Free walking tours in Èze and what to see

Must-sees

Èze is a medieval village perched on a rock some 400 metres above the Mediterranean, on the Corniche road between Nice and Monaco. You enter on foot through a fortified gate and wander a maze of cobbled lanes, passages and stairways, with stone houses now occupied by craft workshops, galleries and small shops. The 18th-century church of Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption has a Baroque interior, and close by is the Chapel of the White Penitents.

At the very top, on the ruins of the old castle, is the Jardin d’Èze, an exotic garden of cacti and succulents among sculptures, with views along the coast to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. At the foot of the village, the Fragonard perfumery has a workshop you can visit. If you like walking, the Nietzsche path descends the hillside to Èze-sur-Mer: about two kilometres with nearly 400 metres of descent, over steps and cobbled stretches.

Free tours and guided visits

Èze has no regular free walking tours. What you will find is a guided tour of the village, which helps you understand its history and layout, and a workshop at Fragonard to create your own eau de cologne. As Èze is half an hour from Nice, it is also a frequent stop on Côte d’Azur day trips from there that combine the village with Monaco.

How long to spend

The village is small: two or three hours is enough to wander the lanes, climb to the garden and visit the church. If you add the Fragonard workshop and walk down the Nietzsche path to the sea, allow half a day or a relaxed full day. Go early or late in the afternoon, when there are fewer visitors and the light is lovelier.

Where to stay

There are very few places to stay inside the medieval village, and they tend to be upmarket, with sweeping sea views. In Èze-sur-Mer, by the beach and the train station, there are simpler hotels and apartments. Many travellers prefer to stay in Nice, Beaulieu-sur-Mer or Villefranche-sur-Mer, where there is more choice, and come up to Èze by bus or car.