Èze

French commune
nomcommune=Èze
View from the Grand Corniche
région=Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
département=Alpes-Maritimes
arrondissement=Nice
canton=Villefranche-sur-Mer
insee=06059
cp=06360
maire=Noël Sapia
mandat=2001-2008
intercomm=Nice-Côte d'Azur
longitude=7.361667
latitude=43.728612
alt moy=
alt mini=0
alt maxi=700 m
hectares=947
km²=9.47
sans=2509
date-sans=1999
dens=265
date-dens=1999

Èze ("Eza" in Italian) is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France, not far from the town of Nice.

History

The area surrounding Èze was first populated around 2000BC as a commune situated near Mount Bastide. The earliest occurrence of the name "Èze" can be found in the maritime books of Antonin as a bay called the St. Laurent of Èze. The area was subsequently occupied by not only the Romans but also the Moors who held the area for approximately 80 years until they were driven out by William of Provence in 973.

By 1388 Èze fell under the jurisdiction of the House of Savoy, who built up the town as a fortified stronghold because of its proximity to Nice. The history of Èze became turbulant several times in the next few centuries as French and Turkish troops seized the village under orders from Barbarossa in 1543, and Louis the XIV destroyed the walls surrounding the city in 1706 in the war of succession of Spain. Finally in April 1860, Eze was designated as part of France by unanimous decision by the people of Eze.

Èze has been described as an “eagle's nest” because of its location overlooking a high cliff located 427m above sea level on the French Mediterranean. The high elevation enables the village and the light ochre church within (Notre Dame de l’Assomption built in 1764) to be seen from afar. Inside the church, an Egyptian cross acts as a reminder that the roots of the village date back to the time of the Phoenicians, when they erected a temple there to honour the goddess Isis.

Traditionally, the territory of the Principality of Monaco was considered to begin in the Èze village (outskirts of Nice), running along the Mediterranean coast to Menton, on the present Italian border.

Tourism

Èze is famous worldwide for the view of the sea from the top of its hill, and it is a renowned tourist site on the French Riviera. It is home to the Jardin botanique d'Èze, known for its collection of cactus and succulents as well as its panoramic views.

The oldest building in the village is the Chapelle de la Sainte Croix and dates back to 1306. Members of the lay order of the White Penitents of Èze, in charge of giving assistance to plague victims, would hold their meetings there. The shape of the bell-turret is an indication that the village once belonged to the Republic of Genoa.

The small medieval village is famous for its beauty and charm. It has many shops, art galleries, hotels and restaurants that attract a large number of tourists and honeymooners. As a result Èze has become a "museum village", few local residents live here. From Èze you have gorgeous views of the Mediterranean Sea. The Fragonard perfume factory has a sales outlet here.

The motto of the village is the phrase: "Isis Moriendo Renascor" (meaning "In death I am Reborn") and its emblem is a Phoenix perched on a bone.

The local dialect (nearly extinguished) is similar to the Monegasque language of the nearby Principality of Monaco, and is partially related to the Ligurian language but with some influences from the Occitan language.

Trivia

According to a popular credence, the view of the sea from the top of Èze sur Mer inspired Dante Alighieri in the description of some scenarios of his "Inferno".

Bono, lead singer of U2, owns a villa in Èze along with U2's lead guitarist, The Edge. The band filmed a music video in Èze for "Beautiful Day" and "Electrical Storm" in 2000 and 2002, respectively.

Èze was also featured in the Monaco episode of Samantha Brown's Passport to Europe in which she stayed overnight at an Inn during its off-season, when it was virtually empty.

Gallery

External links

* [http://www.eze-riviera.com/ Official website of Èze Tourist Office]