Romantic Eze, Cote d'Azur, France Getaway

Eze is a really breathtaking Village. It was the highlight of my trip to France. There are incredible mountain views overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. It is a quaint Village that is travelled by foot. No vehicles can get in, making it all the more peaceful. Along with many little shops and restaurants, there is an exotic garden (Jardin Exotique)located atop the Village. There is also a pretty church located in the Village (L'Eglise Notre Dame). The atmosphere is friendly and calm. Eze Village is located only approximately 20 minutes from Nice and Monaco, where you can go for a day trip.

There are two well known high-end hotels located in Eze Village, Chateau Eza and Chateau de la Chevre D'or. If you can afford to stay there, it is well worth it. They provide excellent views and service. The restaurants located in the hotels are fine dining. At the bottom of the Village there is another fine dining restaurant called Mas Provencal. There is also a great pizza place at the base of the Village.

The Village is not very large, and after a day or two you may find you have exhausted all there is to do. We were there for three days and found this a perfect time to explore the Village for 2 days, and Monaco for 1 day. As we were there in March, it wasn't exactly beach weather. If you travel in the summer, you may find the Village fulfilling by going down to the beach.

If you are looking for a relaxing, romantic getaway, this is it! Eze is not a place where there is a lot to do, but it is perfect for casually touring around and taking in the true beauty of the French Riviera.

Quick Tips:

As the Village of Eze is located high up on the mountain, the cost of getting to the top by taxi is pricey. We arrived by train. The train station is located at the bottom of the mountain, therefore to take a taxi up, the cost was 60 Euros. It was the same to take us back down, when we left. It is probably more economical to take the train to Nice and then take the bus in to Eze Village, as there is a bus stop right at the base of the Village (therefore no taxi is needed to get up the mountain). To get down to the beach, the cost would be the same (60 Euros).

There are many shops located in the Village which are great to explore even if you don't plan on buying anything. Anything from artwork, to homemade olive wood products, to clothing. It will be difficult to leave without picking something up as many of the items are unique.

Bring your camera! This is a great place for pictures that you definitely would not want to miss.

Also, bring your appetite. If you enjoy fine dining, there are a number of places to treat yourself to starting from the two high-end hotels located in the Village, to another restaurant located at the bottom of the Village.

Staying in the Village of Eze is expensive in high season (summer). To avoid this, try travelling at the end of March as we did. Prices are much lower and the weather is usually quite nice even at that time.

Best Way To Get Around:

As this is a pedestrian Village, the best way to get around would obviously be by foot. Be prepared to walk the cobblestones. A good pair of shoes is helpful, but not a must. A bottle of water is handy as well, although there are little restaurants throughout the Village, along with gift shops. Going downhill is easy, getting back up is a bit more challenging, but the incline is gradual. There are cobblestone pathways with elongated steps. At the bottom of the Village, you could park a car if you are driving, or you could arrange for a taxi to pick you up/drop you off. There is also a bus stop located at the bottom of the Village, which is very convenient to get you to or from Monaco or Nice. The train station is located at the bottom of the mountain (you would be at the top).

You need not worry about getting your luggage up to your hotel if you are staying there, as the hotel arranges for that.

www.chateaueza.com

This is a beautiful, quaint "hotel." I hesitate to call it a hotel, as it is not like most hotels. It has individual guest houses, and each room is individually designed and decorated and can be viewed on the above website.

Chateau Eza was the former residence of Prince William of Sweden from 1923 to 1953, but has now been transformed into artists' studios and shops on the ground floors and suites on the upper floors. We occupied the Marie-Antoinette Suite.

Upon arrival, we were greeted at the base of the Village with a friendly host. He took care of taking our luggage all the way up the village into our room (and we had a lot of luggage!). We were greeted at the hotel by another host who took us out onto the restaurant patio, which had a fabulous view, and served us complimentary cocktails until our baggage arrived.

The room was quite lovely, with a rich, old-time feel. You actually feel like you are Marie-Antoinette! The room was spacious, with a desk, dresser, armoire, bed, built-in television set, safe, and small fridge. We did not have a balcony, but the view was still spectacular, looking down the mountain and over the wide expanse of the Mediterranean Sea. Upon browsing the room, we came upon a handwritten personal letter to us from the general manager. This was a nice personal touch, one of many, during our stay.

Cleaning was done as you requested it. The staff was friendly, professional, and very accommodating to our needs. They were helpful in directing us through the village and even through town outside the village.

They were not intrusive, as sometimes is the case, but very discreet.

Pricing during summer (high season) is quite high. We were fortunate to go at the end of March, and we checked their website. We found a great special they had, staying 2 nights for the price of 3! Our room at that time was 150 Euros/night; therefore, we paid 300 Euros for 3 nights. Suites can get as high as 1,000 Euros, especially during the Monaco Grand Prix. Book early and be sure of travel plans, as cancellations can only be made up to 2 weeks prior to your stay. A credit card and 50% deposit of the full stay is required during booking.

There is a restaurant located in the hotel, but it is fine dining and quite pricey. Continental breakfast is 22 Euros/person. Fixed price dinner begins at 90 Euros per person. You may wish to opt for the local boulangerie located at the base of the village. You can also pick up water a lot cheaper at the "convenience" store across from the boulangerie.

We did not dine at Chateau Eza, but opted for another fine-dining restaurant at the base of the Village called Mas Provencal (see my other journal).

If you go to Eze Village, I highly recommend staying there. It makes things much more enjoyable!

Restaurant Mas Provencal is a fabulous restaurant. You will enjoy fine dining in an elegant setting. The outside is covered in flowers, urns, a white picket fence, plants. There is so much greenery, you feel like you are in a tropical getaway. The inside is just as beautiful. There is a deep respect for nature and the uniqueness of this restaurant is instantly felt. There are more than 200 fresh flowers weekly. The antique furniture, Provencal floor-tiles and beautiful greenery are everything you need for a delightful evening of fine dining.

The food is fabulous as well. To start, our table was brought a basket of fresh vegetables (something we craved after eating out for almost two weeks). This was followed by an assortment of savoury hors d'oeuvres which included boiled partridge eggs, anchovies, beef strips in a wine sauce, and fresh bread with different butters and pastes. There were plenty of wines and beers to choose from. We were then served savouring risotto with flap mushrooms served from a 90 kg block of Parmesan cheese. The meal was just as fabulous. The menu includes suckling pig, saddle of lamb and old-fashioned veal with its traditional potato puree.

The meal was enjoyed to relaxing music played in house. The service was spectacular with attention to detail. Service was polite and helpful, but not 'in-your-face'. This is a great place for a romantic dinner for two, or for a fun night out with family and friends.

The cost was 150 Euros for 2 adults for the fixed price menu. You can also order a la carte where pricing is just as high. I have to say that even though we 'broke the bank' I left France with the best taste in my mouth. This was a highlight of my two week trip.

The decor of the Restaurant left a lasting impression. The fresh flowers that adorned the inside, including a huge 150 or so flower bouquet suspended from the ceiling, are really a sight. To finish off the evening, we were served chocolate filled dates that were sitting in a spoon attached to a butterfly, which was attached to a plant. The date in the flower for the lady, and the other for the gent (see attached photos). A fabulous idea as opposed to the traditional bon-bon. I hope you will enjoy this place as much as we did.

For a nice stroll afterwards, take a walk through Eze Village and enjoy it's beauty and views which you can see in my other writings.

This is a lovely Exotic Garden perched at the top of the Village, 429 metres above sea level. It overlooks one of the most beautiful panoramas of the French Riviera. It has many different plants to view such as cactus and aloe, as well as many beautiful statues. There is a quiet place with lounge chairs and flowing water where you can lay back and relax.

At the time we went, the cost was 5 Euros per person. Was it worth it? It depends on what type of person you are. I would say it was lovely and I would pay the amount to see it, others may not feel the same way. It could be boring for someone who is not interested in strolling around and viewing different plants. I think the panoramic view of the Mediterranean Sea and the mountain alone are well worth the price.

There are many steps (some steep) throughout the garden, so be prepared for this if you are older or have difficulty on stairs.

Also, bringing a bottle of water is helpful as there is a good amount of strolling around. Once you leave the garden, I don't believe you are allowed back in unless you pay again.