A village at the end of the world, surrounded by peaks, I really loved this break. A perfect base for exploring the Upper Salt Road.
La Brigue
La Brigue:
In the village
In the village
This village is a complete delight. From the square, begin with the Collégiale Saint-Martin Church, an impressive Baroque building with a trompe-l’oeil façade. Alongside is a stunning round chapel and opposite, a magnificent fountain featuring lion heads.
The rest of the village won’t disappoint either. It has an enchanting array of cobbled streets, long arched passageways bordering the river, and brightly coloured houses…
A Historical Heritage
of Local Dialect
The commune has an architectural heritage that includes 7 buildings listed as Monuments Historiques, notably the Notre-Dame des Fontaines Chapel, also dubbed the Sistine Chapel of the Southern Alps for its beauty. The Chapels des Pénitents and the Chateau des Lascaris also reveal their own historical treasures. These buildings give the village its unique character and have been awarded the ‘Pays et Villes d’Art et d’Histoire’ label.
Labrigue Museepatrimoinebrigasque AdfaMusée du patrimoine brigasque|
INTERESTING TO KNOW
Not far from the extraordinary Saint-Michel Chapel, the Musée du Patrimoine et des Traditions Brigasques presents an extensive local heritage collection and provides a glimpse into the past of this rural farming community.
Festivities
in La Brigue
The village regularly hosts events where both locals and visitors can all join in the fun. In mid-July and mid-August, there are festive dinners known as the ‘Aubades’. In July, a large medieval festival takes you back to the village of old, and the Brigasca Sheep Festival, celebrating this local breed of sheep, brings the summer season to a close.
BRIGASCA SHEEP FESTIVAL
Shepherding in La Brigue is a timeless farming tradition, celebrated each year with a festival that showcases the region’s farming produce and crafts. This is the Brigasca Sheep Festival!
Sports & Leisure Activities
around La Brigue
The village’s natural surroundings offer an equally appealing place to enjoy a variety of leisure activities.
- By bike, follow the 8-kilometre “Balade Brigasque” cycle tour, a historical route providing unique panoramic views.
- For the more adventurous, there is a Via Ferrata overlooking the medieval village with 80-metre-high vertical cliffs, offering a great challenge. This wonderful circuit includes 8 monkey bridges and a 120-metre-long zip line.
- There is a regulated No-kill fishing area on the banks of the Levenza. Please note that a fishing licence is required.
- Finally, the La Brigue region has a whole host of different paths and hiking trails, from the discovery trail (a 3-hour round trip) to the three-village tour (La Brigue-Tende-Saint Dalmas de Tende in 6 hours), as well as day hikes climbing the Mont Bertrand and La Cime de Marta peaks.
