Page 265 - Lonely Planet France’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

menton.fr) has a list and Up in the hilltop quarter with small higgledy-
opening times. of Le Rocher, shady piggledy stone houses
Spend your second streets surround the and winding lanes (and,
night in town. Grimaldi Palace, the yes, galleries and shops).
wedding-cake castle of It’s undoubtedly delight-
54 p265 Monaco’s royal family ful but it’s the ever-
The Drive »Leave Menton (time your visit for the present views of the coast
on the D6007, the Moyenne pomptastic changing of that are truly mesmeris-
Corniche, skirting the upper the guard at 11.55am). ing. They just get more
perimeter of Monaco. When Nearby is the impressive spectacular from the
you’re ready turn off into Musée Océanographique Jardin Exotique d’Èze
Monaco, take your pick of the
car parks (they all charge the de Monaco, stocked with (%04 93 41 10 30; adult/
same rate, capped at €20 per all kinds of deep-sea child €6/2.50; h9am-7.30pm
day). Good options include the denizens. It even has a Jul-Sep, to 6.30pm Apr-May &
Chemin des Pêcheurs and Stade 6m-deep lagoon complete Jun, to 5.30pm rest of year), a
Louis II for old Monaco, or the with circling sharks. surreal cactus garden at
huge underground Casino car Round things off the top of the village, so
park by allèes des Boulingrins with a stroll around the steep and rocky it may
for central Monte Carlo.
cliffside Jardin Exotique have been purpose-built
and the obligatory photo for mountain goats. It’s PROVENCE & SOUTHEAST FRANCE 23 RIVIERA CROSSING
8 Monaco of Monaco’s harbour, also where you’ll find
the old castle ruins; take
bristling with over-the-
This pint-sized principal- top yachts. time to sit, draw a deep
ity (covering barely 200 breath and gaze, as few
hectares) is ridiculous, The Drive »Pick up where places on earth offer such
absurd, ostentatious you left off on the Moyenne a panorama.
Corniche (D6007), and follow its
and fabulous all at circuitous route back up into the Èze gets very crowded
once. A playground of hills all the way to Èze. between 10am and 5pm;
the super-rich, with if you prefer a quiet wan-
super-egos to match, it’s der, plan to be here early
the epitome of Riviera TRIP HIGHLIGHT in the morning or before
excess – especially at the 9 Èze dinner. Or even better,
famous Casino de Monte This rocky little village treat yourself to a night
Carlo, where cards turn, perched on an impossible and a slap-up supper at
roulette wheels spin and peak is the jewel in the the swish Château Eza, a
eye-watering sums are Riviera crown. The main fitting finish to this most
won and lost. attraction is technically memorable of road trips.
For all its glam, the medieval village,
Monaco’s not all show. 4 p265

263