POPE PIUS VII AND NAPOLEON
Auberge de la Croix du Pape on the great driving road Route de la Grande Corniche between Nice and Monaco has stunning views of the mediaeval village of Eze and The Med. It takes its name from a cross outside commemorating Pope Pius VII staying at the auberge in 1814.
Auberge de la Croix du Pape is a former olive mill named after a cross here to mark a Pope Pius VII's visit in 1814.
The original Olive Mill Grindstone and presses date back to well beyond his visit.
The Olive Mill was an important local building with olive growers bringing their produce to be processed.Pope Pius VII had been locked up in Chateau de Fontainebleau south-east of Paris to force him to sign a new Concordat, annul Napoleon’s excommunication and have his marriage to Josephine officially recognised.
Napoleon released the Pope on January 23, 1814, stopping at the former Olive mill that became known as Auberge de la Croix du Pape. He then continued the journey to make his triumphant return to Rome on May 24, 1814.
CROIX DU PAPE IN THE 1950s
When we became the latest guardians of this historic former Olive mill after the Hosteau family. The former owners of the auberge before them, the Megis family, gave us some precious photographs from a bygone era.
This particular photo has a fascinating background story. Roger Megis, the boy in the car with his father, came to eat at Auberge de la Croix du Pape one day when we reopened in 2009.
He presented us with the collection of. photographs. The car is a classic Renault which we were told used to belong to the former mistress of a French president.
Roger's daughter Sylvie confirmed the story: "The story of the woman is true, it was the mistress of President of the Republic Vincent Auriol," she said. "The car is a Renault Nerva Grand Sport. 8-cylinder in line with side valves." Sylvie knows her cars!
The Route de la Grande Corniche is a popular location for filming. A driving scene in the film To Catch a Thief with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly was filmed here and more recently Absolutely Fabulous used a variety of Côte d'Azur locations including this great driving road. AB Fab Photo: Geoff Milner
AUBERGE AMENITIES
All rooms private ensuites
Lavender and Olive Suites:
TV including Netflix access
Free wifi access
Flexible check-in
Large sunny terrace
Parties & Events
Off-road parking
Fibre-speed internet
Coffee & Tea available
Hairdryer and Iron
Free laundry facilities