STÉPHANE BERN’S HERITAGE MISSION: PRESERVE THE TREASURES OF THE CÔTE D'AZUR

THE CHAPELS OF THE WHITE PENITENTS IN LA BRIGUE

At the gates of the Mercantour, the authentic village of La Brigue is famed for its remarkable heritage. And the Menton region is brimming with baroque treasures. Just like the two chapels of the Pénitents Blancs [White Penitents], which are the perfect example of the Baroque in Nice. On the one hand, the Chapelle de l’Assomption [Chapel of the Assumption] presents a Renaissance-style façade and an Italian-style belfry. Inside, its baroque style decor joins paintings dedicated to the Virgin Mary. On the other hand, the Chapelle de l’Annonciation [Chapel of the Annunciation] is used as a museum of religious art. Here, you can find the most important reliquaries of the parish, liturgical vestments and votive offerings. The chapel has an elliptical layout, characteristic of baroque art, with wall decoration and fake marble. Dedicated to the mysteries of the Incarnation, its decor are illustrations of Christ’s life cycle. These two jewels of baroque art were built in the 18th century by the Confrérie des Pénitents Blancs [the Confraternity of the White Penitents], one of the oldest friaries in the County of Nice.

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Une publication partagée par Anthony Fragione (@capteur_d_images)

THE CLIFFSIDE FORTRESS OF AIGLUN

According to Edouard-Alfred Martel, the father of French geology, the cliffside fortress of Aiglun has an unimpeded view over the most beautiful site in France. The largest fortress listed in mainland France, the building, which dates from the 14th century, dominates the upper Estéron valley. Under the vertigo-inducing triangular cliff of Le Giet, its embrasure, its arrow slits and its imposing curtain wall make it a rural heritage unique in its kind. Often classed as mystical by visitors, the site still puzzles historians, who have not yet come to a consensus as to its specific purpose. Was it a defensive border bastion, a refuge for the military or for brigands, or a place of protection for the population? Located on the border of the Kingdom of France and the States of Savoy and Piedmont, we know, however, that the fortress was used for defence purposes for several centuries. In the hollow of an impressive canyon, the structure is therefore the unusual witness to a mysterious past on the Franco-Italian border. Amidst the cliffs and eroded mountains, the cliffside fortress of Aiglun is undoubtedly a site full of history.

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Une publication partagée par Mathilde Bellee (@world_vagabonde)

THE BERRE-LES-ALPES WINDMILL

Rich from its noble medieval past, Berre-les-Alpes is one of the hilltop villages that dominate the Nice hinterland. Straddling the Ferrion mountains and Mont Agrel, the village boasts several treasures. Just like its windmill, which stands amid the olive and sweet chestnut trees.

Long abandoned, the Berre-les-Alpes windmill has been able to be reborn from its ashes, thanks to an association of enthusiasts and the [French] heritage lottery. The structure, built ancient style, allows for retaining the building’s authenticity and ensuring that the blades and roof turn simultaneously to direct the mill into the wind. With its millstone, it now allows for grinding rye or barley. The production is therefore integrated into local festivals, such as the bread or sweet chestnut festivals, allowing a restart to the grain-flour-bread cycle.

A place for conversation and meetings, the Berre-les-Alpes mill is the only restored windmill in the Alpes-Maritimes

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Une publication partagée par Sébastien Olharan (@sebastien_olharan)