The Perched Villages of Cote d'Azur

One of the most endearing attractions of Côte d'Azur, also known as the French Riviera, in the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France, are its charming hilltop villages. Perched like hats on top of verdant hills, these villages combine the allure of medieval architecture with birds-eye views of the Riviera coast and mountains. Most villages emerged during the 12th and 13th centuries when peasants living in the coastal towns fled inland to the hilltops where they could protect themselves from pirates and marauding armies. After a postwar period of neglect, the perched villages gained new life when the residents renovated the crumbling town houses to serve as second residences. Artists and artisans moved in and set up boutiques and galleries to show their wares. Now, most villages have a thriving commercial life catering to tourists, retirees, and part-time residents. Many villages still have buckled medieval walls and their crooked, cobbled streets are pleasant to stroll. There are more than 120 perched villages scattered over the territory of Côte d'Azur. They each have a singular charm to be discovered in their little streets or in the craftsmen's workshops. Peillon Peillon is a very picturesque, perched fortified village 20 km north of Nice. The village is perched on top of a high narrow rocky peak, with the compact collection of stone houses, narrow streets, vaulted passages, and sometimes steep stairs. The area has been inhabited since the Iron Age age and the first fortified town was built on the site near the end of the 10th Century. Most of the current buildings date from the 19th Century, but a few date from the 17th Century. Unlike many other medieval towns in the area, Peillon is an authentic town which is not oriented towards tourists. There are not souvenir shops or other tourist-oriented facilities. The only amenities are one restaurant inside the town and two more in the auberges just outside the town.