A thoughtfully laid out, tastefully decorated, charming studio apartment of 35,77m2, with good sized kitchen, open fireplace and beautiful balcony with lovely valley views, in the centre of the medieval perched village of Peillon.
Just twenty minutes from Nice city centre, and a world away from city life, you’ll find peace and tranquility in an ancient citadel. As you leave the main road and wind up to the lofty heights of the perched medieval village of Peillon, you suddenly feel a hundred miles from the hustle and bustle of Nice – even though you’ll have left the city centre behind less than 20 minutes ago. Built in the 12th and 13th centuries, away from the coast to protect the inhabitants from marauding pirate raids, the village is almost completely unspoiled – there’s even a chapel with its original 15th century frescoes.
Arriving at the top of the hill, you’re at the very foot of the ancient village, where the residents and visitors park their cars in the pretty square, surrounded by plane trees, and from where you’ll see your first view across the valley.
The Place Auguste-Arnulf has three main features that create a wonderful ambience; the old stone fountain, the poignant war memorial, and at the top of the steps several little cobbled streets lead off in different directions, beckoning you to discover the ancient alleyways and doorways of the ancient village.
Following one such narrow cobbled street, you will arrive at the base of a small stone staircase, which leads up to the entrance to Le Nid d’Aigle, or The Eagles Nest – a charming apartment in an excellent location, perched on the edge of the village but just a few minutes walk from the parking lot, overlooking the village square and the valley below.
Entering the apartment, the first room is the kitchen, which is semi-separated from the rest of the apartment and is of surprisingly generous dimensions. The kitchen is ‘full-size’ and has plenty of space for prepping, cooking and serving, with a kitchen table for incidental meals etc. The kitchen is well equipped; the cupboards and units reflect the rustic style of the apartment, being well in character for the village itself. A little window brings light to the kitchen and looks out onto the street below.
A short set of steps leads from the kitchen to the main living area, giving an impression of separation, without the kitchen area feeling isolated. The main salon/bedroom is just under 20m2, and with its high, beamed ceiling and traditional open fire, really does feel comfortable. There are fitted wooden traditional shelving units either side of the hearth, and plenty of cupboards. On the other side of the room are floor to ceiling cupboards that serve well as discreet storage for bedlinen and wardrobes.
A door from the main room leads to the well fitted shower room/ WC, which is of good size and well equipped, with a modern shower unit.
The overall impression of the main living space is of a well appointed drawing room. At the balcony/terrace end of the room is a set of large windows and a glass door opening out onto the outside space. In the summer, these doors and windows open as a set, effectively bringing the terraced area into the main living space of the apartment, and an inside/outside combined space of nearly 47m2. The apartment also comes with its own cave (cellar) in the village.
Stepping out onto the covered (all weather) terrace, one instantly feels the atmosphere of the village, and at this point the name The Eagles Nest seems highly appropriate. From the perched vantage point of the terrace, one can see down into the wooded valley, across the tops of the trees to the hills, and the sunset in the distance. To one’s right there is a view to the upper reaches of the village, with its pretty windows and rooftops, and the hills high above, framed by the perfect azure sky. In front of you, is the main village square, lined by centennial plane trees, with the quiet accompaniment of the fountain twinkling in the background.
The apartment is large enough to feel at ease, whilst being easy to clean and heat – the perfect ‘lock and leave’ arrangement that would be perfect for holiday lets as well as the ideal weekend retreat or holiday apartment. There is custom fitted reversible air conditioning.
The village itself is a wonderfully calm place, and you can feel the history permeating every building, every archway and quiet alley. One has the impression of being a long way from the city, in a truly unspoiled environment, despite being less than 25 minutes from the centre of Nice.
You’ll see straight away why this property is so special – it really is a one-off chance to live in one of the prettiest villages in the region, close to Nice airport, Italy, and Nice city centre. There are shops, supermarkets and all amenities nearby in the local villages around Peillon, and there’s even a little train line that takes you straight to Nice, that runs along the foot of the hill.
There’s loads of little hiking trails across the hills and down in the valley – you can walk to the old village of Peille or the town of La Turbie over the stone cliffs, through pine forests and olive groves, and there are circuit walks and cycle routes around the bottom of the valley below the perched village. Beyond Peillon, the country becomes more remote as you journey towards the foothills of the Alpes-Maritimes.
Every year there is a jazz festival in the village, around mid-summer, and the village boasts two restaurants – the Auberge de la Madone, with its beautiful terrace with views across the valley, and a charming restaurant (Les Plaisirs) in the old village for lunches, just a few short steps from the apartment.
Come and be charmed by this wonderful ancient village, and a very special place to call home.
A VIDEO WALKAROUND TOUR IS AVAILABLE AND CAN BE SENT BY WHATSAPP.
Property ID
Property Year
Structure Type
