http://www.cleverscampcamp.com/camping-eze-france/
Top 10 things to see and do in Nice
Villa Ephrussi
One of the most enchanting of the ‘dream residences in the south of France’, this is the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild. The gardens surrounding the villa evoke both European and exotic landscapes recapturing the characteristics of Italian and Spanish gardens that were so dear to the Baroness.
In front of the villa, the French garden spreads out gloriously, but is in sharp contrast with both the neo-Renaissance architecture of the pink-stucco residence and the splendor of the Mediterranean greenery. It was on this peninsula that the Baroness was able to bring together and sing the praises of ‘the loveliness of Creation, that of the gods and that of Man’. The Villa is set among seven magnificent themed gardens. Here, strolling visitors will be surprised and enchanted by the exact symmetry of the formal French garden, the lush vegetation of the Spanish and Florentine gardens, the fragrant profusion of the rose garden, the rare trees in the exotic garden, or the archaeological remains in the Stone garden.
Cap Ferrat was the summer resort of Europe and North America’s most elegant and wealthy denizens, and it was in 1905 that Baroness Ephrussi de Rothschild chose this spot to build her personal “folly” inspired by the great Renaissance palaces of Venice and Florence. This sumptuous palazzo, one of the finest listed buildings on the French Riviera, has views over the Bay of Villefranche on one side and the Bay of Beaulieu on the other.
Marché Provençal
The market in the old town of Antibes is a provencial delight (excuse the pun). The stalls are stacked with goodies from the south of France; honey, olives, lavender, wine, preserves, mustard and brightly coloured spices. The proximity of the location to the Italian border also means there are a wide range of Italian cheeses alongside the seafood straight from the Mediterranean and meat from local farms. But above all else it is olive oil (and all the products that go with it) that pumps through the veins of this centuries-old market. The inside of the building is lined with bars and cafés where regulars ceremoniously sip the speciality aperitifs of the south such as Pastis and Anis. For the more daring, there is an absinthe bar in the basement of one of the olive oil shops, where the owners would be happy to let you try their assortments of the alcohol which has only recently been re-legalised in France. For a less recreational and more educational visit seek out the roman well in the basement of one of the honey shops, which would of course be a greater challenge if you decided to sample the absinthe first.
Cours Saleya
The Marché aux Fleurs in the cours Saleya in Nice is renowned for its colourful flowers and assorted fruit and fresh vegetables that overflow from the stalls all along the long courtyard. The buildings that surround the ‘cours’ used to be fishermen’s warehouses but have now been converted into seafood restaurants or cafés where you can sit at a terrace and watch the bustle of the market. The market mostly deals with fresh produce such as fish, cheese and vegetables but it also features a number of regional products such as honey, lavender and barrels of olive oil. For those who prefer to get stuck in rather than observe from a terrace, there are nicois specialities to sample as you wander around the many stalls, such as a tarte des blettes, a spinach tart dusted with icing sugar, or the classic ‘salade niçoise’ with anchovies.
Nice Jazz Festival
Towards the end of July, the deliciously warm, elegant Riviera city of Nice spends a week basking in the glow of the world’s best-loved jazz music, performed throughout the day by local and international artists amongst the sunny olive groves and in the impressive Roman amphitheatre. The evening performances are given by internationally renowned jazz artists and last well into the Mediterranean nights, and the event’s informal atmosphere allows visitors to explore markets, food stalls and impromptu street performances as well as to hear some of the best live jazz on earth.
Côte d’Azur
Côte d’Azur, or the French Riviera, was first popularised by the English aristocrats of the 19th century for its temperate climate in winter. It is now more popular in the summer – an area synonymous with immense wealth, sunshine and the ‘good life’, as well as for its blue if sometimes scummy waters. This is not it’s only downside. The Côte d’Azur suffers from overcrowding and traffic jams, especially around the holiday season. There are numerous medieval stone villages – quaint if touristy – to be found in the hills, such as Eze and St Paul de Vence, and it is still possible to find some tranquillity. However, sensible people buzz around in helicopters and stay on yachts – a fact that has recently disturbed even the long suffering natives of its most famous seaside town, St Tropez.
Petit Jardin Exotique, Eze
Eze’s ‘petit jardin exotique’ is located in the French Riviera. Suspended some 429 metres between sea and sky, this exotic garden offers the visitor the most breath-taking views of Eze and the surrounding area. The garden itself contains over 400 species of plants and cacti, surrounding the ruins of the castle along a maze of little paths.
You can see from the couple of pictures before getting there that the scenery is wonderful. Perched in an “eagle’s nest” at the height of an imposing and superb cliff, the village and its light ochre church can be seen from afar. Once there, you will discover a small Provencal village filled with charm and colourful window boxes, offering a panoramic view of the sea and coast-line. Small narrow roads, archways and superbly restored stone houses, shady squares, refreshing ancient fountains… you will soon be seduced by the marvels of Eze.
The village is so beautiful, it’s hard to keep your mind on the fact that you are here to see the gardens… The numerous small arts and crafts boutiques are hard to resist… some of them are like tiny caves dug out of the rocky hillside. The streets of this medieval village have witnessed its historic past. The two look-out towers at the entrance, the door-way and the gun-boat all classified as historic monuments.
There is now an incredible sculpture display throughout the gardens, I hope you enjoy looking at some of the pictures I took of the ladies….just gorgeous and all done by Jean-Philippe Richard. And oh, the plants were gorgeous too!
Every time I come back to visit, I am enchanted…this garden truly is enhanced by the vistas surrounding it.
Villa Les Cèdres
Villa Les Cèdres, housing one of the largest collections of tropical plants in Europe, is a private botanical garden and is famous for its rare collections of tropical and subtropical plants.
Our private tour of the gardens and greenhouses were incredible. On 2.5 acres there are over 14,000 species of plants. Peto designed the waterway in this exceptional garden. Trees are draped with ephphytes, there is a palm grove, a collection of bamboos and a corner of equatorial forest. It’s all there, plus more – like the greenhouses full to the brim. This is indeed a plantsmans paradise.
Matisse Museum
The Matisse Museum is set within the Genoese Villa Garin de Cocconato, a red and ochre building atop an olive grove-clad hill in Cimiez, one of Nice’s wealthiest, most picturesque and most historic areas. In direct contrast, its interior is modern and cool, with plain white walls designed to show off Matisse’s striking and often complex works to the full. As well as a large number of his Fauvist pieces, which show wildly expressionistic colour and emotion, you’ll also see some of his older, more traditional paintings here as well as those in which he experimented with new techniques. There are also some three hundred photographs, studies and drawings on display and around 50 of his sculptural creations, besides a few of his personal belongings.
Plage de la Paloma
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat has been a top shelf destination for years, one of the prettiest spots on the Cote d’Azure if you read the brochures, it’s all picturesque coves and beaches and turquoise waters, but apparently you don’t have to be friends with the Sarkozys to pull up a towel on the Plage de la Paloma for the view of the super yachts in the marina. Shingles not sand, but this beach is still on the list of top ten in the French Riviera. Behind you are the posh cafés and the grand mansions, with their perfect gardens and billionaires walls, but you can still walk around the town and get a good view of all from the lighthouse. Only six miles from Nice you can come up in the morning, pitch your spot on the beach, right in front of where Tom Cruise will sit in the restaurant, and you can be richer (in views) than he is.
Camping at Romarins Eze
This Riviera campsite has it all – cliff-top Mediterranean views, tranquility, beach access and a great location in the Grande Corniche Park, between the hot spots of Monaco and Nice. There are pitches for 41 tents and motor homes, spaced out between the olive trees and rosemary bushes. Whilst having a truly spectacular setting and the essential rustic atmosphere of camping, the site also provides the necessary amenities and a great view of the millionaires yachts which dot the waters below. For those wanting to take some time off from being barefooted in the sand, nearby Michelin starred restaurant, Chateau Eza is well worth a visit. The diversity of the surroundings offer plenty of invigorating activities from hang gliding to Scuba diving. The beach is just a short walk from the campsite, and certainly does not disappoint, with its stretching white sand and turquoise waters.
Monaco and Nice provide for great day trips (as well as remarkable nightlife) with their bustling restaurants and bars. A nearby highlight is the fortified medieval village of Eze. Perched high up along a rocky, narrow peak, Eze is a charming, rustic village with winding cobbled streets and the ruins of its 12th century castle sitting up on the peak.
Romarins Eze is a great place to observe and enjoy the finer Riviera life, at a fraction of the cost. Open from April to September.
About the Author
A view from Eze, France