A hilltop view of Ventimiglia, Menton and Monaco stands alongside archaeological finds, Romanesque architecture and sacred art in Castellar. Olive growing, encounters with craftspeople and a Sunday market round out the cultural discoveries. You can tailor your stay to your interests, choosing between scenery, history and local crafts.

Hiking views and ruins

The Tour du Roc de l’Orméa hike offers an impressive view from the summit of the coastal towns of Ventimiglia, Menton and Monaco. The viewpoint adds a scenic highlight, with the expansive view and the three named towns at its heart.

Vieux Castellar offers a different perspective: the ruins are about an hour and a half’s walk from Castellar. From Vieux Castellar, the view stretches across the sea and the hinterland of Menton. If you’re choosing between the two hiking destinations, you can weigh the summit view of several coastal towns against the view of the sea and hinterland.

Chapels, church art and archaeology

The Palais Lascaris houses a free exhibition that is open permanently, featuring objects discovered at the Abri Pendimoun archaeological site. This directly links the finds with the site where they were discovered. Check access arrangements before your trip.

The Chapelle Saint-Sébastien is one of the canton’s few Romanesque buildings and has been listed as a Monument historique since 1925. The Chapelle Saint-Antoine dates from the 17th century. Its open porch is considered characteristic of the traditional rural architecture of the County of Nice. On the forecourt of this chapel, the last witch in the Alpes-Maritimes département was executed and burned on 16 November 1623.

The Chapelle du Saint-Esprit, known as the Pénitents Blancs, is also one of Castellar’s historic buildings; it dates from the 16th century. Its engraved stone lintel depicts two hooded penitents offering incense to the Holy Spirit. A dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit.

At the Église paroissiale Saint-Pierre, you’ll find a variety of examples of sacred art. Fifteen painted canvas medallions from the mid-19th century hang around the Marian altar and depict the mysteries of the Rosary. The side chapel of Saint-Étienne also contains a carved wooden figure of Christ lying down, dating from the 18th century. The church also houses a painting of the Baptism of Christ from the late 17th century and a depiction of Saint Francis receiving the stigmata from the 18th century.

Olive culture, crafts and the market

The Moulin à huile offers an insight into olive growing. From April to October, it hosts an exhibition about olives. If you’re interested in the origins and processing of olives, this visit complements the archaeological and church-related themes with an insight into the local olive culture presented here.

In the artists’ village of Castellar, visitors can meet artists and craftspeople and discover their work in studios and galleries. These include sculptures, paintings, ceramics and cutlery. If you’re planning a visit to a particular workshop, check the arrangements in advance, as they may change.

Every Sunday, Cant d’a Grana welcomes visitors to its market. It features discussions about permaculture, a tasting of regional products, and the sale of regional products and crafts. Check the current program before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Sauveur-Sur-Tinée, Antibes, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Le Broc, Marie, Cipières, Malaussène, Clans.

For the main travel overview: Alpes-Maritimes.