• Jardin Exotique (Exotic Gardens)
• Fragonard Perfumerie
• Artisan shops along the narrow streets
• Eze Bord-de-Mer
• Relaxing and taking in the natural beauty of the village and its surroundings

Quick Tips:

• Bring your walking shoes.
• I kept water with me because it was warm outside and it isn't an easy walk to the top.
• Be on the lookout for famous people--this is one of the most visited perched villages in France.
• Don't forget your camera when you go to the castle ruins/exotic gardens.
• Buy yourself something from one of the artisans. It is a gift for you and it also helps the locals with their art and the local economy.
• Have lunch at one of the restaurants with a view--you won't have a problem finding one!!
• Stay in a central location so you can walk. Parking isn't easy to come by on the edge of town.

Best Way To Get Around:

If you want to get down to the beach (Eze Bord-de-Mer) you have the option of driving, walking down the path or taking a bus.

If you want to visit other coastal areas you have the option to use the train that runs along the coast with a station in Eze Bord-de-Mer.

Once I sent a deposit check, I promptly received a set of keys and a brochure from the owner. I was instructed on how to turn on the electricity and heaters and what to do with they keys upon our departure.

There is a reserved parking space outside the building with a locking bar so people don't park there when you are gone.

The flat was a good size for 1-4 adults. There were two single beds in the back bedroom and two single beds that pulled down from the wall in the living room (very unique -- It was similar to a Murphy bed, but had little curtains around the bed when it was folded up). There was a bathroom with a sink and shower and a separate toilet room. The kitchen had a washer/dryer and all basic amenities such as dishes, pots and pans, silverware, etc.

There are three balconies off of the flat – one off of each room. All gave spectacular views to the sea and in the direction of La Turbie (SE). The dining room had a large table and chairs and a buffet off to the side. In the buffet was a large amount of tourist information. There were brochures about the surrounding areas, a document that gave information about what days the dustcart came around (garbage truck) and where to put your recyclables.

Sheets and towels were not provided. There were blankets and tea towels in the kitchen. There was laundry soap and dishwashing soap. We picked up some extra paper towels and toilet paper at the Casino (local convenience/small grocery store) in La Turbie, just up the road.

Overall, we had a very good experience staying here. The price was *well* worth the location and comfort.

One last thing worth mentioning is that the flat is just off of the main road that runs by Eze. It can be a bit noisy from all of the traffic. None of us had any problems sleeping or being disturbed, but someone who is used to things being really quiet at night may have trouble with the noise.

Contact information as follows: Search on the aforementioned website for property number 2236. I can't remember which is which, but one man owns the flat and the other manges it: Brian Jones and Michael Sullivan at the following numbers 02920 865 510 and 01432 273 988. Both of these numbers are in England. From the US you would dial the following:(011 44 2920 865510 or 011 44 1432 273988).

This path down to the sea is called the Friedrich-Nietzsche path. Apparently the philosopher was inspired whilst walking here and wrote the last part of his work Thus Spake Zarathustra.

Depending on the pace, it takes about an hour to an hour and a half to get down to Eze bord-de-mer (meaning Eze, next to the sea). Obviously, it will take you much longer to get back up again unless you are in REALLY good shape. If I am not mistaken, there is a bus that will take you between the village and the sea. Check with the tourist office.

Any U2 fans out there? If so, this area holds a place in the hearts of Bono and Edge. Both of them own homes on the beach--right next to each other. Also, Edge and his wife, Morleigh Steinberg, were married at the Exotic Gardens and stayed at the Chateau de Chevre d'Or in the village (in June 2002). Watch the video Electrical Storm (better yet the making of the video on the DVD) and you will see a glimpse of the house and the beach where the video was shot. Lastly, in the video Bono is on a train which is the train line that runs along the coast...with a station in Eze.

If you would rather drive down to the beach rather than walk, there is some parking available along the coastal areas. It may be tricky during busy times, but it is there.

You can find Fragonard on the Moyenne Corniche (also called the N7), right off of the main road near the entrance to the village. If you don't see it right away, you can ask someone and they can point it out to you. The telephone number is 33 (0) 4 93 41 05 05. The boutique is "open 10 am to 7 pm (closed 12.30 pm to 2 pm November to February)". They are open for free tours of the on-site factory also. The factory is open "every day, Sundays and public holidays included, from 8.30 am to 6.30 pm (closed 12 noon to 2 pm November to January)". They offer tours in several languages. To find out more information about the perfumerie, visit their website at Fragonard.

We arrrived just as a tour bus was unloading. Luckily, these tourists spoke German, so we got our own private tour guide in English--even if we did have to wait some time for them to go find someone to do an English tour.

We followed a French lady who appeared to be in a hurry and didn't seem to want to show us around. She was very informative in her presentation, though. She talked to us about the different parts that make up the perfume and showed us a map of the world and where they get their ingredients. We went from the raw materials through the small factory all the way to the end where several workers were filling bottles of lotion.

At the end of the tour you are escorted into the "boutique" where there are many, many things to choose from. Our guide showed us all of the different lines such as "Natural", "Fruity", and "Exotic". There were several perfumes to choose from depending on which sort of fragrance you were seeking.

Naturally, they also had a men's line of cologne. They carried lotions, soaps, cosmetics, and all sorts of gifts. It was all quite overwhelming. My friend and I decided to purchase a small box of 5 bottles of our choice for something like 40 Euros. That way I could give my Mother and Sister each a perfume of their choice.

They have a comprehensive website where they describe all of their scents. You can order just about anything they had in their shop. They also have a good map to show you where they are located.

For anyone in the area, I would highly recommend a stop into the Perfumerie for a tour. You don't need reservations, you just show up and they fit you into the next tour available. Buy yourself or someone you love a gift of fragrance; you won't regret it!!

"The stripped facade of the Church Notre-Dame-de l'Assomption, the building of which began in 1764 and which was consecrated in 1772, contrasts strongly with the magnificence of its nave. The nave and the choir are remarkable thanks to their baroque decoration and the paintings in tromple-l'oeil. Inside the church, an Egyptian cross reminds us that the roots of the village date back to the time when the mysterious godess Isis was worshiped. The Phoenicians are said to have erected a temple in her honour."--quoted from Welcome to Côte d'Azur

The inside of the church is in contrast to the plain yellow and white building outside. You would never think that this plain building can hold such beautiful treasures. It is gold-gilded with heavenly images above the altar. There are ancient, yet beautiful, paintings scattered around the church. The church exudes a very strong Baroque impression upon you.

Outside, near the church, you will find a tiny cemetery. Its claim to fame seems to be Francis Blanche, a famous French comic actor who was buried here back in 1974.

Besides this church, you will also find The Chapel of Sainte Croix (also known as Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs) in Eze which dates back to the 1300s. It is claimed to be the oldest building in this ancient village. Unfortunately, we didn't go into this chapel. Something to put on the list for next time!

There are several hundred varieties of plants in the gardens, most of them appear to be cacti in all shapes and sizes. We did find several plants to be wrapped in plastic. We could only guess that it is to protect them from the cold at night as the days were sunny and warm, but the nights were a bit cold.

If the skies are clear you can see all the way to the French island of Corsica from the gardens. Normally, you can see the coastline from Italy to St. Tropez, France.

The castle dates from the 14th century, which was destroyed in 1706. You can sit among the ruins and soak up some sun and relax after that climb up here.

Telephone number: +33(0)493 41 10 30 Open year round, 9am-noon and 2-5pm. From July 1st to August 31st, the hours are extended: 9am to 8pm.

It can be hard work to get up here, but it is worth it. Take your time along the way. Stop at the little artisan shops, it can be quite interesting. In no time you will find your way to the top. Interestingly, you will find no mention that there is a fee to enter the gardens, even though it is well-signed concerning how to get there.