“La Turbie is a village perched above the Mediterranean. The huge Trophy of Augustus is a reminder of the Romans’ past grandeur. Standing on the hills above Monaco, the Tête de Chien (Dog’s head) offers an incredible panoramic view over the French Riviera! Don’t miss seeing the spectacular sunrise. A magical moment!”
Situated at the crossroads between Italy and Gaul, various events have left La Turbie with some remarkable traces of the past. The commune has succeeded in retaining almost all of its charm, with a harmonious blend of classical, medieval and Baroque styles. Today, visitors can admire the medieval walls, the Baroque-style Saint-Michel Church, a Roman fountain, ‘calade’ pebblestone streets and arched passageways… and, of course, the famous Trophy of Augustus.
Placed under the authority of the Roman Emperor in the 1st century B.C., La Turbie later came under the rule of the Republic of Genoa, prior to becoming part of the Principality of Monaco. It then joined France in 1860.
Unique in its size and historical importance, the Trophy of Augustus is a National Monument. It is one of the architectural wonders of the Alpes-Maritimes. A symbol of victory, the trophy was erected over 2,000 years ago, in honour of Augustus, the great conqueror of the Ligurians of the Alps. Built on the Alpis Summa, the frontier between Gaul and Italy and a strategic point along the Via Julia Augusta, it celebrates the power of the Roman Empire.
Head for the Grande Corniche Park, a green area spanning over 660 hectares. The extraordinary view from here includes the entire coastline, from Italy to the Estérel, as well as the mountains up to Mercantour.
The Via Alpina is the most well-known of the hikes that cross the village (1 hour 30 min round trip). This international route is a real link between 8 countries including Monaco, France, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria and Slovenia. The trail takes you across borders over 60 times!
But the most spectacular view of the French Riviera is probably the one from the Tour de la Tête de Chien. The view from the top is as close as you can get to Monaco, with Cap Martin and the Italian coast in the distance, and a superb vista of Cap Ferrat on the other side. To hike there, the route starts in the pine forest and you then follow the wooden panels for 4.9 kilometres (a 2-hour round trip).
