Èze Village, Côte d’Azur.

Perched atop the foothills of the Maritime French Alps looking down on the shimmering sea. If you let it this gem will sweep you up in its unique charm and history without a moment’s hesitation.

The picture perfect village of Èze has a fascinatingly eclectic history, one which is well worth delving into but is often overlooked by the hordes of tourists who flock to its cobbled streets every year.

The walled village, now wrapped in ivy and blooming pink and purple Bougainvillea, was fortified in the late 14th century by the House of Savoy who prized its ‘eagles nest’ vantage point to help secure their new acquisition, the County of Nice.

The village has experienced a turbulent past since its official fortification, passing between different forces throughout the centuries, most excitingly its conquest by French and Turkish troops under the command of the Barbary Pirate Hayreddin Barbarossa ‘Redbeard’ in 1546.

The village’s history seemingly stretches back much further however, into early classical antiquity. A treasure trove of Ancient Greek ceremonial bowls and sacrificial platters dating back to the 3rd century BC were discovered in the late 1800’s, making their way swiftly to the British Museum. These Phialae are stunningly beautiful and carry intricate silver metalwork, one of which depicts the Greek Goddess of victory Nike carrying Hercules to Olympus to join the ranks of the Gods.

An Egyptian Cross placed in the villages key place of worship, the Notre Dame de l’Assomption, hints at the ancient roots of this violet sapphire in the Côte d’Azur’s crown. Legend says that the Phoenicians built a temple to honour the goddess Isis (from where the village gets its name) on this site and the church was built on its foundations.