Hilltop Chapelle de La Menour is One More Reason to Visit Menton

Wow is the word for Notre Dame de la Menour, 800m high in the wild mountains inland from the Riviera coast. It began as a Romanesque chapel linked to the defensive walls—you can see the nearby ruins. The chapel was rebuilt in the 17th century and oriented correctly to the east. It was refurbished in 2019, and the interior is lovely. Moulinet is the village closest to the chapel.

CRT Côte d’Azur France/ ©Georges VERAN

Visitor Information

Chapelle de La Menour was listed as a Historic Monument in 1937.

Website
The only access is via the staircase.
It is still an important pilgrimage site in Europe.
The chapel is only open upon request. Contact the Moulinet town hall (Marie) before your visit.

Moulinet Chapelle Notre Dame de La Menour © Vincent Jacques

More Reasons to Visit Menton

Last Stop Before Italy: Menton is a city in southeastern France and the last major town before leaving the French Riviera. Located right on the French-Italian border, the architecture has clear Italian influences. Menton is where you can tickle the turquoise sea or enjoy the snow-capped mountains in the distance. Whether you call it the Côte d’Azur or the French Riviera, this is undoubtedly one of the world’s most beautiful and sophisticated regions. Some call this city “the Pearl of France.”

Beautiful Churches: The Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, built in 1619 and a minor basilica since 1999, has the Grimaldi coat of arms lying at its feet, inlaid with white and grey pebbles from Menton’s beaches. Climb the majestic multi-level yellow stone staircase up and past St. Michael for a magnificent view over Menton, featuring storybook pastel houses and the shimmering Mediterranean Sea.

National Park: Only an hour from the French Riviera, the stunning Mercantour National Park offers adventure seekers year-round options. Straddling the Italian border Parco Alpi Maritimi and protected by the French State, the Mercantour has many hiking trails, including the 220-kilometre Grande Traversée du Mercantour. Quite an undertaking, this point-to-point trail takes approximately two (2) weeks and includes more than 12,000 metres of descent, finishing in Menton.

Modern Architecture: Cap Moderne, a one-time holiday refuge for creative types, is a unique property even for exclusive Cap Martin. This site includes three buildings designed by three different architects: Eileen Gray (1878 – 1976), Le Corbusier (1887 – 1965) and Thomas Egildo Rebutato (1907 – 1971). The vacation retreat suffered from the passage of time and lack of upkeep; it was an eyesore on the beautiful shoreline. It took 20 years, but eventually, the French State acquired the land and buildings and began an extensive restoration project. Villa E-1027, built over three years from 1926 to 1929, is a contemporary structure that would easily suit the California coastline or Palm Springs.

Citrus Garden: Menton is well known for its lemons and lemon festival. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the lush private garden La Citronneraie du mas Flofaro produces some of the tastiest lemons in the world. The gardens began in the 1500s with the plantation of olive trees. In the 1800s, a traditional “Mentonnaise style” house was built on the property but later abandoned. In the 1950s, the house was restored, and the current lemon grove was established to ensure the sustainability of the Menton lemon. Visitor Guide: Gardens of Provence

Rosé all day: wine tour with sommelier-guide and 3 winery visits in Provence

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