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Château de la Chèvre d'Or *****
Eze Village, Cote d'Azur, France.

The five star Hotel Chateau de la Chevre d'Or or "Golden Goat," perched high on the seaward edge of the famed mountain village of Eze on the Moyenne Corniche between Nice and Monaco, is the shining star of the French Riviera. It is a unique luxury hotel made up of joined village houses transformed into luxury rooms and suites with an internationally renowned two Michelin starred restaurant as well as other smaller restaurants dotted around for daily fare.

Peter and Linda D'Aprix 2001-2013
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The hotel (a member of the prestigious Relais et Châteaux chain) is a collection of restored, stone village houses clustered around the original manor house and strung together along the outer seaward rim of the ancient hill top village of Eze a stone’s throw from Monte Carlo. Its nucleus is the original Château restored by the world famous American violinist Balakowicz who bought the Chateau just after the second world war.

Within the last couple of decades, all the original seven rooms have been completely individually rebuilt and refurnished with great charm and originality, gracious bathrooms installed with walls of pink marble from Portugal and balconies added all with views out over the Mediterranean waters hundreds of feet below. Today there are 30 guest rooms recently embellished, 6 suites as well as the Presidential Suite (bathroom pictured above. Take the video tour.) Some of the rooms are in the original village houses and others are in newer "cottages" built on the terraces below the hotel proper, all with astounding views over the sea. As General Manager M. Thierry Naidu explains "Chevre d'Or is not only a hotel but it is also a resort because we have huge gardens, we have 30 hectars of land around the property overlooking the sea so you have a lot of space where you can lie in a chaise long, relax by the pool, use the different jacuzzis." (see the video interview>>)

In addition to the story book charm of this hotel is the world class two Michelin star Restaurant "La Chevred’Or". Located in the highest point of the establishment. Its plate glass windows give a 270° view out over the Mediterranean from Monte Carlo in the East to St. Tropez in the West.

The hotel also has several other restaurants for every taste. Very good, less formal, food is available at their "Les Remparts" on the out door terrace serves Mediterranean cuisine, "Eden Restaurant", an indoor/outdoor restaurant serving dinner at night with its own swimming pool, and their "Café du Jardin" located on a lower terrace serves light cuisine and beverages. (Click here for more on the other restaurants.)

The hotel owns the hillsides below its walls that slope away toward the sea. Years of continuous work has created a magnificent filigree of garden terraced outdoor galleries of statues all stepping down the hillside, some with fountains, benches, tables and chairs, olive trees, exotic plantings, water falls and ponds. There is the constant soothing sound of water falls and the different music of the fountains.They create many secluded romantic spots from which to sun yourself, have a private breakfast, read a book, soak up the rays of the sun or swim in the outdoor hillside pool or in the covered pool that is part of "Eden Restaurant". If walking up and down the stone steps is not enough of a work out, there is a modern gym with exercise machines from which you can continue to enjoy the view even when peddling, pressing or lifting. (video)

The bar is the original music room of violinist Balakowicz (see left). It is baronial in style and has a piano in one corner. At night the views from the hotel are studded with necklaces of lights along the shore far below and out into the sea on the isthmus of St. Jean-Cap-Ferrat and further along to Nice, Antibes and St. Tropez. The moon shines its own light on the sea and boats can be seen adding their twinkles far out to sea. This is a lovely spot for a brandy after dinner, tea in the afternoon and/or even breakfast in the morning.

The hotel is physically part of the old village of Eze (more on Eze Village>>) whose narrow pedestrian lanes tie the hotel together and lead back up into the old corners of this romantic artist’s eyrie. This is the perfect destination for anyone with a romantic streak, a desire to find peace and quiet on the busy coast or just to stay at a world class five star hotel with superb service. One proviso. Just be aware that the very characteristics that give it such charm and character (the hillside location with many stone stairs) can be difficult for those who have a problem walking. And while true that the old village is a very popular tourist attraction, the hotel has a valet parking entrance below the entrance to the walled village, from which your luggage is taken to your room, a place found for your automobile and a private and very beautiful hillside stone flagged path flanked with said water works and outdoor statuary gardens as you make your way to a warm welcome at reception.