ÃÂze (; ; ) is a seaside commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in Southeastern France. It is located on the French Riviera, 8.5 km (5.2 mi) to the northeast of Nice and 4.5 km (2.7 mi) to the west of Monaco. In 2018, ÃÂze had 2,225 inhabitants known as Ezasques (masculine and feminine).
The area surrounding ÃÂze was first populated around 200 BC as a commune situated near Mount Bastide. The earliest recorded mention of the area can be found in the maritime section of the Antonine Itinerary, which refers to the bay of ÃÂze as Avisionis portus.
A hoard of ancient Greek silver phialae dating from the 3rd century BC was found in ÃÂze in the late nineteenth century and is now part of the British Museum's collection. 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, ÃÂze 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 ÃÂze became turbulent several times in the next few centuries as French and Ottoman troops seized the village under the command of Hayreddin Barbarossa in 1543, and Louis XIV destroyed the castle and walls surrounding the village in 1706 during the War of the Spanish Succession. Finally, in April 1860, ÃÂze was designated as part of France by a unanimous vote by the people of ÃÂze.
ÃÂze has been described as an "eagle's nest" because of its location on a high cliff above sea level on the French Mediterranean. It is so high that the light ochre church within (Notre Dame de lâÂÂAssomption built in 1764) can be seen from afar. An Egyptian cross inside the church suggests the village's ancient roots, when the Phoenicians erected a temple there to honour the goddess Isis.
Traditionally, the territory of the Principality of Monaco was considered to begin in the ÃÂze village (outskirts of Nice), running along the Mediterranean coast to Menton, on the present Italian border.
The commune of ÃÂze is located on the French Riviera, extending from the Mediterranean Sea (ÃÂze-sur-Mer) to the hilltop with a medieval village (ÃÂze-Village). Saint-Laurent-d'ÃÂze connects these villages.
ÃÂze, renowned tourist site on the French Riviera, is famous worldwide for the view of the sea from its hill top. Its Jardin botanique d'ÃÂze is known for its collection of cacti and succulents, as well as its panoramic views.
Walt Disney first visited ÃÂze Village in 1956 and had dinner in the Château de la Chèvre d'Or that was acquired by hotelier Robert Wolf three years before. It was Walt Disney who suggested to Robert Wolf to transform the château into a hotel. And so, Robert Wolf acquired and converted nearby village houses into guest rooms. This innovative expansion helped establish the property as one of the original six stops on Relais & Châteaux's prestigious "Route du Bonheur" in 1954.
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 ÃÂze, 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. Its many shops, art galleries, hotels and restaurants attract a large number of tourists and honeymooners. As a result, ÃÂze has become dubbed by some a village-musée, a "museum village", as few residents of local origin live here. From ÃÂze there are gorgeous views of the Mediterranean Sea.
ÃÂze-Village can be reached by train from Nice via the train station ÃÂze-sur-Mer or by bus from Nice. Close to the train station is a bus stop for buses bringing tourists to ÃÂze-Village.
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 extinct) is similar to the Monégasque language of the nearby Principality of Monaco; it is therefore related to Ligurian, but with some influences from the Occitan language.
ÃÂze is one of sixteen villages grouped together by Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur tourist department as the Route des Villages Perchés (Route of Perched Villages). The others are: Aspremont, Carros, Castagniers, Coaraze, Colomars, Duranus, Falicon, La Gaude, Lantosque, Levens, La Roquette-sur-Var, Saint-Blaise, Saint-Jeannet, Tourrette-Levens and Utelle.