The Château de La Chèvre d’Or was awarded the title of Best Hotel Resort in France by the Travel & Leisure World’s Best Awards 2020.

The famous American magazine Travel+Leisure has just unveiled in its summer edition the World’s Best Awards 2020 awarded by its readers. Recognized as the Best Hotel Resort in France among a selection of the most beautiful addresses in France, Le Château de La Chèvre d’Or remains number 1 in this exceptional ranking. With this distinction, Travel+Leisure readers commended the quality of the services, its exceptional gastronomy and its unique geographical location in the world.

The Château de La Chèvre d’Or is very honored to receive such an award for the second consecutive year,” said Thierry Naidu, Managing Director and CEO of Phoenix Hotels. This award has a very special character as it reflects the concrete feelings of our guests, for whom we pay unique attention”.

Between Nice and Monaco, in the heart of the medieval village of Eze, an eagle’s nest set on a limestone rocky outcrop at the top of which the view embraces the Mediterranean coast, La Chèvre d’Or is indeed unique among the mythical hotels on the Riviera. Thanks to the panorama it offers on the coast, the voluptuousness and discreet luxury it distils and the double starred cuisine of Arnaud Faye, the establishment has managed to seduce the most demanding clients and attract the greats of this world.

A violinist, a goat, a loot…

But why is this hotel called that? A mineral setting facing the Mediterranean, Eze is one of the pearls of the Côte d’Azur, nestled between sea and mountains. Perched on its spur, the neighboring village with a maritime pine forest and large areas planted with olive, lemon, almond and carob trees and sown with maquis overlooking the Southern Alps. Tortuous alleys and sunny squares blend harmoniously to form the iconic postcard for all travelers in search of exceptional landscapes. It is this ideal setting that attracted the virtuoso violinist Zlatko Balokovic in the early 1930s. The Legend says that while strolling through the sleepy alleys, he was guided by a golden-haired goat to a building he immediately fell in love with. He bought it and over the years restored this imposing residence, which became the Château de la Chèvre d’Or. The myth was born… Another version of the story told by the oldest people in the village: the first owner of the house raised goats and used to hide the income from the milk of her animals behind the stones of a wall. Years later, the renovation of the place coincided with the discovery of a treasure accumulated over the years!

Walt Disney’s helping hand

The hotel owner Robert Wolf was attracted by the castle and decided to buy it in 1953 and convert it into a restaurant. This was triggered in 1956 when Walt Disney, who was won over by the majesty of the place, came to the establishment. The reputation of the establishment quickly took on an international dimension, with journalists from all over the world flocking to it during the Côte d’Azur season. Walt Disney not only gave La Chèvre d’Or its aura, he also inspired Robert Wolf with an idea that would change his destiny. He wanted to make the restaurant in Eze a first-class hotel. Robert Wolf, constrained by the layout of the premises, was unable to enlarge the house as he wished. He therefore decided to acquire private houses in the village, which he gradually converted into single rooms. The hotel then became one of the 6 stages of the Route du Bonheur, founded in 1954 by Marcel Tilloy, ancestor of the famous Relais & Châteaux chain of which the Château de la Chèvre d’Or is one of the best ambassadors!

Information and contact: www.chevredor.fr