Guide de voyage Roquebrune et Cap Martin

Roquebrune village, and its seaside area of Cap Martin, are perfect hideaways from the urban glitz of Monaco and the rowdiness of Nice.

Le Cap Martin est un doigt rocheux d'à peine 2 kilomètres de long qui s'avance dans la Méditerranée à Roquebrune, juste à l'est de Monaco – mais c'est l'un des sites les plus importants de l'histoire de l'architecture moderne et des femmes dans le design.

In fact, the whole of Roquebrune can be seen as a kind of architecture theme park. There’s the beach at Cabbé where Corbusier died while swimming in 1965, which today teems with retirees patronizing a kitsch copy of Le Cabanon, which serves as a shoreline cafe. Up above is Roquebrune’s cemetery, where a brutalist memorial marks Corbusier’s grave, and the Hotel Victoria, qui a pour thème Gray et Corbusier, avec des peintures et des photos de la période féconde où ce haut lieu de la Riviera était au centre du monde artistique, avec le passage de personnalités comme Coco Chanel et WB Yeats.

There are two districts: the historic perched-village (Roquebrune) and the more modern coastal area (Cap Martin). The medieval town has narrow streets, arched passages, intimate little squares, ancient fountains, and incredible views of the coastline of la Côte d'Azur. Au Cap Martin, vous trouverez des plages et de magnifiques villas rappelant la Belle Époque (dont une ayant appartenu à Karl Lagerfeld).

As one of the medieval perched-villages, Roquebrune rises up to 300 meters in altitude. Surrounded by lush vegetation and the unspoiled coastline, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin has breathtaking views stretching from Italy to Monaco. If you’re a history buff, there’s a lot here to see, from medieval attractions to magnificent villas and avant-garde structures. Roquebrune-Cap-Martin is nestled between the Principality of Monaco and the charming town of Menton, sur le Côte d'Azur.

Roquebrune-Cap-Martin has around 12,000 inhabitants, and locals are called Roquebrunoises. Roquebrune got its name from the brown stones that were used to build the old houses in the village.

Nature in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin

Louis Nucéra écrivait « Roquebrune est une succession de miracles. Dans ce lieu béni, les joyaux jaillissent immédiatement à vos yeux. Leur beauté rayonne dans le ciel comme sur terre, car la nature ne s'est pas épargnée ici. Il n'aurait pas pu trouver une meilleure façon de décrire la beauté de l'environnement naturel autour de Roquebrune !

One of the Oldest Olive Trees

One of the oldest olive trees in the world lives here, called the ‘millennial olive tree’. Historians and biologists have dated this tree to somewhere between 1,800 and 2,200 years old, yet the tree still produces little black olives. You can see this ancient tree east of the Roquebrune village. It has a total circumference of 23.5 meters and a total mass of foliage measuring 18 meters wide. The historian and minister Gabriel Hanoteaux saved it from being cut down by purchasing the land where it is planted.

Cap Martin Park

Cap Martin Park is a small public park in the center of Cap Martin with numerous olive trees aging several hundred years old. The park has several contemporary sculptures, some of famous personalities who stayed in the town. There is a playground for kids and a place to buy snacks and drinks.

Promenade le Corbusier Nature Trail

Another seaside nature trail is the Promenade le Corbusier. It serves as a link between the point of Cap Martin and Monaco following the edges of the sea. It weaves its way by many private estates on Cap Martin and has a magnificent seaside landscape all around. You can find along the path the bust of the architect Le Corbusier, his Cabanon, and E1027 house.

Consultez nos guides pour the best seaside walking trails et the best nature hikes on the French Riviera.

Parc du Cros de Casté

Cros de Casté Park est un endroit idéal pour se détendre et faire des activités de plein air tout en profitant de la vue imprenable sur la nature. Ce terrain de neuf hectares se situe sur les collines de Roquebrune-Cap-Martin et comporte des sentiers autour des forts militaires.

Historical Sites in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin

The history of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin is felt everywhere, much to the pleasure of history and architecture lovers, and those nostalgic for the Roaring Twenties. The past reveals itself in the medieval village and its castle, St. Marguerite’s church, the ancient olive tree, the cave of Vallonet and Le Corbusier’s cabin.

Le luxe des villas rappelle celui de la royauté, des écrivains et des artistes venus chercher ici l'inspiration et le repos : Winston Churchill, Coco Chanel, Sacha Guitry, Jacques Brel, Silvana Mangano…

Roquebrune Castle

For a medieval experience, visit the Château de Roquebrune. It is the hilltop castle and belongs to the list of the oldest fortresses in France, and a surviving example of a Carolingian fortress. Some of the castle’s interiors look like the builders carved them from the solid rock mass. Decorations are set-up on many rooms and halls so visitors can enjoy the ambiance of the medieval period.

The topmost part of the château opens to picturesque views of the Mediterranean coast. From here you can see ancient lavoirs (traditional wash areas), Place des Deus Frères, St-Marguerite Church, and a 2000-year-old oak tree.

Open Times: From October 1 to January 31: from 10am to 12:30pm and from 2pm to 5pm. From February 1 to May 31: from 10am to 12:30pm and from 2pm to 6pm. From June 1 to September 30: from 10am to 1pm and from 2:30pm to 7pm. Closed on May 1, November 1 and 11, December 25 and January 1. Closed Fridays between November 1 and January 31. Téléphone: +33493350722 Coût: Adult: €5, over 60: €4, children and students: €3 (includes audio guide).

Lumone’s Tomb

Roman antiquity is also present on Cap Martin. The Tomb of Lumone is the only remnant of the Roman way station Lumone built during the 1st century BC. It also served as a Roman funeral monument for a nearby ancient Roman villa of Julia Augusta. You can see the vaulted arches, inscriptions, and some traces of fresco decorations.

Cap Moderne : Cabanon Le Corbusier

Another interesting structure is a small cabin in the bay, the Cabanon Le Corbusier . Le célèbre architecte français Le Corbusier (1187-1965), pionnier de l'architecture moderne, a construit cette cabane de plage pour lui servir de lieu de villégiature. Il y vécut jusqu'à sa mort en 1965.

It is the smallest of all UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Inside, you can see the mural paintings and other works of Le Corbusier while noticing the harmony of the interior.

This cabin is an excellent example of modular and minimalist functionalism in architectural designs. A lush garden surrounds the cabin, and there are five comping units in the area that Le Corbusier designed himself.

Cap Moderne: the E-1027 House

Another important structure is the E-1027 house . It is one of the outstanding icons when it comes to modernity in architecture. The celebrated Irish designer Eileen Grey created this seaside villa together with the pieces of furniture inside. The house overlooks the bay facing Monaco. It has an intimate open interior, ingeniously designed free and fixed furniture, and evocative gardens. Murals from Le Corbusier is also present inside and outside.

Together with the Cabanon Le Corbusier, the nearby restaurant, and the camping units, this villa is part of the exceptional real estate complex called “Cap Moderne.”

Check out our full guide to Cap Moderne’s E-1027 and La Cabanon.

Beaches in Cap Martin

There are a number of beaches on Cap Martin:

The Carnoles beach is a pebbly beach that stretches over a kilometer on the coast. This beach is more urbanized than the other beaches in the town. It has a good view of nearby Menton on the east. The offshore breakwater makes it a good place for kids to take a dip.

Hawk Beach is another good public beach. It is also a pebbled beach which you can reach on foot from the nearby train station car park or through the Promenade Le Corbusier seaside walk. Freshwater springs surge up beneath the sea among the rocks of Cap Martin and Pointe de Cabbé.

Le Golfe Blue is the public beach that serves as a landing area for para-gliders and hang-gliders from Mont Gros.

Video of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin

With its languid shores, turquoise water, antiquated spirit, and romantic location between Monaco et Menton, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin is truly an exceptional place for a sojourn on the Côte d'Azur.