We flew into Paris and spent several days there before boarding a train and heading to the South of France. As we were leaving Paris my daughter looked over at me and said, "Can we come back? You and me? I love this city." Girl after my own heart.
But the South of France did not disappoint- and ended up being our favorite part of France. We rented an Airbnb in the little town of Èze, located 7 miles to the east of Nice.
At the train station we rented a car. If you can swing it, I highly recommend it! While I didn't drive it at all so I can't speak to the ease of driving on French roads- my husband loved the experience and it was nice to not have to depend on train station schedules and taxis to get around. We were able to pick up and take off whenever we wanted - and it allowed us to explore some little known areas along the coastline.
Èze, France
Our French Riviera vacation began in Èze. We picked it because of how central it was to some of the sights we wanted to see (Monaco being one of those places!) and for the beautiful view from the house. It also had a pool, which our kids loved.
After unpacking and settling in, we hit a local grocery store to get some supplies and prepare for our week-long stay.
Our Airbnb had 3 bedrooms upstairs, each with their own air-conditioning units. Two of the bedrooms open up to a balcony that overlooks the Mediterranean Sea. The master bedroom has its own bathroom with a rain shower, and the other two bedrooms share a bathroom between them. There was plenty of closet space, a washer & dryer, and we loved the outdoor patio! I spent most of my mornings here in my Bible study looking out at the sea. It was perfect.
This is where we stayed, in case you're interested in being in a similar location: Èze, France Airbnb.
Èze is a seaside community, but the village nearby dates back to the medieval times. It was first populated in 200 BC and was occupied by the Romans and later the Moors.
French and Turkish troops both vied for control of the village - and in April 1860 it was finally designated as part of France. There's rich history surrounding the town and we loved being here.
La Turbie
A 12 minute drive to the east and north of Èze is a small town called La Turbie. It borders the principality of Monaco, and gives you a great view overlooking Monaco City and the Mediterranean Sea. It was established in 7-6 BC and the original medieval village still exists today.
La Turbie is probably most famous for the monument, the Trophy of Augustus. This monument was built in 7 BC in honor of Augustus's triumph over the 45 tribes that occupied the Alps. Tickets can be purchased at the base of the park which gives you access to the monument. The Trophy of Augustus is climbable and the views from the top are worth the trek up!
Menton, France
Menton is probably best known for its beaches, gardens, and colorful buildings. Menton is located past Monaco, and is just west of the Italian boarder on the Mediterranean. We spent an afternoon here on the beach, exploring downtown, and eating sandwiches from a local restaurant. If you have an afternoon or a day, this is a charming town to visit in the South of France!
Nice, France
Nice was our final destination in our southern France tour. It's famous for it's pebbly beaches, incredible food, architecture and colorful buildings. It would be easy to spend many days here!
We started our tour of the city by heading up to Castle Hill. Colline du Château was a military citadel built on top of a hill overlooking the bay below. Today it's a park, but it stood as a castle from the 11th - 18th century until it was destroyed in 1706 by French troops.
Within the park grounds, there are restrooms, a playground, old ruins of the former castle, an ice cream shop and a cafe. Hike up the hill or take the elevator to the top!
Wherever you travel to in the South of France you're sure to have a good time and fall in love with it. Every sight was incredible, the food was fantastic, and we enjoyed our time. We loved it so much that we didn't want to leave! Usually we long for our own beds after awhile, but this place captured our hearts and it was hard to let go.
If you've been, share your favorite spots! We're hoping to get back again someday.
As always -
Happy Traveling, Jessica
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