La Brigue, commune in Alpes-Maritimes, France
La Brigue is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes near the French-Italian border, surrounded by mountains and forests. The village features narrow old streets and houses with painted facades, including the Collégiale Saint-Martin with a Lombard bell tower and the Chapel of Notre-Dame-des-Fontaines decorated with 15th-century frescoes.
The village has roots dating back to the 5th century before Christ, thrived during the Middle Ages through wool trade, and was ruled by the Lascaris family and other noble families. In 1947, La Brigue officially joined France following a popular vote after centuries under Italian rule.
The residents, called Brigasques, still speak their local dialect, an old form of Ligurian language. Traditions around hunting, fishing, and hiking shape daily life and create a warm, family-oriented community.
The village sits at about 2,500 feet (770 meters) elevation in the Roya Valley and offers access to hiking trails for all levels, including a Via Ferrata with climbing sections. Visitors should bring sturdy footwear and prepare for mountainous terrain, as infrastructure is limited and seasons affect accessibility.
The frescoes in the Chapel of Notre-Dame-des-Fontaines were so impressive that they earned the name 'Sistine Chapel of the Alps', with some eventually moved to a museum in Paris. The ancient stone Pont-du-Coq remains mysterious, as its original purpose has never been clearly understood.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
