Road Trip 2024 Day 9 - 10th November - Ospedaletti (Italy), Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, (France) to Les Arcs Medieval Village - Distance 170km
After enjoying our night in Italy, it is now time to start heading back home to Benidorm, we really did not plan to travel this far into France and certainly did not expect to make it into Italy, but that is the joy of a road trip, you can plan, places to see and stay as you go along on a day to day basis.
As we left Monaco, we noticed a sign to the medieval village of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, we did not have the time to explore this on our way to Italy, but decided to do so on our return journey. If you love medieval villages then France is certainly the place to visit, as we are actually staying in one tonight.
Road Trip 2024 Day 9 - Roquebrune-Cap-Martin (France)
As we reached Roquebrune-Cap-Martin the weather was at last in our favour and the sun began to shine.
This historic medieval village located on the French Riviera, perched high on a hill between Monaco and Menton is known for its charming medieval architecture, narrow cobbled streets, and stunning sea views and it certainly did not disappoint.
The car park is situated at the base of the village, there was a lovely little coffee shop which was open where we enjoyed a traditional French breakfast of coffee and croissant, the one problem I have found here in France is that nothing is diabetic friendly, everyone has looked shocked when I have asked what sugar free drinks they have, so a croissant is a naughty treat for me, but it was that or starve.
As you climb up into the village itself one of the first things we came across was the small piazza where a local market was being held, this time of year there were not many tourists around, just a few friendly locals, but the whole place has a lovely atmosphere.
This medieval village overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and offers breath-taking views of the surrounding coastline and the azure waters below and there was a great look out point in the small square.
As we headed away from the square into the medieval center, which has retained its original layout with its narrow, winding streets, steep stone staircases, and archways, creating a timeless and romantic ambiance.
Many of the alleys are only accessible on foot. The people in Medieval times must have been very, very fit, but even with my trusty walking stick we managed the many steep steps.
Same view, very different era.
The streets during the summer months are adorned with colourful flowers, adding to the charm, even this time of year they were still very pretty.
We explored hidden passageways, and admired the old stone houses with terracotta roofs, which gives this village a authentic Provençal feel as we headed up even more steps to the Chateau.
Road Trip 2024 Day 9
Château de Roquebrune, also known as Roquebrune Castle is one of the main tourist attractions here and is a remarkable medieval fortress that stands high above the village.
Entrance fee was 5€ each and it was well worth it as it provided access to nearly every part of the castle, including the keep and battlements, not only that but they had the most impressive public toilets.
Built in 970 AD, by the Counts of Ventimiglia Château de Roquebrune is one of the oldest and best preserved castles on the French Riviera. Its original design was influenced by medieval military architecture, seeking to protect the region from invasions by the Saracens, with its thick walls, high towers, and narrow windows for defensive purposes.
The keep has a distinct square shape and reaches a height of about 20 meters (66 feet). Climbing to the top gave us almost 360-degree views of the surrounding landscapes which was beautiful.
The castle changed hands several times through history. In the 14th century, it was acquired by the Grimaldi family, rulers of Monaco, who controlled it for several centuries before it eventually became part of France.
During the Renaissance period, parts of the castle were updated with aesthetic touches that contrasted with the original austere medieval architecture. Some of the doors, windows, and decorative elements reflect Renaissance influences.
The Château de Roquebrune is currently owned and managed by the municipality of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. After being privately owned for centuries, the castle was purchased by the town in 1911 from its then-owner, British journalist Sir William Ingram. Ingram had acquired the property in the early 20th century and undertook efforts to restore it. Upon selling it to the town, his intent was to preserve it for the public and protect its historical legacy.
Inside the castle, we explored a range of rooms that provide insight into medieval life. Many areas, including dungeons, guard rooms, and the watchtower. The dungeons include holding cells where prisoners were kept, and some chambers still feature original medieval inscriptions on the walls.
Château de Roquebrune includes a series of underground passageways and dungeons, which were used for defensive and storage purposes. These areas were slightly eerie and a haunting reminder of the castle's past.
The banquet hall and bedrooms were also accessible, offering a glimpse into the living quarters and lifestyle of the castle’s inhabitants in medieval times. Everything has been well preserved to reflect their original purposes.
The castle hosts historical exhibits detailing the region's medieval past, including displays of armour, weapons, and tools used in the daily lives of the castle’s former inhabitants.
The castle also had lush green gardens even this time of year.
We really enjoyed our visit to this castle and the views were stunning, it was certainly well worth the entrance fee and what felt like hundreds of stairs. It was very quiet this time of year, which for us was a bonus as we wandered around without any pushing and shoving, this would be a very popular tourist attraction during high season.
The Église Sainte-Marguerite, built in the 12th century, is the main church in the village, known for its Baroque-style interior, beautiful frescoes, and serene atmosphere, the church is dedicated to Saint Marguerite and has a bell tower that adds to the skyline of the village.
The church is an important part of village life and offers insight into the spiritual and cultural history of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, sadly the church doors were locked during our visit.
The village is also home to one of the oldest olive trees in the world, known as the Olivier Millénaire or "Millennium Olive Tree." Estimated to be between 1,000 and 2,000 years old, this ancient tree is a revered natural landmark, symbolizing the Mediterranean's agricultural heritage.
The tree, located just outside the village, is an impressive sight with its massive, gnarled trunk and branches, serving as a reminder of the area’s long history and connection to the land, I am not sure we found the tree itself.
The village’s small, family-owned restaurants serve traditional Provençal cuisine, focusing on fresh seafood, olives, local vegetables, and herbs like rosemary and thyme. Visitors can try dishes such as pissaladière (a caramelized onion and anchovy tart), socca (a chickpea pancake), and bouillabaisse, sadly they all seemed to be shut for the season, but all looked lovely.
Roquebrune-Cap-Martin provides visitors with an authentic experience of a medieval Provençal village and we loved it.
In Spain we tend to head to the old town areas in any town, here in France its definitely the medieval villages that draw us and as we leave the wonderful Roquebrune behind us we head towards our overnight accommodation and travelled through some stunning French countryside.
Always avoiding the main motorways if possible, which makes for a more pleasant drive, and certainly allows you to see more of the natural beauty.
Road Trip 2024 Day 9 - Our next destination is another medieval village, Les Arcs-Sur-Argens and this will also be where we will be spending the night.
Les Arcs-sur-Argens is a historic, medieval village located in the Var department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in Southeastern France. Nestled in the lush countryside, surrounded by vineyards and hills.
The heart of Les Arcs-sur-Argens is the Le Parage neighbourhood, a beautifully preserved medieval section at the top of the village. Wandering through its narrow, winding streets, with its stone houses, medieval arches, fountains, and ancient doors, and of course plenty of steep narrow stone steps.
Le Parage has a captivating old-world feel, with cobbled pathways, ivy-covered walls, and staircases that climb up the hill. It’s a wonderful area to explore for anyone who appreciates medieval architecture and Provençal village charm.
This area was particularly beautiful at night, we enjoyed exploring the cobbled streets.
The Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste is a Romanesque church located in the village center, known for its simple but beautiful stone facade and bell tower. Inside, the church houses several historic religious artifacts, frescoes, and a painted wooden statue of Saint Jean-Baptiste, we arrived quite late in the day and the church was closed.
In the main square there were plenty of bars and restaurants, but they are not cheap, even this time of year with very few tourists around. We ended up enjoying a very large pizza, watching the world go by.
Local shops in the village sell products like olive oil, lavender, pottery, and artisanal soaps, and of course fridge magnets, which make for great souvenirs.
Road Trip 2024 - Night 9 Accommodation - Villa Arca - 81€ with free parking and breakfast included.
We had real trouble finding this accommodation and the Sat Nav sent us round and round the town, eventually we stopped for a coffee and contacted the owners asking for help. They sent us a video telling us exactly where to park the car and it showed us exactly where to walk to get to the property, we did have a uphill walk with the luggage, but it was manageable as we only take with us what is needed for that night and the next day, the rest of the luggage stays in the car.
What an amazing place, we had booked a small double room, but it certainly was not small, the room was not in the house itself, but in the courtyard outside. What was really amazing is the building we were in dated back to 1637.
From the outside they have maintained the medieval appearance, including the door to the building, but once inside the room was very, light, bright, modern and comfortable with a good sized bathroom and excellent Wi-Fi connection.
The large wooden door to our room was the one under the archway on the right.
Right outside our room was the lovely courtyard, pictured below and the very same steps and archway, the only difference was the tree which was replaced in 2016
A buffet style breakfast was served in the main villa, which set us up nicely for the day ahead.
Would we return here, yes, we loved the village and the accommodation was fantastic, it would also be perfect for a summer stay as it did have a pool, and it was a real treat spending the night in a real medieval village, everyone we met here was very friendly and helpful.