As a multifaceted tourist destination, the Alpes-Maritimes department has many tourist assets: a coastline and dream beaches, sumptuous landscapes between the valleys of the Prealps and the Mercantour mountains, renowned museums, etc. But the department also seduces with its remarkable heritage, its castles, its fortresses, its perched villages, its churches, and its luxury villas on the French Riviera.
Monuments in Alpes-Maritimes
Trophy of Augustus
Built in the year 6 B.C., the monument pays homage to Octavian, nephew of Caesar and future Emperor Augustus. It celebrates the submission of the peoples of the Alps, which greatly facilitated trade between the territories of Cisalpine Gaul (corresponding to northern Italy) and Provence (corresponding to southern France). The Trophy of Augustus, built in La Turbie, is part of the cult of Heracles Monoikos, who gave his name to the Principality of Monaco. The building dominates the surroundings and offers a spectacular panorama.
The Trophy of Augustus was erected in the year 6 B.C. in honor of Octavian, nephew of Caesar and future Emperor Augustus, following the submission of the peoples of the Alps. Located on the border between Gaul and Italy, it celebrates the unity and power of the Roman Empire.
Villa Kérylos
Built at the beginning of the 20th century in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, the Villa Kérylos is the reconstitution of an ancient Greek residence. Intended by Théodore Reinach, a French archeologist and statesman, it was the result of close collaboration between the scholar and a talented architect, Emmanuel Pontremoli, who was passionate about the project. The property overlooks the bay of ants and the Mediterranean Sea, and bears witness to the sometimes little-known Greek past of the French Riviera and Provence. The mosaics and interior frescoes are of great beauty.
Saorge Monastery
The Middle Ages also bequeathed admirable monuments to the heritage of the Alpes-Maritimes department. Situated between Piedmont and Liguria, the village of Saorge once had a military importance by blocking the road from Nice to Turin via the Col de Tende. In the first half of the 17th century, Franciscan friars founded a convent here. This “Franciscan Baroque” Mecca has exceptional painted decorations, the frescoes made in the 17th and 18th centuries illustrate the life of St. Francis of Assisi in particular. The church still has its furniture and woodwork. The monastery also houses a writers’ residence.
Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
This Renaissance-style palace was built on the French Riviera at the beginning of the 20th century. It owes its name to the baroness Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild, who was at the origin of the construction of this villa. Its gardens, facades and sumptuous reception rooms have served as the backdrop for numerous movies, TV movies and series. The nine gardens, the reception rooms and Beatrice’s apartments are some of the treasures awaiting visitors.
Cap Moderne
In a natural area of great beauty, facing the Principality of Monaco and with its feet in the water, Cap Moderne brings together exceptional buildings, offering a glimpse of the architectural renewal of the 20th century. Eileen Gray’s villa E-1027, Le Corbusier’s Cabanon and Camping Units, and the bar-restaurant L’Étoile de mer, bear witness to the cultural effervescence of this corner of paradise, while offering an idealized image of the cottage lifestyle on the shores of the Mediterranean.
