Page 173 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

The Drive »Leave Menton Monaco’s royal family It’s undoubtedly delight-
on the D6007, the Moyenne (time your visit for the ful but it’s the ever-
Corniche, skirting the upper pomptastic changing of present views of the coast
perimeter of Monaco. When the guard at 11.55am). that are truly mesmeris-
you’re ready turn off into Nearby is the impressive ing. They just get more
Monaco, take your pick of the Musée Océanographique spectacular from the
car parks (they all charge the
same rate, capped at €20 per de Monaco, stocked with Jardin Exotique d’Èze
day). Good options include the all kinds of deep-sea (%04 93 41 10 30; adult/
Chemin des Pêcheurs and Stade denizens. It even has a child €6/2.50; h9am-7.30pm
Louis II for old Monaco, or the 6m-deep lagoon complete Jul-Sep, to 6.30pm Apr-May &
huge underground Casino car with circling sharks. Jun, to 5.30pm rest of year), a
park by allèes des Boulingrins Round things off surreal cactus garden at
for central Monte Carlo. with a stroll around the the top of the village, so
cliffside Jardin Exotique steep and rocky it may
and the obligatory photo have been purpose-built
8 Monaco of Monaco’s harbour, for mountain goats. It’s FRANCE 12 RIvIERA CROSSING
This pint-sized principal- bristling with over-the- also where you’ll find
ity (covering barely 200 top yachts. the old castle ruins; take
hectares) is ridiculous, time to sit, draw a deep
absurd, ostentatious The Drive »Pick up where breath and gaze, as few
and fabulous all at you left off on the Moyenne places on earth offer such
Corniche (D6007), and follow its
once. A playground of circuitous route back up into the a panorama.
the super-rich, with hills all the way to Èze. Èze gets very crowded
super-egos to match, it’s between 10am and 5pm;
the epitome of Riviera if you prefer a quiet wan-
excess – especially at the TRIP HIGHLIGHT der, plan to be here early
famous Casino de Monte 9 Èze in the morning or before
Carlo, where cards turn, This rocky little village dinner. Or even better,
roulette wheels spin and perched on an impossible treat yourself to a night
eye-watering sums are peak is the jewel in the and a slap-up supper at
won and lost. Riviera crown. The main the swish Château Eza, a
For all its glam, attraction is technically fitting finish to this most
Monaco’s not all show. the medieval village, memorable of road trips.
Up in the hilltop quarter with small higgledy-
of Le Rocher, shady piggledy stone houses 4 p173
streets surround the and winding lanes (and,
Grimaldi Palace, the yes, galleries and shops).
wedding-cake castle of

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