Èze
Èze
ÈzeÈze is the village everyone photographs and few really understand. Perched on its rocky outcrop between Nice and Monaco, it is car-free, tiny and, at the wrong hour, crowded. Guided at the right hour, with the story of its Ligurian, Provençal and Savoyard past, it becomes the most beautiful hour of your trip.
As a state-licensed guide, I walk the village with you: the fortified gate, the stone lanes, the chapel, the Exotic Garden on the ruins of the castle with its view from Cap-Ferrat to Italy. Then, if you like, we go down to the Fragonard or Galimard perfume houses, where you can create your own fragrance in a private workshop.
What we can see together
The medieval village
The 14th-century gate, the lanes that climb in a spiral, the artisans' workshops and the Chapelle de la Sainte-Croix. I explain why the village stands where it does.
The Exotic Garden and its panorama
On the ruins of the castle razed in 1706, a garden of cacti and succulents with the finest view on the coast. Entrance €10 per person, payable on site.
The perfume houses and the workshop
Fragonard and Galimard were born in Grasse and have their workshops at the foot of Èze. Creating your own perfume takes about two hours and is the most memorable option I offer.
Èze with Monaco or Nice
Twenty minutes from Monaco, thirty from Nice: Èze fits naturally into a half day with the Principality or a full day along the coast.
Practical details
A 2-hour private tour of Èze costs €340 per group, not per person, and the perfume workshop is an optional add-on. The half-day format (€450) pairs Èze with Monaco, and the full day (€750) adds Nice. On formats with a vehicle, an all-electric car is included for up to 3 guests; the village itself is visited on foot, with some steps and slopes. I guide in English, French and Spanish.