Roquebrune-Cap-Martin Provence-Beyond (Beyond the French Riviera) ® Alpes-Maritimes (06190) Population: 12,380 Altitude: 300 m Nearby: [ Beaulieu-sur-Mer 18 km | Eze 14 | Menton 1.2 | Monte-Carlo 9 | Nice 22 | St Jean-Cap-Ferrat 23 | La Turbie 12 | Villefranche 21 ] Photos: 1. La France Triomphante statue (28 k) 2. A view of the village from below (28 k) 3. Chateau tower and village houses (24 k) 4. Chateau tower and the village (24 k) 5. The village church, with a painted "shadow" (17 k) 6. The 1000-year-old olive tree (44 k) Below: [ History | Dates | Grottos | Playgrounds | Transportation | Hiking | Lodging ] Roquebrune village is a medieval village perched on a rocky outcrop high over the Mediterranean. It's located between Monaco and Menton, east of Nice. The old village is dominated by the 10th-century chateau-fort that seems to grow massively from the rocks (photos 2, 3, 4). It's a picturesque village with narrow streets, stepped-streets, stone steps, one-person-wide walkways and deep vaulted passages. There are lovely little squares and fountains here and there, wrought-iron balconies and other charming discoveries. Roquebrune-Cap-Martin is both a tourist town and a residential town. The newer village houses are neatly and discretely integrated. The main square of the village (photos 3, 4), tucked in between the chateau and a high protective rock, has a great view; in the evening you can watch the sun setting over Monaco, far below. This is where the statue of La France Triomphante stands. The 18th-century Ste-Marguerite church (photo 5) is restored with lovely Provencal ocres and ambers, with the patterned tile steps and wrought-iron railings in front. Check the statue over the marble doorway carefully: its shadow is a painted trompe-l'oeil, giving a feeling of light to this perpetually shady little corner. Follow one of the paved paths down the hill east of the village center (to about where photo 2 was taken) and you pass one of the oldest known olive trees in the region, the over 1000-year-old millenaire tree. Chateau The 10th-century chateau at the top of the village withstood many sieges over the century. It was restored in the 13th and 15th centuries, and again recently, in the 19th century. Place William Ingram Entry: 12 F Closed: Nov-20 Dec. Name First record, 1157: Rocabruna History Prehistoric: The Grotte du Repaire (grotto) contained a collective Bronze-age burial tomb. At the rocky edge of the sea, in Cap Martin, important prehistoric animal bones and paleolithic remains have been discovered. Roman: Some Roman milestones and inscriptions have been discovered here. Medieval: Roquebrune was ruled in the 13th century by the lords of Vintimillia, and was disputed between the Count of Genoa and the Counts of Provence. In the 14th century, Charles Grimaldi obtained control for the Count of Genoa, then declared possession directly for the Grimaldis. Although the Duchy of Savoy had sovereign authority of the region from 1448, Roquebrune remained with the Grimaldis for the next five centuries. In 1848, Roquebrune was declared an independent town, no longer ruled by the Principality of Monaco or Menton. In 1860, Roquebrune was attached to France. Cap Martin Cap-Martin, within the commune of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, is a beautiful wooded peninsula on the Mediterranean, just below the perched Roquebrune village. The train station is down here, along with the beach, some campsites and shops. The peninsula itself is largely covered with very expensive walled estates, some dating back to the 19th century and the Belle Epoque. Dates, Numbers Gala du Mimosa: March Festin des Genêts: June Fête de Roquebrune: beginning Aug. Fête patronale de St-Roman: 9 Aug. Passion Parade: 5 Aug, with living tableaux, a tradition dating from the 15th century. Office de Tourisme - Tel: (33) 493 35 62 87; Fax: (33) 493 28 57 00 Grottos The Grotte de St-Roman has 120 m developed. Another Grotte de St-Roman is located below the Moyenne Corniche, with 60 m developed. (See also our Caves page.) Playground There's a playground at the top, above the chateau, beside the school. School access to the playground is rather unique, through a buried-pipe tunnel. Transportation A railway station at Cap-Martin, on the seaside below the old village, is on the main Nice-Monaco-Italy line, with frequent year-round service. Camping We have one campsite listed at nearby Menton. Hiking Maps: IGN (1:25,000) 3742 OT "Nice, Menton, Cote d'Azur" Didier Richard (1:50,000) #26 "Pays d'Azur" A short, steep hike from the center of the old village takes you up to Mont Gros (690 m) to join the GR51 (Balcony of the Côte d'Azur). The GR51 goes north along the top of the hills to Gorbio and Ste-Agnes, then circles back down to its end at Menton, on the coast. Also north of the village, several trails branch off from the GR51, offering loop hikes while passing through rugged mountains, beautiful forests and ancient villages. To the west, the GR51 goes by St-Martin de Peille, then on to Tourrette-Levens and Aspremont before crossing the Var river. A coastal trail (sentier du littoral) follows along the very edge of the sea from Pointe de la Veille, around the Roquebrune bay and Cap Martin. Lodging Listing available