Fontan: History, Churches and Hiking Trails

Fontan offers specific cultural and landscape highlights to help you plan your trip. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay that includes sightseeing or walks, you can start by choosing your focus: religious buildings and local history, hikes between named hamlets, or the EuroVelo route in the Roya Valley. These distinctions can help you find the right fit in Fontan for your interests.

Cultural history in Fontan and its hamlets

The Church of Notre-Dame de la Visitation in Fontan was consecrated in 1632. The Chapelle Saint-Jacques des Pénitents blancs was completed in 1845. These dates mark two distinct historical points: the chapel was completed just over two centuries after the church was consecrated. The church is open to the public daily and admission is free. Access may change during ceremonies or services, so check visiting arrangements in advance.

The small museum “Fontan and its inhabitants through the ages” presents objects from Fontan’s past and their role in residents’ lives. Alongside the history of religious buildings, it offers another way to explore the past through historical objects and their significance in local life. If you would like to look at cultural history from different perspectives, these topics can be considered separately.

Berghe inférieur and Berghe Supérieur also have their own architectural highlights. The Chapelle Notre-Dame du Rosaire in Berghe inférieur is a typical rural chapel in the Valléan Baroque tradition of the 18th century. The Église Notre-Dame de la Merci de Berghe Supérieur is considered an interesting regional example of a rural chapel in the Rustic Baroque style. This offers two perspectives on rural Baroque architecture: the Valléan tradition of the 18th century and the Rustic Baroque style.

Fontan is also one of the towns in France and Italy that host the Festival International des Orgues Historiques de la Vallée Roya-Bévéra et Vermenagna. Dates and programs vary with each edition. If you would like to include a festival visit in your stay, check the dates for the relevant edition.

Hiking trails and scenery

A yellow-marked hiking trail listed in the PDIPR connects Berghe inférieur, Berghe supérieur and Granile. If connecting several hamlets fits your planned outing, this route is a useful starting point. Markings and listings may change, so check the latest information before setting out. Other hiking trails associated with Fontan include the Circuit de la Céva and the Chemin de Groa. Alongside the trail with its specifically stated connections, these two routes give you more options for planning.

The Sentier botanique in Fontan offers a different focus on the landscape: its shaded section features several hundred-year-old chestnut trees. This lets you distinguish between a trail connecting several hamlets and a botanical trail with a specific landscape feature. The chestnut trees define the shaded section of the Sentier botanique.

Cycling route and travel planning

For cycling trips, Fontan is part of a named route through the Roya Valley. EuroVelo 8, “La Méditerranée à vélo,” runs through Breil, Saorge, Fontan and Tende to Col de Tende. This sequence places Fontan within a longer route through the valley. Unlike the hiking trail, which connects three hamlets, EuroVelo 8 passes through several towns in the Roya Valley. Check the route and any possible restrictions before setting out.

Gare de Fontan-Saorge is an externally accessible stop with covered platforms, but no ticket machines. Take these specific facilities into account when planning your trip, and check the latest rail information before travelling, as station facilities may change.

Discover more destinations: Berre-Les-Alpes, Aiglun, Saint-Antonin, Cuébris, Cannes, Lucéram, Séranon, Peillon.

For an overview of the wider area: Alpes-Maritimes.