Rigaud can be explored through specific landscape landmarks and various ways of getting around. The village sits on a mountain spur above the lower Cians Valley; hiking trails and a mountain biking route add to the ways of navigating the municipality’s mountainous terrain.
Mountain village, gorges and the Plateau de Dina
The village of Rigaud lies at an elevation of 753 metres and offers expansive views over the lower Cians Valley. TĂŞte de Rigaud reaches 1,906 metres and is the highest point in the municipality. The Plateau de Dina lies in the central part of the municipal area. Around 1,000 hectares of the Plateau de Dina are shared by Rigaud and Puget-Rostang. The terrain is steep and mountainous, with deep gorges; the village, summit and plateau each mark a distinct geographic landmark.
Compare hiking routes and the mountain biking route
The hiking routes differ considerably in duration and difficulty rating: the route to the Plateau de Dina is rated moderate and takes 4 hours and 15 minutes. The route to TĂŞte de Rigaud is listed as taking 6 hours and rated challenging. The Dina route is therefore 1 hour and 45 minutes shorter, and it has a different difficulty rating. Take both details into account when planning your day, and check the route and trail markers before setting out, as trail conditions can change.
Another option is the Les CrĂŞtes du Cians mountain biking route. It reaches the village of Rigaud and then descends to the Moulin de Rigaud. Thus, alongside the hiking routes, there is also a cycling route with a named section through the village followed by a descent to the mill.
Commandery, churches and traces of village life
From 1251, Rigaud was home to the region’s most important commandery dedicated to Saint-Sauveur. The foundations and cistern of the former complex can be seen at the top of the village. The commandery’s historical significance is therefore directly linked to the surviving structural remains visible there today.
The Church of Saint-Antoine et de la Transfiguration began in 1200 as a chapel dedicated to San Salvadour. It also preserves a silver processional cross dating from 1519. The two dates relate to different things: 1200 marks the chapel’s origins, while 1519 is the date of the processional cross. The Chapel of Saint-Marc in the Rubi district was also recently restored; it houses the altarpiece of the same name.
Le Moulin à Huile tells another part of the village’s history: the oil mill dates from the 17th century and was powered by a donkey. It has been restored and can be visited by arrangement. Make arrangements for your visit locally. Do not confuse it with the Moulin de Rigaud, which the mountain biking route descends to.
The Fontaine Lavoir stands in the village square. It was donated in 1898 by deputy Raphaël Bischoffsheim. Le Four Communal was rediscovered in the 1980s and restored to its original condition by the municipality. These two sites complement the religious buildings with traces of communal village life and its history.
La Maison du Patrimoine, also known as the Maison du Miel, features a permanent exhibition with numerous beehives and equipment for beekeeping and honey production. The cultural offering thus extends beyond the commandery, churches and historic buildings to include beekeeping and honey production.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Vallier-De-Thiey, Sallagriffon, Cap-D'ail, Saint-Martin-VĂ©subie, Chateauneuf-Villevieille, Saint-Blaise, Le Rouret, Valderoure.
For the broader travel overview: Alpes-Maritimes.
