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Historic train between Ventimiglia and Tende

A spectacular tourist train line Ready for a trip out of time?

This summer, climb aboard a train like no other! The historic train between Ventimiglia and Tende invites you to (re)discover a spectacular railway line. A journey through the heart of the Alps, between spiral loop tunnels, dizzying viaducts and perched villages, to be experienced in slow tourism mode. Ready for an unforgettable journey along the Roya?

🤝 Supported by the Alcotra Vermenagna Roya project

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©Alcotravero

A vintage train

on a legendary line

Chartered by the Fondazione FS Italiane, this historic Italian train crosses the Roya Valley, offering a unique interlude between heritage, nature and emotion. A genuine cross-border line, this century-old railway links the Mediterranean to the Alpine peaks at an altitude of almost 1,000 metres. It symbolises both the memory of an area and a sustainable future for tourism. With each whistle, a whole piece of history comes to life.

From the sea to the mountains

In just a few kilometres, the landscapes are transformed, the sensations change. A truly sensory journey, where you can experience all the richness and diversity of the Menton, Riviera & Merveilles area.

©Ventimiglia to Tende Historic Train 2025

Getting organised

This summer 2025, you will be able to board the historic train from Ventimiglia to Tende on the following dates:

On 6 (inauguration), 13 and 14 July
OnAugust 3, 10, 17 and 31
And on September 6

Prices :

€20 return per adult
€10 return per child over 4 and under 11
Free for children under 4

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Route and stops

Your timetable

One way: Ventimiglia to Tende

Vintimille 09:55
Breil sur Roya 10:38
Fontan Saorge 10:55
Saint Dalmas de Tende 11:20

La Brigue

Arrival at Tende 11:40

Back to top : Tende to Ventimiglia

Tende 16:30
La Brigue 16:40
Saint Dalmas de Tende 16:49
Fontan Saorge 17:16
Breil sur Roya 17:32
Arrival at Vintimille 18:05

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An ode to contemplation

Charming villages in the heart of an exceptional valley

The Roya Valley, considered to be the most spectacular section of the line, transports you to the confines of the Alps and the Mediterranean. A veritable gateway to the mythical Vallée des Merveilles, this unspoilt territory reveals a generous natural environment and an outstanding heritage. Each stop on the train is an invitation to discover: hilltop villages, medieval alleyways, painted chapels, passionate craftsmen… Here, each village has its own history, its own atmosphere, its own treasure.
Explore them step by step, as if on a journey through time.

The 10 communes of the Vermenagna-Roya project

Breil-sur-Roya

Nestled at an altitude of 280 m, right in the heart of the Roya Valley, Breil-sur-Roya is a magnificent medieval village bordered by the river and surrounded by terraced olive groves. Recognised as a “Station verte“, it offers a true haven of peace on the banks of its lake – the “lac aux Cygnes ” – popular with fishermen, boaters and walkers.

📌 Must-sees:

Also worth seeing:

On May 31, 2025: Hop on the “Museum Train” and enjoy a stop of around 1.5 hours in Breil-sur-Roya, ideal for visiting the transport ecomuseum.

Fontan

Fontan, an emblematic stopover on the ancient Route Royale, owes its name to the Latin Fontes Aquarum – the many springs that gush out on its territory. A nature and culture stopover, inviting you to relax by the torrent, discover a stunning Baroque heritage and immerse yourself in the living soul of the Roya.

📌 Must-See:

The church of Notre Dame de la Visitation

Also worth seeing:

Take the peaceful route along the hillside gardens to discover the village in a different way.

Saorge

Perched some 500 m above the Roya gorges, Saorge offers a veritable natural and architectural spectacle. Listed as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France, this monastery-village with the look of a “Tibetan village” stretches out in an amphitheatre on the mountainside.

La Brigue

This village hides in its mountain setting a chapel nicknamed the “Sistine Chapel of the Alps”. Perched at an altitude of 633 m, La Brigue is a preserved medieval gem at the foot of the Marguareis massif and at the entrance to the Mercantour valleys

📌 Must-sees:

Access and bus timetables:

Zest: the French Riviera transport network | Keolis | Zestbus

Also worth seeing:

The remains of the Château des Comtes Lascaris
The oratory path

Saint-Dalmas-de-Tende

The Saint-Dalmas-de-Tende stopover is dominated by a monumental neoclassical railway station, erected in the 1920s on the orders of Benito Mussolini, when Tende was still Italian. An emblematic stopover at the heart of cross-border history! Saint-Dalmas-de-Tende is also a great starting point for exploring the great outdoors – take a hike

to the Mercantour Massif.

Tende

Perched at an altitude of around 800 m, Tende is an authentic stopover village, rich in Franco-Italian influences, and features in the prestigious Michelin Green Guide’s “100 most beautiful detours in France”. Located on the old Route Royale and the Haute Route du Sel, it is the last stopover on the French side before Piedmont, in a spectacular mountain setting dominated by the Col de Tende at 1,871 m

📌 Must-See:

Also worth seeing:

On 13 and 14 July 2025: Hop on the“Fête de la Saint Eloi à Tende” train to discover the unique Fête de la Saint Eloi with your family!

On August 17, 2025: The train “Fête paysanne à Tende” is ideal for experiencing the mountains in a different way and taking part in the Fête paysanne à Tende.