Hilltop villages

The Alps take their rise in the Nice hinterland. That’s why you will find many perched villages clinging to the hills. The most remarkable are from West to East : Gourdon, Tourrettes-sur-Loup and Eze.

Gourdon

The name Gourdon comes from the name Mountain : the village is perched on the rock 760 meters up to sea, above the Vallée du Loup (Loup canyon). Only 10 km far from the Mediterranean Sea, it offers a unique and impressive panorama on the French Riviera from Nice to Théoule, more than 80km.

Its feudal castle with its square tower and donjon is traditional of Provence ; the gardens were inspired by Le Nôtre, King Louis XIV’s famous landscape gardener.

The Saint-Vincent Church dates from the 13th century and its floor is made of original stones.

The village, entirely pedestrian, invites you to discover its alleys and it is from the Victoria Square that you can admire the panorama on the Mediterranean Sea.

To reach Gourdon, you will circulate through the Canyon of the river Loup and you can stop to admire several waterfalls, including that of the Saut du Loup.

Tourrettes-sur-Loup

Tourrettes-sur-Loup is a medieval village nicknamed the City of Violets. A few years ago, ten producers cultivated Violets used in the perfume industry in Grasse. The Bastide aux Violettes presents the different methods of growing and products made from this very fragrant flower (perfume, confectionery, …).

Also placed on a rocky outcrop, the village has been able to preserve its authenticity; it is built around the Castle.

Twenty workshops and craftmen’s shops open their doors to you. You will find pottery, a craftsman working olive wood, leather goods, weaving …

Eze

Built at the top of a cliff, overlooking Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, the village of Eze offers many hidden treasures, a few kilometers far from Monaco.

At the entrance of the village, the 14th century postern is dug into the surrounding wall of the castle. You have to climb the winding lanes to reach the top of the village.

Let yourself be guided by your instinct to discover fragments of walls of the Bronze Age, remains on which climb bougainvilleas, roses and jasmines. You can see sculptures from the 13th century on the walls, fountains, antique ironwork, … The Chapel of the White Penitents is the oldest building and Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption Church opens its doors to you as you reach the top of the village.

Arrived at the top, you will see the remains of the Castle and the Exotic Garden with hundreds of succulents and cacti that find their place in the arid ruins.