Saorge

Stronghold of the Falerna tribe during Roman times, Saorge had a number of masters: Anjou, Savoie, France…. A fortified place in the gorges which locked in the important commercial and strategic street of La Roya, it was reinforced by the castles, which are today in ruins, of Malamort and Salines. After the destruction of Saint-Georges castle, a garrison containing 400 men, by Général Masséna at the head of the Armies of the Republic in April 1794, Saorge still looks harmonious today with its tall houses spread over a giddying amphitheatre overlooking the tempestuous course of the Roya. Narrow, winding and sometimes dark alleys circulate in this extremely tight building.

The church of Saint-Sauveur is a classified historical monument and on its arch can be seen the coat of arms of Saorge: Saint George slaying the dragon. In a 15th-century style, the church is richly furnished, including a fine Virgin with Child.Its tremendous 1840 Italian organ were made by the master organ-maker Lingiardi: their exceptional sound allows a repertoire inspired by Rossini’s operas to be played.The square bell tower, with a a small dome, contains 4 bells which were made in Nice in 1834; they ring out joyously during religious festivals, calling the inhabitants of this still very lively village to come along.

Bearing witness to the strong religious feelings which were present in the community of Saorge, three chapels of the Penitents, today classified as historical monuments, were built at the start of the 17th century.The confraternities of the Penitents were spread throughout Occitania from the 13th century onwards, made up of men and women “of good life and morals”, with the “reputation of being genuinely religious”.The chapel of the Red Penitents, devoted to Saint Sébastien, was abandoned in 1950 and turned into a warehouse and electrical transformer.The chapel of the white penitents has Saint James the Great as its patron; it pretty bell tower with varnished tiles gleams in the sunlight and contrasts with the building’s state of disrepair.

Under the patronage of Saint Claude, the chapel is built into the frame of the houses: the gentle ochre of its wall catches the eye. The confraternity of Mercy brought together nobles to provide help for the needy. Restored and turned into a museum, it reopened its doors again in summer 1989.Opposite the chapel, the charming Bellevue hotel’s restaurant room provides a delightful view over the Roya valley.

Originally, where the convent is now, there stood an oratory devoted to Saint Bernard of Menthon. After many difficulties, the bishop of Vintimille granted the right to build a Franciscan convent on 19th January 1639. A classified historical monument, this 17th-century convent includes a baroque church with a pink facade and an onion dome; a covered two-level cloister with beautiful woodwork. The forty cells in the white building are today filled with the silence of absence. The last monks, who ran the Sunday service and the Nativity mass, have left. Only a guardian remains, providing guided visits to at the weekend to those who are interested by this building, over which cypress trees stand guard.

Half way up the rounded ridge of a slope which has been moulded by the man-made terraces, the huge and elegant outline of Chapelle Sainte-Croix towers above. Abandoned, it used to store the hay harvested in the surrounding area: large bales of it can be seen scattered across the fields which are made rich by the presence of springs.At the beginning of the 19th century, the fertile ground sustained a herd of 6000 goats and 12000 sheep. Today, the “neo-rural” generation seems to be replacing the locals who, due to wars and the attractions of the cities, are less numerous.

Nestled among some trees along a promontory, chapelle Sainte-Anne ovrlooks the wild valley of Bendola; every year, a pilgrimage brings several worshippers to the area, as a procession from Saorge to the smalle sanctuary.

On 4th January 1092, the newly built chapel of Sainte-Marie, was given to the monastery of Lérins, as well as land including houses, mills, vines and meadows. Four priests and two members of the secular clergy would reside in the house adjoining the chapel and they would sing every day for the salvation of those who signed the gift charter. A long-term lease was signed on 10th September 1668, between the Lérins monastery and the nobleman J.F. Davéo. After the Revolution in 1789, Notre Dame du Puy became part of the family’s estate, which today has no heir, and took the name Notre-Dame del Poggio.