Eze Village is an ancient hilltop stone village located 427 meters high in the French Riviera. The village goes back to the Neolithic era and was once part of the Kingdom of Sardinia (Italy) as well. In the 1800’s it became a commune of France.
In Eze you can find many craft and gift shops, art galleries, hotels, and restaurants. The mountain village is literally built in stone. Narrow and winding cobblestone pathways, stone-clad houses and stone walled corridors, arched stone passages, vaulted stone cellars, everything here is and was built in stone. The stone mountain village is very well preserved and it definitely offers the visitor a visit back in time, however it does reeks tourism, but not as touristy such as Monaco for example.
They say Bono and The Edge of the U2 band owns a villa just right below Eze and they filmed the songs, ‘Beautiful Day’ and ‘Electrical Storm’ here.
Had I known Eze earlier before this trip, I would have booked an overnight stay at this picturesque hamlet and experience what it is like waking up to a preserved little medieval village perched on top of the hill and overlooking the inviting Mediterranean Sea. It’s so lovely and romantic here.
As we all know, the middle Ages was not a pleasant time to live in. The average human being’s lifespan is very short; there was always constant battle going on. While exploring Eze village, I came upon a bend where vestiges of the past still stood. A locked arched doorway now covered with thick bushes with an oxidized latch still hanging on to the door. I peered through the hole between the bushes and saw a steep cliff below that leads down to the Bay of Eze. Beside the door a marble plate was fastened. On it says, ‘Porte des Maures’ (The Moors Gateway) and the text below was a summation of the village’s dark days when it was invaded by the Moors.
I stood there and felt a thin blow of cold wind rippled through me. I don’t know, but I am deeply fascinated with the European Medieval period. Perhaps I have read too much about it. Perhaps my pursuit for history brings me to confront them. Perhaps my fine arts background has something to do with it. Whatever.
On the very top of the mountain is a Botanical garden, but you must pay in order to get in. With my not-so-exciting experience with the Botanical garden in Montjuic Parc in Barcelona, I didn’t bother (on hindsight, I did not know the castle ruins were there!) and instead I took a seat in a café restaurant just before the entrance gateway to the garden.
Eze Village – a village of art and gastronomy.
The café restaurant was brimming with patrons and this young surly waiter was snapping back at customers telling them to ease up a bit as he was the only one doing the rounds, lol. I find the whole scenario funny. This can only be done in good old Europe!
In front of me is a German couple just about to leave. I can overhear American students talking and laughing loudly below me. A sober looking English couple sat a few meters away. A group of excited Japanese tourists just passed by. Didn’t I say earlier that this hamlet is touristy?
After my cup of espresso, I went to check the shops.
I rarely buy stuff in touristy places as I know they are a) overpriced b) mass produced c) kitsch looking d) not of good quality. I found a nice shop selling scarves and I just couldn’t just leave without the blue scarf in 1950’s design. I convinced myself that I haven’t really seen anything like this being sold anywhere else. So I bought it, my souvenir from Eze Village.
Travel Period: December 2007
Destination: Eze Village in Nice (Provence-Alpes Cote d’Azur), France