Travel Guide Saint Martin-Vésubie

Located in the heart of a 3,600 ha forest at an altitude of 1,000 m, this pretty village was born at the confluence of the Boréon and Fenestre torrents which form the Vésubie river. Fortified in the 12th century, the village became a strategic place because of its proximity to the Fenestre pass. In the 14th century, the village was an important warehouse on the salt route linking Nice to Piedmont and its prosperity continued until the 18th century. Annexed to France in 1860, it became the resort of the Italian and English aristocracy, which earned it the nickname of "Nice Switzerland". A straight and sloping street crosses it from north to south (rue du Docteur-Cagnoli), crossed by a central canal built in 1411 which was used for water drainage and irrigation. Following the canal du Béal, one discovers the gothic architecture of the medieval city: Place de la Frarie, narrow streets, vaulted doors decorated with worked lintels and half-timbered houses. The ramparts are reduced to mere vestiges: of the four doors that allowed access to the village, only Sainte-Anne has survived. The baroque church of the Assumption (17th century), with its large white columns and Romanesque bell tower, contains 15th century paintings attributed to Louis Bréa.But in this village of the Alpes-Maritimes, daily life was disrupted by the passage of the storm Alex, in October 2020. Since then, the inhabitants are doing their best to rebuild, but some roads are still impassable and some sites inaccessible. We advise you to check your itinerary before leaving.