It’s summer time, which means it’s time for me to pack my bags and do some traveling. South of France, specifically Cote d’ Azur, has been one of my favourite vacation spots. The sun, the sea and of course the amazing food are the extra bonuses of this beautiful area.  

On one of my trips to south of France, I stayed at a 400 year old Chateau Eza situated in the medieval village of Eze. The hilltop château is located on the Moyenne Corniche between Nice and Monaco and easily accessible from either city in less than 30 minutes. The climb to the château is steep but easily manageable through a cobblestone road, Bougainvillea clad walls and cute little artisan and boutique shops.  

Chateau Eza used to be the winter residence of Prince William of Sweden and later was converted to a 5 star luxury hotel with the old fashion charm and modern comforts. There are only 14 suites, each with a unique decor, amazing bathroom, fireplace, stone walls, four-poster beds, private balconies with the most amazing views of the sea. If staying at a 400 year old Chateau is not your thing, make sure to visit the lobby area of the hotel with its amazing decoration and a terrace with amazing views of the sea.

The hotel has an amazing restaurant with views to die for, though I was not able to taste the food, there is always the next time. 😉 

There are many activities you can do at the village which include walking around the cobblestone roads, checking out the boutiques, visiting the Jardin Exotique, the Exotic Garden, and of course my personal favourite the Fragonard perfume factory. 

the Jardin Exotique is located on top of the hill, a short walk from the château, and has an amazing variety of cacti, tropical plants and flowers and of course a panoramic view of the French Riviera coast.  The cost to enter the garden is only €6 and it sure is worth it. You can checkout the website for details on what to expect and opening hours of the garden.

If you are like me and love cosmetics, perfumes and soaps then you are in luck. South of France is home to many cosmetic factories and of course, Eze is no exception.  The world-famous Fragonard factory is located just a short walk away from the hotel and is open everyday. Fragonard carries an amazing variety of products. I have been a fan of their perfume for the last 3 years , my personal favourite is “belle Cherie” perfume. Make sure you take part in their free guided tours and explore their lab and learn about the process of making their products.  You can get the details and visiting  hours from their website.

But the best thing about this trip is taking a moment for yourself with a nice glass of whatever that makes you happy and taking in the scenery.