Monastère de Saorge, Franciscan monastery in Saorge, France
Monastère de Saorge is a Baroque monastery positioned high above the Roya gorges on a steep mountainside. The complex includes a cloister with painted works, a refectory with religious artworks, a church with Baroque features, and a terraced garden overlooking the surrounding mountains.
Founded in 1633 by Franciscan monks, the monastery controlled a key mountain pass between Nice and Turin for centuries. The religious community departed in 1967, after which the site took on different purposes.
The monastery shows devotion to Saint Francis through its painted depictions and sacred spaces that visitors can see throughout the rooms. The monks shaped this place as a site of quiet reflection over centuries, which is visible in the simple furnishings and religious artworks.
The monastery is accessible by a winding mountain road and sits in a quiet hill village. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and expect uneven pathways throughout the grounds.
The site holds one of the oldest painted Stations of the Cross on canvas in the Maritime Alps. Scattered throughout the monastery are sundials from different periods, reflecting the long history of the place.
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