Page 101 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Provence & The Côte d'Azur

MONA C O  99

fPeillon
Road map F3. * 1,449. n 4 carriera
Centrale (06 24 97 42 25)
∑ tourismepaca.fr
At a level of 373 m (1,225 ft), this
pretty village perché is said by village perché is said by village perché
locals to mark the extremity of the
inhabited world. Its streets are
stepped and narrow, with houses
that have scarcely changed since
the Middle Ages. There is an attrac­
tive cobbled square with fine
views, and the 18th­century parish
church has an unusual octagonal
lantern. But most impressive of
all are Giovanni Canavesio’s fres­ The Gorges de la Vésubie in the pine-forested Vallée de la Vésubie
coes in the Chapelle des Pénitents
Blancs. Peillon is ideally placed altarpiece by Honoré Bertone. jVallée de la
for woodland walks leading The Hôtel de Ville is in the domed Vésubie
to both Peille and La Turbie. 18th­century former Chapelle
de St­Sébastien, and there is k Nice. @ St­Martin­Vésubie.
n Hotel de Ville, St­Martin­Vésubie
a museum in rue de la Turbie.
(04 93 03 60 10). ∑ vesubie-
mercantour.com
hLucéram Some of the most attractive
landscape around Nice can be
Road map F3. * 1,234. @
n Maison de Pays, Pl Adrien Barralis uncovered and enjoyed in the
(04 93 79 46 50). ∑ luceram.fr valley of the river Vésubie, with
its dense pine forests, alpine
In the midst of this pretty, Italianate pastures, peaks and cascades. The
village is the tiled roof of the 15th­ river rises high in the snowy Alps
century Eglise Ste­Marguerite, which near the Italian border, courses
contains art by Nice’s Primitive past Roquebillière to the west of
masters, notably Louis Bréa, the the Parc National du Mercantour
artist of the 10­panelled altarpiece, (see p101) and dives through
who made Lucéram a centre for the Gorges de la Vésubie before
religious painting. Othereligious painting. Other entering the river Var, 24 km
r
religious painting. Other treasures treasures
Ancient arch across a narrow street include a silver statue of the (15 miles) north of Nice airport.
in Peillon Tarascon dragon and Ste Marguerite The Vésubie is created from
(see p144). The church is the setting the Madone de Fenestre and the
for a Christmas service, where Boréon torrents, which meet at
gPeille shepherds, accompanied by St­Martin­Vésubie. This popular
flutes and tambourines, bring summer mountaineering centre
Road map F3. * 2,343. @ n 15 rue
Centrale (04 93 82 14 40). ∑ peille.fr lambs and fruit as offerings. is surrounded by waterfalls,
summits and lakes. In its fine
Peille is a charming medieval 17th­century church is a
village with a view from its war 12th­century statue of Notre­
memorial across the Peillon Valley Dame­de­Fenestre. Each year
and as far as the Baie des Anges. this statue is carried to the
Behind the village looms the Chapelle de la Madone de
vast Pic de Baudon, rising to Fenestre, 12 km (8 miles) to
1,264 m (4,160 ft). the east, for a three­month stay.
The town is full of cobbled The Gorges de la Vésubie
alleys and covered passages. begins at St­Jean­la­Rivière, and
At the end of place A­Laugier, there is a spectacular panorama
beyond a Gothic fountain, two at la Madonne d’Utelle, above
arches beneath a house rest the fortified village of Utelle.
on a Romanesque pillar. In places, the dramatic gorge,
The Counts of Provence were etched with coloured rock,
lords of the castle, and the 12th­ runs up to 244 m (800 ft) deep.
century church of Ste­Marie has a Sadly, the road beside it has
picture of Peille in the Middle Ages. Italian-style houses in Lucéram, set few stopping places from
There is also a fine 16th­century between two ravines which to admire the view.