Thyme Auberge de la Croix du Pape

Auberge de la Croix du Pape is a former olive mill named after a cross here to commemorate Pope Pius VII's visit in 1814. The restaurant was closed for renovation but is also still available for your special occasion. The Lavender Suite is one of 5 rooms for up to 11 guests. Rooms are listed separately but can be booked collectively here, checking availability for you first. Enjoy a large terrace and garden and our spectacular view. Some areas are still being renovated, but that should not detract from your enjoyment of a great location.
We have five rooms, so ask about booking others for more space... particularly the Olive Mill which adjoins the Olive Room listed here. English-speaking host Geoff Milner will guide you on how to get the most out of your visit. Croix du Pape restaurant upstairs is not open while we renovate.
Come downstairs to find us if no-one is upstairs.
We are 25 minutes from Nice Airport on the motorway. Take exit 57 for La Turbie ... at the third roundabout turn right on to the Grande Corniche (Ave des Diables Bleus). Do NOT take the left hand road down to Eze. Stay on the Grande Corniche till you reach the auberge on your left. If you take the route through Nice and enjoy the drive along the beachfront Promenade des Anglaise, it will be slightly longer, but more in peak hour traffic. This takes you up the Grande Corniche. Take care as you take in the spectacular views. and stop to take photos at the lookout point over St Jean-Cap Ferrat. You can't miss it. Or you can take the Moyenne Corniche up to Eze and turn left in the Village at Galimard Perfumery on the left. Drive up through suburbia to the Grande Corniche and turn right... it's about 200 metres from there. Take your time and enjoy!
You can enjoy the spectacular views from the large paved terrace and shaded garden with the view of Eze Village and the Mediterranean. We have a barbecue on the terrace you are welcome to use and if you want to make a salad or do some jacket potatoes to go with it I can supply you with what you need.
I'm very excited to share with guests any tips on places to see and tips on hidden gems you get from local knowledge. The Auberge was a working olive oil mill at the time of Pope Pius VII's visit. Our cool Olive Room still houses the huge grindstone in a pit to mash the olives and huge wooden corkscrew presses to squeeze the last oil from the fruit. We are at a loss to explain how the grindstone was driven but we believe two "tank rooms" of water were used to pump water up the hill to drive a water wheel when the topography of the land was quite different.
We have photographs from former owners of the Auberge in the early 1900s showing their family and construction of the upper building on the ruins of the olive mill. The temperature at the Auberge.., 500 metres above the sea is a few degrees cooler than Nice, especially in the afternoon and early evening when the sun goes rounds the corner of our hill and gives you some relief from a hot day perhaps at the beach ... or just enjoying our sunny terrace or shaded garden to read and sunbake.
Check out is by 11am. You can check in earlier subject to availability. Luggage can be stored and for those who are continuing their journey later, you are welcome to relax after you check out in the communal spaces.
The Thyme Room is about 3m x4m including an ensuite. The overall property is 380m2 on 1400 m2 of land.