Stay in a Medieval village with breath-taking views of the Med at this unique five star hotel.

 

Less than half an hour’s drive from Monaco – yet a world away from the bright lights and bling of the principality – is the picturesque Medieval village of Èze overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Nestled among its cobbled streets is Chateau Chèvre d’Or, – a luxury hotel that manages to give you the feeling of being a part of the neighbourhood while enjoying five-star amenities and service. That’s because many of the houses in the village were transformed into hotel rooms, which have grown over the years to 40 rooms and suites.

The hotel’s spectacular gardens are filled with sculptures, fountains, waterfalls, scented flowers, herbs, trees and shrubs, and the views of the famous Côte d’Azur are simply breathtaking. You could sit for hours watching the ever changing sea and yachts sailing into and out of the harbour below.

Food wise, there are three restaurants including the two Michelin-starred gourmet restaurant La Chèvre d’Or, overseen by chef Arnaud Faye. The focus is on celebrating the region’s exceptional terroir, using produce from the Riviera and the surrounding countryside. Lemons from Menton feature heavily on the menu – and give the Amalfi Coast a run for its money.

The pièce de résistance is the “Vision of a Riviera lemon – flavoured with verbena” created by executive pastry chef, Julien Dugourd. A selection of what look like lemons arrive at the table, you choose one, then slice it down the middle to reveal a gooey mix of caramel and cream with the delicious flavour of the lemons – served alongside little morsels of meringue.

For more casual dining, there’s Café du Jardin, which serves great pizzas, salads and grilled meat and fish. Or there’s the terrace restaurant Les Ramparts, which highlights traditional Mediterranean food cooked simply.

It’s a great place to linger over lunch while taking in the view of Cap Ferrat. If that’s not relaxed enough, you can always treat yourself to a massage or do yoga in the gardens. If you’re feeling energetic, you can follow in the footsteps of Friedrich Nietzsche and take the 45-minute hike down to Èze Bord de Mer (apparently it inspired him to write the third part of Thus Spake Zarathustra). The scenic trail starts near the hotel – it’s worth the effort and at least you know you can come back to a chilled glass of rosé and watch the sun setting over the Med.

For more information about Chateau Chèvre d'Or read here.