The History Behind the Famous Nietzsche Trail in Eze

The beautiful town of Eze on the coast of the Cote d’Azur is really two villages. The more modern Eze bord-de-Mer lies directly on the beach while the Medieval town of Eze Village perches 450 meters above the coast. The two are connected by a steep path that is known as the “Nietzsche Trail” because the German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, supposedly climbed this trail daily when he was living on the Riviera in the late nineteenth century. With commanding views of the Mediterranean, this 4.2 kilometer trail is made for contemplation of man and nature, its arduous physical ascent leading Neitzsche not to the idea of the manifestation of the glory of God and “his” creations but to an expansion of the idea of the “Ubermensch” or “Superman” that he explores in Thus Spake Zarathustra and in later writings. You may feel like a superman (or woman) yourself after completing the hike which takes from one to two hours depending on your endurance and strength.

Not only is it interesting (as well as beautiful if you pause to appreciate the stunning views) to follow the path Nietzsche took while working on his book, once you arrive at Eze Village you will find it well worth exploring. With its centuries-old stone structures and narrow winding streets, Eze is a remarkable destination. In addition, you can visit (for a fee) the garden connected to the castle above the village where you have breathtaking views of the Mediterranean.

Getting to Eze is easy. If you want to take the hike up to the village you can catch a bus, train or taxi from Nice. Both the bus and the train stop in Eze-bord-de-Mer. If you prefer the less challenging hike down from the top, you can take a bus or taxi to the old village and walk down.

Either way you won’t regret the time spent visiting this extraordinary site.