Chapelle de la Sainte-Croix
The oldest building in Èze stands quietly on a cobbled lane in the medieval village, easy to walk past if you don't know to look for the pebble mosaics on its porch. This is the Chapelle de la Sainte-Croix — also called the Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs — a small Genoese-era chapel whose bell-tower still carries the architectural fingerprints of the republic that once governed this coast.
Inside, a crucifix of Catalan origin depicts Christ with a smile rather than anguish, which stops most visitors for a moment. If the chapel is closed, you can still peer through the iron grid at the high altar beyond.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who've wandered Èze more than once tend to slow down here before continuing toward the Jardin Exotique or the castle ruins. The porch mosaics reward a closer look — the pebblework is intricate and worn smooth. Come early in the morning, before the tour groups fill the lane.
The story behind Chapelle de la Sainte-Croix
Founded in 1306, the Chapelle de la Sainte-Croix served as the seat of the White Penitents of Èze — a brotherhood who dressed in white robes and balaclavas to tend to plague victims, care for lepers, and bury the dead during the epidemic years that shadowed the region. The chapel's Genoese bell-tower reflects the period when Èze fell under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Genoa, and the building has outlasted every political arrangement that followed.
In 1860, the chapel took on a different kind of significance: the people of Èze gathered here to vote unanimously in favour of joining France, a decision that coincided with Nice's own annexation that year. Seven centuries of village life, plague and politics, compressed into one small room.
Good to know
Entry is free. The chapel is currently closed temporarily, so interior access isn't guaranteed — check locally before you visit. It sits in the heart of the old village, a short walk from the Église de l'Assomption d'Èze. The narrow streets mean no vehicles; wear comfortable shoes.
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What travellers say about Chapelle de la Sainte-Croix
Heritage Day 2025: Nice's Old Town, a little off the beaten track
A magnificent experience of light...
A lovely, very quiet little chapel at the bottom of the castle park, with free parking on Rue Sincaire just before it :) which is rare
A glimpse into the true spiritual and charitable life of Nice. A Baroque chapel, full of symbols, and an archconfraternity that has been working with modesty and devotion since 1306...
A very pretty and historic chapel in Nice
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