Saorge is a village, a true witness of the medieval architecture which was attached to France in 1860 with Nice and Savoy.
This commune with the allure of a "Tibetan village", entirely classified, is one of the most beautiful villages in France.
Daedalus of alleys, vaulted passages, make Saorge a typical medieval village. Former fortress hung on the side of the mountain like an amphitheater above the gorges of Roya, the fortress of Saorge, formerly defended by three castles, reputed impregnable, was nicknamed "the lock of Roya".
Saorge is also an important point of the "Route du Baroque et des orgues historiques de la Vallée de la Roya".
Its habitat is characteristic of the Haute-Roya, with roofs covered with purple lauzes, extracted from local quarries. The top floor underneath was often used as drying rooms for fruit. This space is rarely preserved. The olive tree is still cultivated on the boards built in dry stone on the slope.
Saorge and its magnificent heritage
Saorge is home to many remarkable monuments.
The private chapel Notre-Dame-del-Poggio which houses a Romanesque chevet from the 11th and 12th centuries and a 15th century campanile. It can be seen on certain days and especially during the Heritage Days.
The monastery of Saorge, for example, a former Franciscan convent founded in 1633. The church of Saint-Sauveur and its magnificent baroque and very colorful interior as well as numerous chapels, Saint-Jacques, Saint-Débastien, Saint-Claude, Notre-Dame des Grâces in the nearby hamlet of Maurion, the chapels of Sainte-Claire, Sainte-Croix, Saint-Roch and Saint-Anne also nearby, as many religious sites to be discovered.
The castle of Malmort dates back to the 13th century. Erected on a promontory overlooking the Roya valley, it is now in ruins, except for a long wall and a crenellated tower.
One could not leave Saorge without seeing the "Semite bath", Saorge's natural swimming pool, named after a joke by officers.
Finally, thrill-seekers will enjoy the "Bendola", the largest canyon in the Alpes-Maritimes, transformed into a water sports course.
Saorge town hall
Avenue Docteur Joseph Davéo
06540 Saorge
Tel: 04 93 04 51 23
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