Without doubt one of the Riviera’s most strikingly situated and best preserved hilltop villages, Eze affords truly breath-taking views.

Èze is frequently called the Nid d’Aigle (Eagle’s Nest) because of its remarkable location, perched at the summit of a rocky outcrop, halfway between Nice and Monaco, where the mountains meet the coast.

The settlement records of Èze date back as far as the 11^th century although the site has been occupied since the Bronze Age. The village was fortified in the 12^th century and belonged to the Counts of Savoy for hundreds of years. In 1792, following the creation of the Alpes-Maritimes, Èze became part of the Principality of Monaco. It was only after the plebiscite of 1860, when locals voted in the village chapel, that peace finally came to Èze.

On entering through the only gateway in the ancient ramparts, you will be struck by the tall, golden houses and the labyrinth of tiny vaulted passages with cobbled alleys, which climb steeply up to the ruins of a once massive Saracen fortress 429m (1407ft) above sea level. It is surrounded by an exotic garden, bristling with magnificent cacti, succulents and rare palms.

Be sure to take time to explore the small and elegant flower filled passageways, crammed with countless craft shops hidden in caves within the rock – tiny treasure troves of antiques, ceramics, pewter and olivewood. At the foot of the hill, two Grassois perfume factories, Galimard and Fragonard, contain interesting museums in which the secrets of the perfume production are explained. Nearby, the Chemin de Nietzsche (a narrow path once frequented by the German philosopher) zigzags steeply down to the beach and the former fishing village of Eze-Bord-de-Mer, now a popular coastal resort.

Richard Reeves is the founder of Essential Sailing and if you have been inspired to relax on a luxury sailing holiday, why not make this idyllic world your reality.

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