Today on the ruins of the castle there is a cemetery: Vieux Château Cemetery. This is a MUST. The view from here is breathtaking and the tombs themselves are fascinating.







At the feet of the old town there are the beaches, where you can dive into the water, or simply have a walk.
Menton is strictly connected to the poet, designer, filmmaker Jean Cocteau. In 1950s he painted the wedding room at the Mairie (town hall), and after that they declared him honorary citizen. In 1636 was built a Bastion as a defence for the port by the Princes of Monaco. Cocteau restored it decorating the alcoves, the reception hall and the outer walls with mosaics. After three years from his death was opened the Bastion Museum and a new exhibition of Cocteau work is installed every year.
In 2011 opened the Jean Cocteau Museum. The architect Ricciotti explain its design: "Black and white no longer serve as colours here...they create an interplay of structural forces calling to mind both the artist’s works on paper and the poet’s personality, his zones of light and darkness".
If you pass by on February, don't miss the Lemon festival. Menton has a micro climate in respect of all the rest of the French Mediterranean coast, it has milder winters and warmers nights in the summer, that's why lemons and oranges grow up so easily here, and the lemon became the symbol of the city. Every year there is a new theme for the festival and the Casino gardens in the centre of the town are entirely decorated with citrus fruits.
P.s. we had a pic nic in the park next to the Bastion Museum: sea view, breeze and palm shade, just perfect.
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Another important characteristic of Menton are its gardens. The bad news is that for almost everyone you must pay, except for one: Jardin du Palais le Carnolès, that is where we went. But my sister and I made the mistake to go on foot... don't do it cause it is quite far. For the rest it is a nice area, it is a kind of botanical garden with installations through the path (statues, huts, pieces of art). It is shaded, you can find benches, where you can watch people playing tennis and there are all the types of citrus fruits.

Here is another place that I visited when I was in French Riviera: Èze. The actual shape is a medioeval village from 1400 circa, even if its origins are dated 2000 BC. You can describe it as an Eagle's nest, because it is located on a cliff 427 meters above the sea level. The view of the mediterranean sea here is incredible.
The etymology of the name comes probably from the goddess Isis --> Èze, infact inside the church has been found an Egyptian cross that proves the existence of Phoenicians.
It is a museum-village, cause actually there are people that live in.... can you believe it?!
P.s. I am sorry for all of this selfies, but that day I was alone.
Ecco un altro posto che ho visitato quando ero in Costa Azzurra: Èze. La forma attuale è un borgo medievale del 1400 circa, anche se le sue origini risalgono al 2000 aC. Si può descriverlo come un nido d'aquila, perché si trova su una scogliera a 427 metri sopra il livello del mare. La vista del Mediterraneo qui è incredibile.
L'etimologia del nome deriva probabilmente dalla dea Iside -> Èze, infatti all'interno della chiesa è stata trovata una croce egizia, che dimostra il passaggio dei fenici.
È un villaggio-museo, perché in realtà ci sono persone che ci vivono.... potete crederci?!
P. s. Mi dispiace per tutti questi selfie, ma quel giorno ero da sola.
Θα δείτε ένα άλλο μέρος που επισκέφτηκα όταν ήμουν στη Κυανή Ακτή: Èze. Η μορφή που έχει σήμερα είναι του μεσαιωνικού χωριού από το 1400 περίπου, όμως η προέλευσή του χρονολογείται από το 2000 π.Χ. Μπορείτε να το περιγράψετε ως φωλιά του αετού, επειδή βρίσκεται σε ένα βράχο 427 μέτρα πάνω από το επίπεδο της θάλασσας. Η θέα της Μεσογείου εδώ είναι απίστευτη.
Η ετυμολογία του ονόματος προέρχεται πιθανότατα από τη θεά Ίσις -> Èze, στο εσωτερικό της εκκλησίας βρέθηκε ένας αιγυπτιακός σταυρός που αποδεικνύει την ύπαρξη Φοίνικων.
Είναι ένα μουσείο-χωριό, γιατί στην πραγματικότητα υπάρχουν άνθρωποι που ζουν μέσα... μπορείτε να το πιστέψετε;!
P.s. Λυπάμαι για όλα αυτά τα selfies, αλλά εκείνη την ημέρα ήμουν μόνη μου.




The first thing that you have to do when you arrive at Èze village (or directly by bus, or by train till Èze sur Mer and than by bus) is to go to the turist center below the complex, where you will get a free map with some explenations of the different buildings. I think that it is quite important to get the map, cause the area is kind of a labyrinth. In this way you are sure to visit everything.
In the main street: Rue Principale, you will see a painted window! In France from 1798 to 1926 there was a window tax. The private property, as well as the private incomes couldn't be intruded by the government, so the way to set the amount of money that people had to pay, was the number of windows and doors (exterior signs of richness). That's why many windows were bricked-up, and sometimes repainted from the outside to preserve the facade.
La prima cosa che bisogna fare quando si arriva ad Èze village (o direttamente in autobus, o in treno fino a Èze sur Mer e poi in autobus) è quella di andare al centro turistico sotto il complesso, dove si può prendere una mappa gratuita con le descrizioni dei diversi edifici. Penso che la mappa sia abbastanza importante, perché l'area è una specie di labirinto. In questo modo si è sicuri di visitare tutto.
Nella strada principale: Rue Principale, c'è una finestra dipinta! In Francia dal 1798 al 1926 c'era una tassa sulle finestre. La proprietà privata, così come i redditi privati non potevano essere indagati dal governo, quindi il modo per impostare la quantità di denaro che le persone dovevano pagare era il numero di finestre e porte (segni esteriori di ricchezza). Ecco perché molte finestre sono state murate e talvolta ridipinte dall'esterno per preservare la facciata.





The only place where you are asked to pay is the Botanical Garden (6euros). But it worth every penny! Here is where you can enjoy the best view to the sea, surrounded by cacti and succulents. Behind the hill you can also enter the Mediterranean garden, surely less impressive, but more shaded. There is even a waterfall, it is perfect to rest in a sunny day.
At the very top you will find the ruins of the castle, and looking to the mountain side, you will see an arched bridge. This can be called the Devil's bridge. The legend says that people from Èze couldn't finish this giant bridge, that's why they did a pact with the devil. The devil built the bridge overnight, but in return wanted the soul of the first one crossing it. A shepherd throwed a stick on it, and his dog went to catch it, so the devil had to get the soul of the dog.
L'unico posto dove bisogna pagare è l'Orto Botanico (6 €). Ma vale ogni centesimo! Qui si gode della miglior vista sul mare, circondati da cactus e piante grasse. Dietro la collina si può anche entrare nel giardino mediterraneo, sicuramente meno suggestivo, ma più ombreggiato. C'è anche una cascata, ed è perfetto per riposare in una giornata di sole.
In cima si trovano le rovine del castello e, guardando verso la montagna, si può vedere un ponte ad archi. Questo può essere chiamato il ponte del diavolo. La leggenda vuole che la gente di Èze non riuscisse a finire questo ponte gigante, ecco perché fece un patto con il diavolo. Il diavolo costruì il ponte durante la notte, ma in cambio voleva l'anima del primo che lo avrebbe attraversato. Un pastore gettò un bastone su di esso, ed il suo cane corse a riprenderlo, così il diavolo dovette prendere l'anima del cane.
Το μόνο μέρος όπου σας ζητείται να πληρώσετε είναι ο Βοτανικός Κήπος (6ευρώ). Αλλά αξίζει κάθε δεκάρα! Εδώ μπορείτε να απολαύσετε την καλύτερη θέα στη θάλασσα, περιτριγυρισμένοι από κάκτους και παχύφυτα. Πίσω από το λόφο μπορείτε επίσης να μπείτε στον μεσογειακό κήπο, σίγουρα λιγότερο εντυπωσιακό, αλλά πιο σκιασμένο. Υπάρχει ακόμη και ένας καταρράκτης, είναι ιδανικό για να ξεκουραστείτε σε μια ηλιόλουστη μέρα.
Στην κορυφή θα βρείτε τα ερείπια του κάστρου και κοιτάζοντας προς την πλευρά του βουνού, θα δείτε μια τοξωτή γέφυρα. Αυτή μπορεί να ονομαστεί γέφυρα του διαβόλου. Ο θρύλος λέει ότι οι άνθρωποι από το Èze δεν μπορούσαν να ολοκληρώσουν αυτή τη γίγαντα γέφυρα, γι 'αυτό έκαναν συμφωνία με τον διάβολο. Ο διάβολος έχτισε τη γέφυρα μέσα σε μια νύχτα, αλλά σε αντάλλαγμα ήθελε να πάρει την ψυχή του πρώτου που θα την διάσχισε. Ένας βοσκός έριξε ένα ραβδί πάνω, και ο σκύλος του πηγε να το πάρει, οπότε ο διάβολος έπρεπε να πάρει την ψυχή του σκύλου.







Another experience that you can make is the Nietsche trail, that connects Èze village and Èze sur Mer. I personally DON'T suggest it! You have to be quite skilled to do it. They say it takes around one hour to climb it up. I did almost one hour to hike DOWN. Maybe, I wasn't ready for an actual hiking route (you basically climb a mountain). Maybe I had these golden girly sandals, that were everything but proper for the occasion. Maybe cause it was a so hot day, that I almost fainted when I arrived, and I was ALONE. Maybe cause, at least, I hoped to make a panoramic path, that on the contrary showed only the valley... For all these reasons for me it is a no! Take the bus down instead and enjoy the blue sea of Èze sur Mer.
Very Important: In French Riviera is so much cheaper to travel by bus: you only pay 1,50 euros (You can go from Nice to Menton), by train is quicker, but it costs around three times more. If you are a family, keep it in mind.
Un'altra esperienza che si può fare è il sentiero di Nietsche, che collega Èze Village con Èze sur Mer. Personalmente NON lo suggerisco! Bisogna essere abbastanza allenati per farlo. Dicono che ci voglia circa un'ora per risalirlo. Io ho fatto quasi un'ora per scenderlo. Forse, non ero pronta per un vero percorso escursionistico (praticamente ci si arrampica su una montagna). Forse avevo questi sandali dorati, che erano tutto tranne che adatti all'occasione. Forse perché era una giornata così calda, che sono quasi svenuta quando sono arrivata, ed ero DA SOLA. Forse, almeno speravo di fare un percorso panoramico, che al contrario si snoda solo nella valle... Per tutti questi motivi per me è un no! Prendete l'autobus e godetevi il mare blu di Èze sur Mer.
Molto importante: in Costa Azzurra è molto più economico viaggiare in autobus: si paga solo 1,50 euro (puotete andare da Nizza a Mentone), il treno è più veloce, ma costa circa tre volte di più. Se siete una famiglia, tenetelo a mente.