Èze Village, Old town in Èze, France
Èze Village is a medieval hilltop old town on the French Riviera in southeastern France, perched on a rocky peak above the Mediterranean Sea. Its old stone buildings line narrow cobblestone lanes that wind upward to the top, where a ruined fortress and a garden of cacti and succulents overlook the coast.
The site has been occupied since ancient times, with its cliff position making it easy to defend against invasion over many centuries. The walls and ruins that remain today date mainly from the medieval period, when the village was ringed by fortifications.
The village has long drawn artists who set up workshops in its narrow lanes, and today small shops sell jewelry, paintings, and handmade crafts from inside old stone buildings. Walking through, you notice carved door frames, iron lanterns, and flower pots on windowsills that give each corner a lived-in feel.
The old town is only accessible on foot from the base of the hill, and no cars are allowed inside, so comfortable shoes are a good idea for the uneven cobblestones. Arriving early in the morning or late in the afternoon helps avoid the busiest hours.
The steep trail leading from the village down to the sea is named after the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who reportedly walked it regularly during his stay in the area in the late 19th century. He is said to have worked out ideas for one of his major books while making that same descent.
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