Monaco, Èze and Menton: three faces of the French Riviera
Towards the east of the French Riviera
After Antibes, Vallauris-Golfe-Juan and Cannes, why not head east?
In less than an hour, the landscape gradually changes: the coast becomes steeper, the villages cling to the mountains and the Italian border gets closer.
Three destinations particularly deserve your attention:
Monaco, the world-famous Principality;
Èze, spectacular hilltop village between Nice and Monaco;
Chin, the last French city before Italy.
These three destinations can be explored separately, but they also lend themselves very well to a combined excursion.
Monaco: The Principality between sea and mountains
Monaco is a very different destination from other cities on the French Riviera.
In a tiny territory, the Principality brings together the historic Rock, the Prince's Palace, the Monte Carlo Casino, gardens, museums and a fully urbanized coastline.
Monaco se trouve à 68 minutes of Jasmins Studio for 50.7 km via the A8 motorway.
The Rock and Monaco-Ville
Begin your discovery by Monaco-Ville, installed on the Rock.
This is where you will find, among other things:
- THE Princely Palace ;
- there Monaco Cathedral ;
- the Oceanographic Museum;
- the narrow streets of the old town.
The Prince's Palace
The Prince's Palace is the sovereign's private residence and its Grand Apartments can be visited during the opening season.
The cathedral, in Romano-Byzantine style, notably houses the tombs of deceased princes.
It was also here that Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly were married in 1956.
The Oceanographic Museum
It is one of the most spectacular monuments in Monaco.
Built on a rocky slope above the Mediterranean, the Oceanographic Museum notably houses aquariums and collections dedicated to the marine world.
Official documentation from Monaco indicates more than 6,000 marine specimens.
My advice:
If you love the sea and natural sciences, don't just photograph the building from the outside: the visit is worthwhile.
Monte Carlo: another side of Monaco
After Monaco-Ville, the atmosphere changes completely.
Direction Monte Carlo, with its famous Casino, its palaces and its gardens.
The Monte Carlo Casino, designed by architect Charles Garnier, is one of the great symbols of the Principality and of Belle Époque architecture.
Even if you're not a gamer, the area is worth a stroll for its architecture and its very special atmosphere.
An original idea
Monaco also has a transport network that is particularly well-suited to exploring the city.
THE Electric Water Bus allows in particular to cross the port in a few minutes between the Monte-Carlo and Monaco-Ville sectors.
It's an original way to discover the port while avoiding some of the walking involved.
Èze: the hilltop village overlooking the Mediterranean
Halfway between Nice and Monaco, Èze is one of the great panoramas of the French Riviera.
Èze se trouve à 43 minutes of Jasmins Studio 47.6 km via the A8 motorway and 17 minutes from Monaco via the D6007 departmental road (8.2 km)..
The medieval village is perched on a rocky spur.
The exotic garden
Climb to the top of the village.
The ruins of the old castle are now associated with Exotic garden, with its cacti and succulent plants.
But perhaps the main point is even simpler: the panorama.
In good weather, the view extends far across the Mediterranean.
The view can even reach Cap Camarat and, when conditions are exceptional, Corsica.
Take the time to get lost in the village
Don't go up to Èze just for the view.
Stroll through the alleyways, discover the small squares, shops and workshops.
There Holy Cross Chapel, dating from the Middle Ages, is also one of the places to discover.
For walkers
The area around Èze also allows you to extend your visit with hiking.
I would particularly like to mention the Forna circuit, starting from La Turbie.
Menton: the garden city at the gateway to Italy
After Monaco and Èze, continue east.
Menton is about 69 minutes from Jasmins Studio 58.2 km via the A8 motorway and 36 minutes from Èze via the D2564 departmental road.
You arrive at Chin, the last major French city before the Italian border.
Menton has a very different personality from Monaco.
Here, there are no skyscrapers or racing cars: the city is renowned for its gardens, its citrus fruits, its old town and its baroque heritage.
The City of Menton has been awarded the label City of art and history since 1991.
The old town of Menton
That's where I advise you to start.
The narrow alleyways cascade down towards the sea between the colorful facades.
At the heart of the historic district are, in particular:
- there Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel ;
- the Saint-Michel square;
- the chapel of the White Penitents;
- the stairs and alleyways of the old town.
The city describes this complex as a remarkable example of Baroque heritage.
Go up to the Old Castle
At the top of the old town, the Old Castle cemetery offers an exceptional panorama.
From there you can see the city, the Mediterranean, the mountains and, already very close, Italy.
It's a climb that requires a bit of effort, but the view is worth it.
The Menton market
Then go back down towards the center.
The pedestrian street connects the old town to the market and seafront areas.
The municipal market, located between the port and the old town, is particularly interesting for discovering local products and specialties.
The City of Menton cites in particular lemons, spices, barbajuans and socca among the products that can be discovered there.
My advice:
Don't leave Menton without having tasted something of the local produce.
Menton, city of gardens
The gardens are another great unique feature of Menton.
Thanks to its particularly mild climate, the city has welcomed plant species from very different regions over the centuries.
The City of Menton highlights this botanical richness, as well as the many remarkable gardens that dot the city.
This climate also explains the importance of citrus fruits in the identity of Menton.
Three destinations, three experiences
This route is interesting because these three destinations are very different.
Monaco, for : architecture, princely history, museums, sea and international atmosphere.
Èze, for : medieval village, panoramic views, exotic garden and hiking.
Menton, for : old town, baroque heritage, gardens, gastronomy and immediate proximity to Italy.
A day trip from Monaco to Èze and Menton?
It's possible, but I don't recommend it if you really want to visit all three cities..
Monaco deserves several hours, Èze requires taking your time, and so does Menton.
I prefer to offer you two options.
Formula 1: Monaco + Èze
Leave in the morning for Monaco.
Discover Monaco-Ville, the Rock and the Oceanographic Museum, then continue on to Monte-Carlo.
On the way back, stop in Èze to discover the village and its panorama.
Formula 2: Èze + Menton
Start with Èze in the morning.
Then continue towards Menton.
You will have time to explore the old town, the market, the seafront and some gardens.
This is the option I would personally choose for a more relaxed day..
And why not go all the way to Italy?
From Menton, the Italian border is only a few kilometers away.
If you want to extend the experience, you can continue to Ventimiglia and discover another Mediterranean atmosphere.
It's also a good way to link to another part of our guide dedicated to neighboring Italy.
My advice to my guests
If this is your first time exploring this part of the French Riviera, don't try to see everything in one day.
Monaco It deserves a day on its own if you wish to visit several sites.
Èze can easily be associated with Monaco.
Chin can be associated with Èze and possibly extended into Italy.
And above all, don't forget that you're on vacation: Two truly enjoyable discoveries are better than three rushed visits..
Also worth discovering:
→ The most beautiful hilltop villages of the French Riviera
→ Cannes: the must-sees
→ Golfe-Juan: beaches, ports and the Lérins Islands
→ The Grasse region: flowers, perfumes and gardens
→ Neighboring Italy
→ L’Arrière-pays niçois