Roquebrune-Cap-Martin

Roquebrune-Cap-Martin lies between Menton and Monaco, on a promontory overlooking the Mediterranean. The medieval village of Roquebrune, perched on its rocky spur, retains one of the oldest feudal castles in France, along with narrow, vaulted lanes typical of the hinterland behind Nice. Nearby, the Cap Martin peninsula offers a greener setting, planted with pines and olive trees, including a thousand-year-old olive tree said to be among the oldest in Europe. The coastal path known as the sentier des Douaniers runs along the shore at Roquebrune, revealing coves and viewpoints over the Riviera on foot. Close by, the Promenade Le Corbusier follows the Cap Martin coastline to the small cabin the architect had built for himself and where he died in 1965; the path also affords glimpses of the E-1027 villa designed by Eileen Gray. The mild Mediterranean climate, pleasant for much of the year, makes the area well suited to coastal walking and swimming in the surrounding rocky coves.