Situated on a hillside dotted with the remnants of an ancient olive grove that gives a clue to its , The Auberge de la Croix du Pape began life as an olive mill in the 1700s. The surrounding hillside was full of olive groves and the harvests were brought here to be pressed and the oil extracted. The original presses and mill have been preserved as features of the original building.
From the 1800’s the building was being used as an Auberge. We know this as Pope Pius VII stayed here on his return from exile to Rome. Elected in 1800, he remained Pope until 1823 during which time he was in conflict with Napolean I. He was kidnapped and imprisoned by Napolean in 1808 and finally released from exile in 1814. As the Route de la Grande Corniche was at one time the main route through the Alpes Maritimes to Italy, he passed by Eze staying at the Auberge. A stone cross now stands in honor of this occasion on the roadside. And hence the name – La Croix du Pape (The Pope’s Cross)
In the early 1900’s the Auberge also became a restaurant, offering a place to stop and dine, whilst admiring the magnificent view over Eze and the sea.
Today we still have the same view that travelers have being seeing for the last hundred or more years. The Auberge has remained a successful business throughout, trading as a hotel/restaurant and then finally just as a restaurant. Our 2 wood-fired ovens have been a feature of the restaurant since the 1950’s. With its sale in 2005 and subsequent refurbishment, the Auberge de la Croix welcomes you back to enjoy hearty dining in a relaxed surrounding, all the while soaking in the incredible views of the Mediterranean and the old village of Eze.
