Franciscan Monastery of Saorge and Notre-Dame des Miracles church

Don't miss this guided tour! Included in the monument's admission price; no reservation required: Daily from early June through late September, at 11 a.m., 2:30 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. From October 1 through November 3, and from February 1 through May 31 (closed on Mondays): guided tours at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The village of Saorge, listed among the “most beautiful villages in France,” overlooks the Roya Gorges at the entrance to the Mercantour National Park. Listed by the Centre des Monuments Nationaux, the Monastery—a former Franciscan convent founded in 1633 in the Baroque style—has preserved its original structure, painted decorations, and kitchen garden. The Church of Notre-Dame des Miracles features remarkable walnut woodwork, paintings, and liturgical objects. The cloister is adorned with 17th-century frescoes depicting scenes from the life of St. Francis of Assisi, as well as an exceptional collection of nine period sundials. The refectory features 17th-century frescoes depicting monastic virtues. The garden, a true haven of peace overlooking the mountains, consists of an “organic” vegetable garden and an orchard, laid out in terraces with several interconnected irrigation ponds. The monastery hosts writers, translators, and screenwriters in writing residencies from April through October. - For visitors with visual impairments, the monastery offers assistive tools: a tactile model and tour guides in Braille and thermoformed leaflets—all very well designed and produced by a specialized organization in collaboration with the Valentin Haüy Association. - For visitors with intellectual disabilities, adapted tours are available on-site by reservation. - For deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors, the monastery can arrange for French Sign Language (LSF) interpreters off-site, by reservation, and only for groups. - As of now, there are no specific accessibility features for people with mobility impairments. Guided tours included in the entrance fee at 10.30 am, 2.30 pm, 4 pm. Duration approx. 1 hour.