Roquebrune-Cap-Martin Things to Do

Surrounding the castle and beneath it's tower lays the village of Roquebrune. Winding narrow streets and alleys that are filled with staircases, built completely on the flanks of a steep mountain rising up from the blue sea. It is truely like in a book, how this village looks and the atmosphere that it breaths brings you back to medieval times. Curiosity grows when passing the small windows and colourful doors. Little stairways lead to yet other doorways, yet again, other secrets.

Roquebrune is proud of it. The thousand year old olive tree that belongs to the oldest living creatures in this world. One has to search a while and go through the streets towards Menton and just outside the village itself (Rue de la Fontaine), but the wonderful tree is very much worth to have a look at.

Every village has a church, at least here in Europe it is like that. In Roquebrune it is the Sainte-Marguarite, raised in the 12th century and later modelled in a baroque way. Colourful facade is visible, while the rest of the church, including the tower, is practically hidden in the masses of the houses in Roquebrune. The bell tower is however sticking out above the red rooftops and forms a remarkable part of the view over Roquebrune. the interior is very rich and colourful, with lots of gold, silver and marble as well as paintings and sculptures. Interesting is a small exposition about the processions of Roquebrune on Good Friday and on the 5th of August (see "local customs tips")

Within a junction of three alleys, deep inside the village core of Roquebrune, is a small square, just in front of the main church: Sainte-Marguarite. The colourful facade of the church is lighting up one side of this open place, where the sunlight scatters in beams frolically. Here is also a small monument for the fallen hero's in the both worldwars. Like in all French (and European) towns, they shall never be forgotten.

This place is not very accessible for people with children's wagons, let even for those who are in a wheelchair. The streets are going up (or down) steep and stairs are everywhere. In the aberage warmth that is hanging over the Cote d'Azur, it is quite strenuous to walk around the whole village and cross every alley and street. This however is a joy for thise who love history and a typical atmosphere that is present everywhere in Roquebrune.

The Karolingan castle of Roquebrune is between a true castle and a ruin. The place it is built is the (still) green hilltop in the centre of the old Roquebrune village (which appeared around the castle, that was a safe-haven for the inhabitants of the place that was built. The 26 metres high "Donjon" rises over the remaining pieces of the stronghold. Walls of 2 to 4 meters thick emphasis it's function as a defensive place. A walk through the castle shows where various rooms were situated, including a weaponsroom, a kitchen, the hall of knights and of course the dungeon. Four levels are open for visitors and clear explanation is given on tablets.

On the top of the castle, it's fourth floor, one can enjoy the spectacular view over Roquebrune, the Cap-Martin and the mountains that raise steep up from the blue mediterranean sea. Above evrything else, the French flag is prouldy waving in the wind and one can stay here for an hour and still discover new things in the magnificent view. Not for nothing that in the castle there is a part reserved as a theatre. Old Shakespeare plays or legends have as background the beauty of the Cote d'Azur, which only can make the atmosphere grow higher.

Medieval fort without which no perched village would be complete.

Built in 970 by Conrad 1st, Earl of Ventimiglia, as defence against raiding Saracens, the fortress included the whole village. It was sold in 1911 to a rich British tourist, Sir William Ingram.("Nice castle. I'll take it") Ten years later it was donated to the town.