The Tour du Roc de l’Orméa hike offers an impressive view from the summit of the coastal towns of Ventimiglia, Menton and Monaco. In the artists’ village of Castellar, visitors can meet artists and craftspeople and discover their work in studios and galleries, including sculptures, paintings, ceramics and knife-making.
Anyone planning a stay in Castellar will want to rent a holiday apartment for this purpose.
Culture
The Palais Lascaris houses a permanent, free exhibition. The exhibition at the Palais Lascaris presents objects discovered at the Abri Pendimoun archaeological site.
The Église paroissiale Saint-Pierre houses a painting of the Baptism of Christ from the late 17th century and a depiction of Saint Francis receiving the stigmata from the 18th century. The side chapel of Saint-Étienne in the Église paroissiale Saint-Pierre houses a carved wooden reclining Christ from the 18th century. Fifteen painted medallions on canvas from the mid-19th century around the Marian altar of the Église paroissiale Saint-Pierre depict the Mysteries of the Rosary.
History
The Chapelle Saint-Sébastien is one of the few Romanesque buildings in the canton and has been listed as a Monument historique since 1925. The Chapelle Saint-Antoine is a 17th-century building with an open porch characteristic of the traditional rural architecture of the County of Nice. The last witch in the Alpes-Maritimes département was executed and burned on the forecourt of the Chapelle Saint-Antoine on 16 November 1623.
The Chapelle du Saint-Esprit (Pénitents Blancs) dates from the 16th century. The engraved stone lintel of the Chapelle du Saint-Esprit depicts two hooded penitents offering incense to the Holy Spirit, symbolised by a dove.
Nature
The ruins of Vieux Castellar are about an hour and a half’s walk from Castellar. Vieux Castellar offers beautiful views of the sea and the hinterland of Menton.
Food and Drink
From April to October, the Moulin à huile presents an exhibition centred on the olive. The Moulin à huile gives visitors an insight into the world of olive cultivation. Cant d’a Grana welcomes visitors at the market every Sunday for discussions about permaculture, as well as tastings and the sale of regional products and handicrafts.
