Village of La Turbie

La Turbie lies at the highest point of the Grande Corniche road, built by Napoleon Bonaparte. Today, the village is very popular with hikers and cyclists, offering magnificent panoramic views of the Principality of Monaco and the Côte d'Azur. In ancient times, it was a strategic location for the Romans to erect the Trophée d'Auguste in honor of the Emperor, and during the Belle Epoque, the village was a popular destination for the Côte d'Azur's first winter visitors. Today, the territory covers some 750 hectares, but was originally much larger: until the early 20th century, it included parcels that today belong to the Principality of Monaco and the French communes of Cap d'Ail and Beausoleil.

Throughout history, La Turbie has long served as a stronghold due to its commanding position above the sea, enabling it to keep watch over hundreds of kilometers of coastline. In ancient times, the Romans referred to the area as "Alpis Summas", as the border between Italy and Gaul was located here, and the ancient Roman road "Via Julia Augusta" passed nearby on its way to Cemenelum, today's Nice.

During the Middle Ages, the village was fortified and naturally protected from the tumult of the outside world by the rampart formed by the medieval houses, built in a circular arc. The Trophée d'Auguste was transformed into a military tower, and the name "La Turbie" is thought to derive from "Turris in Via", meaning "the tower on the road". The very construction of the village's houses illustrates the village's history, as different architectural styles can be found here, from medieval to baroque to classical. Many of the houses were built using ashlar from the Trophée d'Auguste, which was mined in 1705 on the orders of Louis XIV.

During your visit, don't miss Saint-Michel Church, a baroque-style church in Nice that has been listed as a Monument Historique since 1938. It was built between 1764 and 1777 from the stones of the ruined Trophée d'Auguste to replace the small Romanesque church that had existed before, but was too dilapidated to worship there. Situated a stone's throw from the medieval city walls, it is part of the "Route du Baroque Nisso-Ligure" tourist itinerary set up by the Alpes-Maritimes department. Inside the building, you can admire the sobriety of its lines, numerous paintings, some dating back to the 15th century, a superb high altar composed of 17 different marbles, a large Christ carved from a single cedar trunk and a Communion table in agate and onyx.

Finally, the Rondo, a veritable balcony of cut stone made famous during the Belle Epoque by the arrival on the Riviera of the first winterers, notably the English, offers one of the finest views of the Principality of Monaco. Similarly, the summit of the Tête de Chien offers one of the finest panoramas of the Côte d'Azur, stretching from Italy to the Estérel on a clear day!