Legend has it that the name Sainte-Agnès comes from the story of a princess who had taken refuge in a cave in the village during a storm. It is true that this little community in the hills has something magical about it, suspended right in the middle of the mountains. This is the highest village on the Mediterranean coast, recognisable by its houses clinging to the mountainside, packed close together. Enjoy a wander along its streets, admiring the flower-adorned houses built on a slope. The alleys wind around them, wedged between the mountain peaks and the Mediterranean. Downhill, you can make out the ochre roofs of the town of Menton and Italy in the distance, while herds of goats frolic in the surrounding greenery, on the steep hillside of the Col de la Madone.
Sites of interest in Sainte-Agnès include the military fort, which is strongly recommended. This structure once helped to repel the Italians and was part of the Maginot line. You explore this building suspended on a rocky outcrop by discovering its 2,000 m² of galleries, command posts and guns, and its various rooms, such as the kitchens, engine room, dormitories and sanitary facilities: a real immersion in the daily life of soldiers in the Second World War!
To discover the local heritage, don't hesitate to drop by the boutiques in Sainte-Agnès, which stock a wide range of craft items such as glassware or pottery. You should also take some time to chat with the locals. They will tell you how nice it is to live in this peaceful little mountain village...
