Interpretative Trail to Notre Dame des Fontaines

The presence of this old lime kiln, largely ruined, testifies to the industrialization of a traditional production from the hinterland of Nice, which has remained archaic in many other places.At the end of the 19th century, Italian civil and military engineers opened a number of major construction sites in Tende and La Brigue, to complete the road link with Piedmont and, above all, to build defensive works in this strategically important border area. The factory's hearth, topped by its chimney, is the best-preserved part. The old lime kiln at La Brigue, a historic site in the Alpes-Maritimes, was built at the end of the 19th century to meet the needs of the industrialization of lime production in the region. This imposing, truncated cone-shaped structure measures around 20 meters in height and 10 meters in diameter. It was used until the end of the 20th century to produce quicklime, an essential material for construction, agriculture and other industries. Located on the Morignole road, near the River Levenza, the lime kiln is now in ruins, but remains a significant testimony to local industrial history. Open to the public free of charge, it was listed as a historic monument in 1993. The site offers an immersive experience, with construction in several stages between 1870 and 1880, use until the end of the 20th century, and a marked presence in the regional economy of the 19th century. In addition to its historical importance, the La Brigue lime kiln is associated with a nearby limestone quarry, in operation since the 15th century. This dark-gray, slightly schistose limestone was widely used in construction, as can be seen on the Saint-Martin church in La Brigue. The comprehensive document on the site, originally created by Patricia Balandier in 2018, includes bibliographical references, archive records, internet links, current views of the site, explanatory diagrams, and detailed information on the use of La Brigue limestone. A place of interest for history and heritage enthusiasts, the lime kiln bears tangible witness to the region's industrial past.

A chapel nestled in the heart of nature, decorated with 15th-century frescoes, overlooking 7 springs whose mysterious intermittence was long attributed to divine power...Opening hours : Visits by appointment at the La Brigue information office. Nicknamed "The Little Sixtin of the Alpes Maritimes", this painted chapel is the distant heir to a sacred sanctuary built over seven intermittent springs. Numerous legends nourish the history of this place and of these springs, whose flow changes during the day, adding to the mystery. The first mention of the chapel dates back to 1375, when two renowned Piedmontese painters were called in to decorate the interior walls: Giovani Baleison, who adorned the heart, and Giovani Canavesio for the entire nave. A total of 225m2 of frescoes of remarkable quality and realism were created. A veritable comic strip, taking visitors from the birth of Mary to her Assumption, the Passion of Christ, the hanging of Judas and a spectacular 35m2 Last Judgment. The frescoes will be inaugurated on a certain October 12, 1492...

Technical prowess or devil's bridge? This bent bridge is very curious…At the beginning of the 18th century, the previous medieval bridge was destroyed by a flood of the Levenza River. In 1710, the Cometto masons, father and son, originally from Lugano, rebuilt the current bridge, which consists of a large, semicircular arch over the Levenza River with a significant diameter of 14.20 meters to withstand floods. On the right bank, a ramp on arches connects the current road (RD 43) and the bridge, crossing the floodable meadows at an angle of 110°. On the other hand, the left bank is simply connected by an extension of the roadway. The roadway, about 2.60 meters wide, has an extra width in the junction angle between the bridge and the north ramp to facilitate the rotation of harnessed carts. The structure is built in jointed rubble masonry and the roadway is covered with a pebble pavement, typical of the region. Additionally, masonry parapets were added afterwards to frame the roadway. One of the most popular legends about the Pont du Coq in La Brigue tells that once upon a time, the village was regularly attacked by bandits coming from the mountains. The villagers then decided to build a bridge to facilitate their escape in case of an attack. However, they did not have enough stones to complete the construction, and the bridge was about to be abandoned. One morning, a rooster appeared at the construction site and started scratching the ground with its feet. The villagers took it as a sign and dug up the place where the rooster had scratched, and they found a large amount of stones that were used to complete the bridge's construction. Since that day, the rooster became the symbol of the bridge, in recognition for its help. Another legend tells that a dragon used to live under the bridge and terrorized the inhabitants of La Brigue. The villagers asked for the help of a brave knight to defeat the dragon. The knight succeeded in killing it by stabbing it in the belly with his sword. Since that day, the Pont du Coq is considered a place where strength and courage are rewarded. Finally, according to a third legend, the Pont du Coq was haunted by the spirit of a young girl who had drowned in the river. The villagers held a ceremony to appease her spirit, during which a rooster was sacrificed. Since that day, the bridge is considered a place of purification and reconciliation.