Welcome to Peillon, one of the most authentic and well-preserved perched villages on Cote d’Azur. It’s a very captivating place where you’ll find typical medieval architecture, winding picturesque streets, tall stone houses, and great views. Do you need more reasons to visit? By many Peillon is considered one of the most beautiful villages on the French Riviera. At the same time, it’s one of the hidden gems of the area not mentioned in many guides for an unknown reason! This village can be your perfect quiet getaway on Cote d’Azur that will seduce you with its charm from the first steps. Sounds good? Let us show you things to do in Peillon, a charming medieval village in France near Nice.
Travel tip: you can easily visit Peillon and nearby Peille during the same-day trip.
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Peillon, France FAQ
Peillon is located inland in the Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur region in Alpes-Maritimes department in Southeastern France. It sits on a hill at an altitude of 376m a.s.l. Peillon is just a short drive from popular nearby places like Monaco, Eze, Nice, or Menton.
Sure thing! Peillon is a well-preserved medieval village where you can feel like you stepped back in time. It offers a fascinating insight into how life might have been hundreds of years ago and the lack of any touristy things helps in that even more! Overall, there might not be many things to do in the village but even so, a visit to Peillon shouldn’t be missed while in the area.
Things to do in Peillon, France
Peillon village streets
Peillon is a tiny village and you don’t need a map to explore it. Just let yourself be carried away by the beauty of its winding narrow streets and sooner or later you’ll discover its every nook and cranny. Stone houses tightly built together, vaulted passageways, wide stairways, few historic buildings, lots of flowers, cute cats, and of course great views await you in Peillon.
What makes Peillon even more pleasant to explore is the fact that it’s almost untouched by tourism. No gift shops, no groceries, one hotel, and two restaurants – that’s all! Oh, and no cars inside and not many tourists either! Just peace and quiet.
Among Peillon village streets you’ll find points of interest like Place Arnulf with centenary plane trees and a fountain listed as a Historic Monument, the Church of Saint-Sauveur at the top of the village, and an orientation table with great panoramic views over the surroundings.
Church of Saint-Sauveur
Church of Saint-Sauveur (fr. Église Saint-Sauveur) is a small parish church located at the top of Peillon. It stands on an exact spot where the castle once stood and then, since the 12th century, a small chapel. The chapel was enlarged two times, in the 16th and 17th centuries up to the form of a church we can see today. Its most striking feature is a bell tower which is well visible from many points and also looks amazing in the photos of Peillon from many viewpoints located nearby!
In front of the church, you’ll find a lovely square where you can rest for a moment while admiring great views of the surroundings. Also, don’t forget to take a look at the orientation table which provides you with detailed information on what you are looking at from this highest point of the village.
Chapel of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows
Right outside the village, you’ll find the Chapel of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows (fr. Notre Dame des Sept Douleurs) also called Chapel of the White Penitents (fr. Chapelle Des Pénitents Blancs). It features beautiful frescoes painted by Jean Canavesio which date back to the 15th century. This chapel was classified as a Historic Monument in 2000.
According to Peillon’s official website, to admire frescoes you need to insert a coin in the coin box or join a guided tour offered by the Peillon Tourist Office.
While going to the Chapel of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows don’t forget to look behind you – nice views of Peillon village await!
Viewpoints over Peillon
Peillon isn’t only beautiful inside its walls. This perched village also looks stunning from afar! To experience that you have two options. You can admire it from various spots on the main road leading to the village (we recommend a spot near small private parking, not that far from the main parking lot). Or you can go on a very short hike, about 5 minutes, to Saint Roch Church and admire Peillon from there. The route also starts near the mentioned private parking. Check out the pins on the map at the end of the post for precise coordinates.
If you plan to arrive at Peillon by car, don’t forget to look up a couple of times, especially at the beginning of the last road leading to it (Rte du Vieux Village). Another great view of the village is waiting!
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How to get to Peillon, France?
Peillon is located about 20km from Nice or Villefranche-sur-Mer, 30km from Monaco or Eze, 40km from Menton and 60km from Cannes. The most convenient way to get to the village is by car.
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Where to park in Peillon?
There is only one parking lot in Peillon. It’s located right next to the Auberge de la Madone hotel and it’s free. From there, you have to explore Peillon on foot.
To Peillon by public transport
Unfortunately, there isn’t any direct public transport to Peillon from nearby cities or villages. The closest bus stop is located in Peille village and you can easily get there from many nearby places. From there you’ll need to take a taxi to Peillon or go on foot.
The closest train station is located in Peillon Sainte-Thecle, about 3.5km away from the village. You can easily get there from many nearby places like Nice, Cannes, Menton, or Villefranche-sur-Mer. From this station, you can get to Peillon on foot. You can also choose to arrive by train to Peille, explore this village, and then continue on foot or by taxi to Peillon.
To learn more about bus or train connections that might interest you visit rome2rio.com website.
To Peillon by taxi
The most expensive option but also available from almost every place you might be on Cote d’Azur. For example, a trip from Eze will take only about 25min (€40-55), 35min from Menton (€90-110) and 40min from Antibes (€100-130). To learn more about taxi connections that interest you visit rome2rio.com website.
Camping Peillon
If you’re traveling by camper, places like Camping de La Laune or Camping La Ferme Riola might interest you. They are located near Peillon.
Things to do in Peillon, France – Summing up
Peillon is a real gem on Cote d’Azur, isn’t it? It’s amazing that until today this perched village retained its medieval appearance almost untouched. And lack of concentration on tourism is something that makes Peillon a breath of fresh air and gives a unique opportunity to feel like living hundreds of years ago.
No wonder why many consider it one of the most beautiful villages in the area! Peillon is an ideal place to slow down for a bit and enjoy the charm of the South of France. Be sure to include it in your Cote d’Azur itinerary, you won’t regret it.
Our video from Peillon
Our opinion about Peillon
For us, a visit to Peillon was a day trip, combined with a visit to Peille, from nearby Cannes where we lived for a few weeks. We visited it in mid-July and surprisingly we were two of just a handful of other people out there. What’s more, until our second time in the area we had no idea that such a wonderful village existed there! It’s not mentioned in many guides and we came across it by accident. Thankfully! Because we really liked the Peillon and the time we spent strolling among its charming streets was a pure pleasure.
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Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Peillon?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Peillon:
