along the Moyenne Corniche. The medieval walls that once encircled the village are long gone but the stony streets of the Old Town still wind precipitously uphill affording occasional glimpses of the sea far below.

At the top of the walled village is an Exotic Gardin (Jardin Exotique) with drop-dead views of the coast.The curious name, Eze, derives from the Egyptian goddess, Isis. The ancient Phoenicians who once occupied this spot, dedicated a temple to her.

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What to See & Do

Wandering the streets is the greatest pleasure of visiting Eze. Yes, the streets are crammed with souvenir shops, small restaurants and cafes, galleries and boutiques but somehow the medieval ambience remains. There is a small beach below the hill (way below) in Eze-sur-Mer and you can walk down to it using the Sentier Friedrich-Nietzche. The famous German philosopher wrote Thus Spoke Zarathustra during a stay in Eze. There's also an 18th-century baroque church and a modest 14th-century Chapelle des Penitents-Blancs.

Visitors are also drawn to the two famous perfume factories, Galimard and Fragonard. With a long presence in the region, these two establishments vie for visitors, each offering free tours of their perfume factories, explanations of perfume-making and only a little sales pressure to buy their products.

Where to Stay

Five-star Hotels
Le Chateau de la Chevre d'Or

Four-star Hotels
Chateau Eza
Eza Vista
Les Terrasses d'Eze

Three-star Hotels
Eze Hermitage

Where to Eat

La Chevre d'Or is one of the most celebrated restaurants in the region and offers highly refined dining. Chateau Eza is also well-known for its cuisine and the splendid views from its terrace. There are many more casual restaurants within and just outside the medieval village.

Travel to Eze

By Car
The best way to get to Eze is to take the Moyenne Corniche. There's a parking area below the medieval Chateau that fills up fast.

By Bus
Lignedazur runs line 82 from Nice Gare Routiere. The frequency is every 45 to 60 minutes Monday to Saturday and fewer on Sunday. Get the schedule here.

Another possibility is Line 112 from Nice or Monaco but the frequency is less and there are no buses on Sunday. Get the schedule here.

By Train
Eze is on the main coastal line that runs from Nice to Monaco but the Eze train station is on the coast. It's a long walk uphill to Eze village.

Tourist Information

The Eze village tourist office is at the entrance to the medieval town.

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