Notre-Dame de la Menour

The

Between the

Green forests, historic monuments and hilltop villages with their typical narrow streets… Menton, Riviera & Merveilles is not just about fragrant lemons, azure beaches and colourful facades. In the hinterland, between two mountain bends, there are also a few secret gems to discover.

Just thirty kilometres from Menton and around fifty from Nice, the chapel of Notre-Dame de la Menour is one of these hidden gems. Perched at the top of its rock, at the end of a staircase described as a “mini-Chinese wall”, the church invites you to meditate in the gentle silence of the Alps.

Put on your hiking boots, your bike helmet or your best Monte Carlo rally jersey, and we’ll take you to discover the surprising Notre-Dame de la Menour chapel!

On the road to the Grandes Alpes, a chapel suspended between heaven and earth...

A grand arrival

Here you are at last in the Mercantour National Park, winding your way through the mountains between Sospel and Moulinet. From the moment you set off, you can enjoy the sublime scenery of this deep valley, following the route favoured by cyclists and motorcyclists who enjoy retracing the route of the famous Monte Carlo Rally. The gorges of the Bévéra plunge in on your left as you climb northwards. Finally, just before you reach Moulinet, it rises up on its rocky spur. 780 metres above the river, reached by a monumental staircase: welcome to the chapel of Notre-Dame de la Menour!

A place of pilgrimage

If this chapel stands so high up in the Alpes-Maritimes, it is because it originally had a defensive role. The oldest remains date back to the XIIᵉ century and tell us that the first Romanesque church was used to defend access to the Château de la Menour. The remains on the mountainside opposite the chapel are now all that remain of this building, which was destroyed in the XVᵉ century.

But while the castle is no more, the chapel survives. Rebuilt in the XVIIᵉ century, it was then rotated so that its chancel faced west. Its “Renaissance” façade, adorned with a monogram of Mary, reminds us that Italy is never far from Menton, Riviera & Merveilles. Restored in 2019, it radiates warm colours and offers a striking contrast with the surrounding green. It’s hardly surprising that, over the years, it has become one of the region’s most popular places of pilgrimage!

Once a saint, always a saint!

Even today, the chapel of Notre-Dame de la Menour is a pilgrimage destination for the people of Moulinet. Three times a year, on Easter Monday, Whit Monday and 8 September, a mass is celebrated there, helping to make the place a veritable shrine.

The stairway-bridge: a mini-Chinese wall in the making

At 780 metres high, the chapel of Notre-Dame de la Menour is in itself a curiosity in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. But what makes it utterly unique is above all its monumental staircase leading up to the church.

Built in the 18thᵉ century, the bridge spans the road and the River Bévéra over a length of 42 metres before transforming into a staircase to reach the church at the top of its rock! It’s an intriguing feat of architecture that earned the staircase its classification as a historic monument in 1937 and the nickname (very aptly coined) of “mini-Chinese Wall”. Why travel to the ends of the earth when France hides such wonders?

Ascent to the Notre-Dame de la Menour chapel: contemplation and emotion

Once you’ve reached the site, contemplation gives way to amazement! The staircase-bridge rises up in front of you like a challenge (or an invitation). It’s time to stop for a contemplative break, with the chapel waiting in the background. It takes a bit of effort to reach the chapel, but the view from the terrace is well worth it! You can’t resist taking a photo (or two!) of the panorama: the peaks and passes of the Alps unfold before you, enhancing the charm of the church’s bright colours.

Although the chapel itself is closed to visitors (it can beopened on request from Moulinet town hall), you may find yourself wandering around for a while at the top of the sanctuary. You can sit on a bench, share a picnic in good company, and sometimes even pray… In short, you can let yourself be carried away by the gentle pace of life typical of the Alpes-Maritimes!

©Notre Dame De La Menour Chapel Bridge Staircase

All the information you need to visit the Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Menour

How to get to the chapel

Although nestled in the heart of the countryside, Notre-Dame de la Menour chapel is officially located in the commune of Moulinet.

To visit the chapel by car from Menton or Nice, head towards the village of Sospel. At the last bend before the centre, turn left to reach Moulinet and the Col de Turini. Here, you follow the Route des Grandes Alpes for around ten kilometres, as it twists and turns northwards into the Bévéra gorges. After a final double bend, the chapel and its steps are visible on your left. Welcome to the sanctuary!

©Chapelle De La Menour A Moulinet Guy Bonvallet

The 5 commandments of your visit

✅ By car, park in the small car park on the left.
✅ If there is no more space, you can park on the stretch of road to the north of the site.
✅ If you wish to visit the interior of the chapel, telephone Moulinet town hall at least 48 hours in advance.
✅ All year round, the panorama over the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, you will admire.
✅ 3 times a year (Easter Monday, Whit Monday and 8 September), you’ll attend a moving local pilgrimage.

A gentler way to visit

For those who prefer a more gentle form of transport, you can reach the site by taking line F of the Zest’ transport network, which runs from Sospel station to Le Moulinet.

❗Please note: to do this, you will need to book your journey no later than 2 hours before the departure time (fixed timetables) or the day before before 6pm, if your journey is before 10.30am.

→ Book your bus trip here!

©Facades Sospel Vallee De La Bevera Pango Visual

A small chapel, a great starting point for a visit to the Bévéra gorges!

A land of olive trees, historic monuments and medieval suburbs… Like Notre-Dame de la Menour, Menton’s colourful facades hide more than one treasure in its mountainous hinterland. They reveal themselves to those who know where to look… or to be curious!

The church is a fine symbol of local cultural and spiritual diversity. A real invitation to visit the mountains of Menton, Riviera & Merveilles, it encourages you to dare to hike the surrounding paths, or to opt for a stroll through the narrow streets of the nearby hilltop villages.

Bévéra Valley

Sospel: welcome to the Mercantour National Park

Arriving from Menton or Nice, you’re bound to pass through the picturesque village of Sospel on your way to the chapel of Notre-Dame de la Menour. Nestling in the heart of the Bévéra valley, you’ve arrived at the southern gateway to the Mercantour National Park, in an authentic town surrounded by mountains.

Before setting off again, take a stroll through its narrow streets, looking for its colourful facades. Along the tourist trail, take a tour of the medieval town, discover the baroque architecture of the Saint-Michel cathedral and step back in time on the Pont-Vieux, a former crossing point on the Salt Route.

Here, sports enthusiasts can let off steam on foot, mountain bike or horseback, while culture buffs look forward to the not-to-be-missed Les BaroQuiales festival, which transforms the village into a stage for the baroque arts every early July. But that’s when they’re not exploring the village forts, curious remnants of the Alps’ Maginot Line…

Sospel

Moulinet, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur version of Switzerland

Just a few minutes north of the chapel, perched at an altitude of 800 metres, lies what used to be known as “Switzerland just a stone’s throw from the coast”. Moulinet, a village with wild landscapes typical of the Mercantour, promises a gentle escape between forests, waterways and picturesque character.

Chestnut, oak, beech, fir and larch trees… Here, all the species work together to offer us an oasis of greenery on the route of the famous Monte Carlo rally. From the Col de Turini and its ski resort to its many hiking trails, the village invites you to enjoy the peace and quiet of the Alps while taking advantage of all the activities that Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur has to offer. A real pleasure to share!

Hike to admire the chapel from Moulinet

From Moulinet, this walking trail takes you to explore the heights of the village and admire the mini-Chinese wall of the Notre-Dame de la Menour chapel. Don’t forget your camera!

📍 Start: Moulinet
📏 Distance: 7.4 km
⏱️ Duration: 4h

🗓️ Recommended period: all year round

→ Click here to find out more about this walk from Le Moulinet!

The Authion circuit: a journey along the Maginot Line of the Alps

Even further north, after passing Moulinet and the Col de Turini, you come to the 2080-metre-high summit of Authion. Here, the 360° view of the Mercantour National Park is complemented by reflections of the Mediterranean in the background and the Maginot Line defences scattered across the landscape.

Built between 1883 and 1890 by General Séré de Rivières (the Vauban of the XIXᵉ century), the three Authion forts form part of what is known as the ‘Maginot line of the Alps’. Known as Força, les Milles Fourches and la Redoute, they still tell the story of the German offensives in this remote region, which did not deter the Allied tanks. A curiosity to be discovered on an unusual walk!

For a curious walk in the fresh air, simply follow the interpretation trail to discover these surprising remains. Accessible by car, the trail can also be explored on foot. And don’t forget to keep an eye out for the Vacherie de Cabanes Vieilles (Old Cabanes Cow Farm) below the path, where you can enjoy a delicious gourmet break made with tomme cheese from the mountain cows!

A ride through history… on a mountain bike!

From the Col de Turini (or even from Sospel for the more motivated), you can join the Authion circuit by mountain bike. Ideal for budding cyclists looking to combine nature, culture and sporting challenges right in the heart of the Alpes-Maritimes.

📍 Start: Sospel or Col Turini
📏 Difficulty: accessible, but sporty
⏱️ Duration: 2h30

🗓️ Recommended period: between June and October