This definition \u2013 vaguely but deliberately obscure \u2013 applies to a small village on the French Riviera that is one of the most beautiful places in the region, if not all of France. This site has already touched on it in relation to two Michelin-starred restaurants located there.
\nBut let\u2019s take it step by step. Along the cliffs overlooking the stretch of coast between Nice and Monaco, three “corniches” (coastal roads) run, roughly parallel, each at a higher elevation (the last one partially following the path of the ancient \u201cVia Julia Augusta\u201d).<\/p>\n
Halfway along the \u201cmoyenne\u201d (the middle one), on top of a hill at 429 meters above sea level, lies the village of \u00c8ze, an ever-popular destination for tourists, drawn by its beauty and the magnificent sea views. It is said that the original site \u2013 lower than the current one \u2013 was first occupied by the Phoenicians, who built a temple to the Egyptian goddess Isis (hence the name), later by the ancient Ligurians, and then became part of the Roman Liguria (IX Regio).<\/p>\n
In medieval times, to fend off various invasions, the locals took refuge at the top of the hill, where the village remains today. Under the rule of the Duchy of Savoy in modern times, it was annexed by France in 1860.<\/p>\n
The village center is like a labyrinth, with cobbled streets and alleys lined with medieval houses that have been restored, small gardens, shops, and workshops. On the slopes, you will find more recently built houses and villas.<\/p>\n
There are two churches worth visiting. First, the Chapelle des P\u00e9nitents-Blancs (an ancient lay confraternity, officially called Chapelle de la Sainte-Croix), inside which is a \u201cCrucifixion\u201d by the Brea school and the \u201cMadone des For\u00eats,\u201d named because the child in her arms holds a pinecone. The chapel was built in the early 14th century. Then, there is the \u00c9glise de Notre-Dame de l\u2019Assomption, dating from the 18th century, an elegant example of Nice Baroque architecture, with its impressive central nave. A curious pulpit displays an outstretched arm holding a Crucifix, and the church features a particularly beautiful \u201cAdoration of the Magi\u201d in the Italian style.<\/p>\n
There are many more attractions in \u00c8ze<\/strong>, including the eponymous \u201cJardin\u201d at the top of the rock. There are many reasons to visit it: a thematic path with fifteen female sculptures, an extraordinary collection of succulents, agaves, aloe, euphorbias, giant cacti, the ruins of the ancient castle, and the breathtaking view over the Riviera below.<\/p>\n Unexpectedly, there are also two recently created perfume factories, which fit well with the fragrances and aromas that fill the air. The \u201cParfumerie Fragonard\u201d is a workshop specializing in soap-making and cosmetics, which can be visited for free, along with the adjoining store, where products are sold at factory prices. There is also the \u201cParfumerie Galimard,\u201d which can also be visited, along with its small \u201cmuseum\u201d filled with perfumes. Additionally, visitors can participate \u2013 for a rather high cost \u2013 in a perfume-making workshop.<\/p>\n Another place to explore is the \u201cParc d\u00e9partemental de la R\u00e8vere,\u201d which has a botanical trail to discover the plants of the Mediterranean scrub, a natural history museum, and the \u201cFort de la Rev\u00e8re,\u201d built in 1870 to protect Nice from above. The park also features the \u201cAstrorama de la Trinit\u00e9,\u201d equipped with several telescopes for celestial observation.<\/p>\n Finally, there is the \u201cSentier de Nietzsche,\u201d which connects the \u00c8ze-Bord-de-mer<\/strong> beach to the original hilltop village. This panoramic, rocky, and steep path is named after the German philosopher who walked it while conceiving the third part of his masterpiece Thus Spoke Zarathustra<\/em>.<\/p>\n A place almost mystical in nature, where the only obstacle to reflecting and contemplating its beauty is the enormous influx of tourists. It is, therefore, highly recommended to visit during the early morning or late afternoon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This definition \u2013 vaguely but deliberately obscure \u2013 applies to a small village on the French Riviera that is one of the most beautiful places in the region, if not all of France. This site has already touched on it in relation to two […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16283,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[862,847],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nice","category-what-to-visit"],"yoast_head":"\n