Château de la Chèvre d'Or

Eze

Eze is a medieval village suspended on cliffs overlooking the sea between Nice and Monaco. Its stunning location and the beauty of the village have attracted celebrities for over a century. Writers and thinkers such as George Sand, Nietszche and Cocteau, political personalities like William of Sweden and former president Bill Clinton and musicians including Bono of U2 have stayed here. French actor Francis Blanche is buried in the tiny cemetery on the cliff.

Spread over three levels of the cliff facing the Mediterranean Sea, Eze is a medieval fortified village and, ever since the 19^th century, a sea resort frequented by inhabitants of Nice and Monaco and then by the rich and famous from all over the world.

Inside the walls of this must site on the Riviera, lies the Château de la Chévre d’Or (“Golden Goat”). A legend recounts that in the 19^th century, a shepherdess hid the money she made from the sale of her goat cheese between the stones of her house, and that long after her death, the new owner discovered a treasure of gold coins in the ruins and decided to call the site the “Chèvre d’Or.”

A legendary village

The Château de la Chèvre d’Or is a strange hotel! Located in the medieval village of Eze, perched atop a cliff, it seems to be a part of the walls.

Originally a private property, the château was purchased in 1953 by the hotelier, Robert Wolf who at first turned it into a restaurant. On the advice of Walt Disney, who stayed in one of the guest rooms for three months, Wolf acquired houses in the village and transformed them into hotel rooms. Subsequent owners of the property did the same.

Today, the Château de la Chèvre d’Or’s 30 rooms and 7 suites take up half of the village of Eze and include a presidential suite. The rooms are surrounded by art galleries, artists’ ateliers, boutiques and private homes. In the labyrinth of the village’s narrow, winding streets, it’s not uncommon to run into bellhops, room service waiters and strolling guests. To reach the reception area, visitors have to follow a path bordered with gardens containing statues and fountains created by a number of different artists.

There are three categories of rooms:classic, traditional and elegant. Each one is different although they all provide the same comfort and the same warm atmosphere.

The seven suites located between different residences and repurchased shop each bears the name of a celebrated artist who stayed in Eze.

There’s a Nietzsche suite, and it’s been said that he was so inspired by the site that he wrote a passage of « Thus Spake Zarathoustra » here. There is also the Barlow suite, named after the American composer, a Luis Navarro suite, a musician-painter and friend of Picasso, and a Cocteau suite.

Each suite has its own special decor based on the structure of the building and the personality after whom it is named. The mosaic floor of the Cocteau suite reproduces the drawings of the renowned artist. The Navarro suite is ultra contemporary and high tech. The “comitive” universe in the Marc Ferrero suite was created with the help of the artist himself.

The 120 square meters Presidential Suite, situated in the terraced gardens of the château, has a combination of antique and contemporary furniture. A huge outdoor terrace with a heated jacuzzi and a private infinity swimming pool provide unforgettable and relaxing moments where the only sound is the lapping of the water.

Also located in the same garden is the swimming pool overlooking the sea and numerous terraces offering guests fresh air, tranquillity and unique panoramic views of the Mediterranean.

The château is more than worthy of a palace. The Chèvre d’Or has one of the finest restaurants on the Côte d’Azur, thanks to it two starred chef, Fabrice Vulin. “Risotto cremeux”, “perch carpaccio and crab with Aquitaine caviar“ are among the specialties offered. The final touch is the work of Julien Dugourd, a young pastry Chef whose experience is as impressive as his creations.

With its terraced gardens, its medieval buildings, its visible stone houses and a magnificent view of the Mediterranean Sea make the Château de la Chèvre d’Or an exceptional resort, unique in the world.

The American film, « The Bucket List » starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman contains a scene shot at the Château d la Chèvre d’Or.