©Drone De Regard
Art in chapels and churches
The baroque route
The baroque route: great escapes for a half-day, full day or several days! Fall under the exuberant spell of Baroque like the counts of Savoie before you. The churches and chapels in Menton, Riviera & Merveilles are a sight for sore eyes! Artists’ creative genius was boundless in the baroque age: gilding, stucco, incredible trompe-l’oeil, light plays and contrasts. The best architects, sculptors and painters showcased their expertise for the Catholic Church. Experience heaven on Earth in the mountain landscapes in Breil-sur-Roya, La Brigue, Saorge, Tende and Sospel!
Altarpieces at Saint Martin Collegiate Church in
La Brigue
An altarpiece is a vertical structure behind the altar adorned with painted or sculpted designs often with several sections: a diptych has two plates, a triptych has three and a polyptych has several parts. They are often jam-packed with different crafts: sculpture, gilding, painting etc. Saint Martin Collegiate Church in La Brigue is worth the detour. It has a fantastic legacy of 16th century altarpieces: the adoration altarpiece by Louis Bréa, the crucifixion one, the Saint Martha one, Saint Erasmus and the Our Lady of the Snows triptych by Sébastien Fuzeri. Religious wonders that you’ll never tire of!
Saorge Monastery,
a prime example of baroque monastery architecture!
The former Franciscan Saorge Monastery is now a writers’ residence overlooking the Roya Gorges. The beautifully preserved site is home to a baroque-style church. The cloister and refectory play host to stunning 17th and 18th century frescoes.
A beautiful terraced kitchen garden with spectacular views of the Bendola Valley! Cultural events bring it to life in summer.
The International Organ Festival in Roya Bévéra,
music to your ears!
An organ works a little like a flute. The organ player presses the keyboard’s keys and sends air into the pipes. The French call the wind supply the “lungs”. The organ also has a keyboard and stop knobs. Every instrument is handmade by craftsmen with age-old expertise. Feast your ears on the sound of the Roya Valley’s organs at the International Organ Festival in Roya Bévéra held on the first fortnight of August with free concerts and recitals by top organ players. Music to your ears!
The Roya Valley
Roya Historical Organ Route
The Roya Historical Organ Route takes you back in time to soak up the amazing artistic energy from the late 17th century to the early 20th century. The Roya Valley’s organs encapsulate exceptional cultural wealth and have been listed heritage in our churches since the 80s.
Stop at Sancta-Maria-in-Albis Church in Breil sur Roya where you’ll find an organ that was originally intended for a Turin church but came here in 1860. Fontan Church is home to the old Saorge organ which Carlo Vittino adapted in 1850. Saint Martin Collegiate Church in La Brigue plays host to the biggest in the valley. The Lingiardi brothers were commissioned to make it in 1849 to replace the 1615 organ. There are two organs in Tende: the first in the Collegiate Church, made by a Bergamo craftsman in 1807, and the second was donated to the Black Penitents Chapel by the Nice canon in 1902.
Notre-Dame des Fontaines,
the Alpes-Maritimes’ Sistine Chapel
You’re in for a big surprise when you visit this chapel in a leafy haven of peace a few miles from La Brigue. Travel back in time 500 years! The atmosphere is magical, the experience is sensational: there’s no electricity. Frescoes by Canavesio and Baleison pop up like a comic strip when dark turns to light in the 220m2 site. They immerse you in the beliefs and superstitions of olden times in their naive depictions with a host of details designed to make an impression on people’s minds. The interior stands out for fear of the Devil and captures the late Middle Ages’ mindset. You won’t know where to look as your eye jumps between terrifying and symbolic scenes…
For an enlightening experience, join a guided tour with head lamps!
Expert advice
You can drive to the chapel or get there on a lovely footpath. And why not have a picnic by the mountain stream next to the fascinating chapel? Heavenly!
