Saorge Monastery, Saorge, France

Saorge was a stronghold of strategic significance defending the road between Nice and Turin via the Col de Tende mountain pass. Recollect Franciscan monks founded a monastery there in 1633, at the time of the Catholic Reformation. Today it overlooks the village and waterfalls of La Roya at the gateway to Mercantour.

The cloister and the refectory contain examples of exceptional painted decoration dating from the 17th and 18th centuries: frescoes depicting the life of Saint Francis of Assisi, allegories of the virtues, sundials and trompe-l’œil features. The church still has its original furniture and magnificent wood carvings. The building is a fine example of the balance between Baroque and sobriety typical of the Franciscan Order.

The harmonious surroundings are set off by huge terraced grounds featuring an orchard and kitchen garden, looking out on to wonderfully untouched mountains.

Occupied by Franciscans until 1988, today the monastery is a residence for writers.

User Reviews

Dima Baranetskyi (5 months ago)
nice place, you can walk almost everywhere, enjoy the garden, etc

Sarah Hartman (6 months ago)
Admission price was reasonable, a few interesting rooms and a beautiful view of the French alps.

Edward Alvarado (9 months ago)
Pretty cool monastery. The views are spectacular, and the actual monastery is, meh. If you've never been, it's worth a trip, but if you're short on time, I would skip it.

Annie (2 years ago)
Haven’t been since 2017 but was telling someone about this place. Getting here on the train is such an experience it’s amazing - the walking around this beautiful town is not for those who don’t like hills

PRANAVAM prinsu (2 years ago)
Good

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Zvonimir Hrvoj

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Saorge Monastery

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