| Duration | Start | Level | Ideal season |
| 1 day | La Brigue | Accessible to all | March to October |
Adventure 8Intrigues in La Brigue
Why do we love it?
A journey back in time.
Notre-Dame-des-Fontaines, the Sistine Chapel of the Alpes-Maritimes.
Stories, legends and cultural discoveries for children.
Stage 1
Hiking from La Brigue
This morning’s program: a nugget and a treasure. The nugget is the village of La Brigue, nestled in the Roya valley and renowned for its heritage. The treasure is the Chapelle Notre Dame des Fontaines, which you’ll reach on foot. Sunday? There’s nothing better than the market to make up your picnic! This hike on an interpretive trail is fairly well-known, so don’t leave too late. Take the chemin de Saint-Jean past the fire station, then the yellow-marked path at the stadium. Climb gently to the old lime kiln. A few meters further on, you’ll find the road and Notre-Dame-des Fontaines on your right.
Good to know
To visit Notre Dame des Fontaines, book at least one day in advance. Information at the La Brigue Tourist Office.
Built on the remains of a Pagan temple, overlooking 7 springs, this magnificent chapel is steeped in legend. Inside, 225 square meters of frescoes by Italian painters from Piedmont. A sort of divine comic strip that will fascinate young and old alike. Don’t miss the guided tour. For lunch, picnic on site or return to the village at the Auberge Saint-Martin to try the Cucina Bianca. An astonishing Italian-inspired cuisine using only local, white or lightly-colored ingredients.
Stage 2
Cultural stroll through the village
As you enter the village, you’ll see the collegiate church of Saint-Martin, with its trompe-l’œil facade and soaring Lombard bell tower. Next door, a surprisingly rounded chapel and a fountain with lion heads. Heritage lovers will fall in love with La Brigue at first sight. So take your time. Stroll along the cobbled streets or under the vaulted passageways lining the river. Here, colorful houses with unusual lintels; there, an unusual building housing beehives.
The Brigue market takes place every Sunday. Ideal for stocking up on local produce before setting off on your adventure!
Good to know
You can reach La Brigue by car, or even better, by taking the Train des Merveilles. Departing from Nice, this is the penultimate stop before Tende.
A little further on, at the Musée du Patrimoine et des Traditions Brigasques, we take you back to the daily life of days gone by. The original, playful displays showcase the trades and traditions of the time. Don’t leave without discovering the Pont du Coq. A highly original fifteenth-century construction, built… at right angles! But what for? And why the name? According to the experts, the bend was designed to compensate for the difference in soil types between the two banks. The origin of the name, however, is another story…
Small gestures and good reflexes
To limit your impact, stay on the interpretive trail without cutting through the hairpins.
If you’re picnicking, don’t leave any trace of your visit!
The origin of the name Pont du Coq
Once upon a time, a young mason was in charge of building the bridge. Fearing he’d fail, he made a pact with the devil: if the devil managed to finish the bridge before daybreak, he’d give him his soul. But at the end of the night, just before the devil finished his work, the boy’s mother deliberately frightened her rooster into crowing and announcing morning. Goodbye devil, bravo young man and thank you Mum!
Our good addresses
Auberge St Martin
2 Place Saint Martin, La Brigue
04 93 53 97 15
Hotel le Mirval
3 Rue Saint-Vincent Ferrier,La Brigue
04 93 04 75 70
Fleur des Alpes Hotel-Restaurant
1 Pl. Saint-Martin, La Brigue
04 93 04 61 05
All set? Lace up your shoes, grab your bag and set off to discover our corners of paradise.
