The Eagle’s Nest of the French Mediterranean

And now, the final stop on my tour of the South of France: Èze.

But first I’d like to mention what a pleasure driving has been. The country roads are just as fun as exploring the towns along the way: from vineyards to lavender fields to intensely blue waters.

Èze, referred to as the eagle’s nest city, sits 1400 feet above the French Mediterranean.

Before 1860, many besides the French laid claim to it:
the Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Roman, the Moors, the Turks, and Italians.

The twenty-three hundred people who live there are called Ézasques.

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Èze dates back to 12 century B.C., but in Medieval times, the city was torn down and rebuilt. These are the buildings that stand to this day–largely converted into shops, wine bars, and hotels.

Inscribed on the Èze coat of arms is the saying “Isis Moriendo Renascor” which translates to “When dying, I am reborn.”

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Château de la Chèvre d’Or (or Palace of the Golden Goat) is one of the most awarded hotels in the South of France. It has an interesting name and an interesting backstory. Supposedly, violinist Zlatko Balokovic was lead to the very location by a goat with golden hair. The musician turned it into a beautiful home where he raised goats for years to come.

In the 1950s, it was converted into a restaurant with killer views. That’s when Walt Disney came to visit. His praise of the Château brought tourists from around the world. That lead to the expansion of the property into a hotel, comprised of once private village homes and structures connected artfully.

Stay tuned, we’re headed just 7 miles east to an entirely different country. Monaco, here we come!