Bendejun: Springs and Chapel History

Bendejun is known as the “Village des Sources” and combines a landscape of springs with several historic religious buildings. Local life also has its own points of reference: A Capella is a cooperatively run grocery store, while summer evenings feature music, grilled dishes, and socca. The landscape, architectural history, and seasonal village life give the destination distinct facets.

Springs at Mont Férion

The name “Village des Sources” is reflected in the landscape of springs: clear water rises all over Bendejun. This refers not to a single spring, but to springs throughout the village. Another geographical reference is Mont Férion; Bendejun lies at its foot. These are two distinct features: springs as a characteristic of the local landscape and the village’s position relative to the mountain. The springs explain the name, while Mont Férion adds a clearly identifiable geographical reference.

Churches and Chapels

In 1622, the newly established commune of Bendejun had a chapel built as its parish church; today it is known as Gleia Vielha. Because it was small and in poor condition, this chapel was later replaced by a new parish church, inaugurated in 1868. The two dates mark different building phases: 1622 relates to the construction of Gleia Vielha, and 1868 to the inauguration of its successor. There are 246 years between them; this time span makes the transition from the older chapel to the later parish church easy to see at a glance.

The village church of Saint-Benoît in Bendejun dates from the 17th century. The ruins of the Chapelle San Bénédé offer panoramic views over the Paillon Valley. The two buildings thus provide different points of reference: a date in architectural history and a view over the valley.

The Chapelle Saint-Joseph is in the La Tour district. According to Abbé Bonifacy, it was founded by Count Rosso under a deed dated December 4, 1651. Its location in La Tour, the exact date, and the named founder make it a distinct historical point of reference within Bendejun.

Chronologically, several 17th-century landmarks sit alongside the later new parish church: Gleia Vielha was built in 1622, the founding of the Chapelle Saint-Joseph is dated to 1651 by Abbé Bonifacy, and Saint-Benoît dates from the 17th century. The new parish church was inaugurated in 1868. This comparison places the older buildings and their later successor in chronological order.

Local Life and Summer Evenings

A Capella is a cooperatively run grocery store in Bendejun, adding an everyday point of reference to the architectural history. In summer, evenings feature music, grilled dishes, and socca. If these evenings are important to your trip, the summer season may be worth bearing in mind when planning; check specific event dates in advance. A local shop and a seasonal evening offering thus represent different aspects of local life.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Antonin, Châteauneuf-Grasse, L'escarène, La Bollène-Vésubie, Moulinet, Castillon, Caussols, Le Broc.

For the broader travel overview: Alpes-Maritimes.