Canton of Villefranche-sur-Mer

Heritage sites in Villefranche-sur-Mer

Riviera Heritage Trail

The Riviera Heritage Trail showcases the architectural and historical evolution of the Côte d'Azur. It features the 1st-century Roman Trophy of Augustus, the Belle Époque grandeur of Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, and the Greek Revival style of Villa Kérylos. The selection includes significant religious sites like Jean Cocteau’s decorated Chapelle Saint-Pierre and the 18th-century Baroque Église Saint-Michel, alongside maritime landmarks such as the Phare du Cap Ferrat and the medieval roots of the Grimaldi dynasty.

Riviera Heritage Trail — Map

Berthold Werner / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, also called Villa Île-de-France, is a French seaside villa located at Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat on the French…

José Luiz / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Trophy of Augustus

The Tropaeum Alpium, is a Roman trophy celebrating the emperor Augustus's decisive victory over the tribes who populated the Alps.

Mullanasrudin / CC BY-SA 3.0

C

Villa Kerylos

Villa Kerylos in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France, is a house in Ancient Greek Revival style built in the early 1900s by French archaeologist…

D

Chapelle Saint-Hospice

A 17th-century Catholic chapel built on the ruins of a tower that once housed Saint Hospitius. It is situated on the Saint-Hospice peninsula and serves as a key pilgrimage site.

Rundvald / Public domain

E

Église Notre-Dame de l'Assomption

An 18th-century neoclassical church in Èze featuring a distinctive yellow facade and a richly decorated Baroque interior containing a 13th-century Spanish crucifix.

F

Ancien Hôtel Bristol

A late 19th-century former luxury hotel in Beaulieu-sur-Mer. Built in the Belle Époque style, it once served as a premier winter residence for European aristocracy.

G

Torre Vecchia

A historical defense tower and regional heritage site located in Villefranche-sur-Mer.

Osbornb / CC BY 2.0

H

Chapelle Saint-Pierre

A 16th-century fishermen’s chapel famous for its interior murals painted by artist Jean Cocteau in 1957. The artwork depicts the life of Saint Peter and local maritime traditions.

MOSSOT / CC BY-SA 3.0

I

Église Saint-Michel

An 18th-century Baroque church featuring a life-sized recumbent Christ carved from fig wood by an anonymous 17th-century galley slave.

J

Phare du Cap Ferrat

A lighthouse at the southern tip of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. The current 71-meter tower was rebuilt in 1949 after the original 1827 structure was destroyed during World War II.

Tangopaso / Public domain

K

François Grimaldi

Francesco Grimaldi, called il Malizia was the Genoese leader of the Guelphs who captured the Rock of Monaco on the night of 8 January 1297.

L

La grande statue de la Vierge à l'Enfant

An 11-meter-high bronze statue of the Virgin and Child, created by sculptor Galbusieri in 1904. It stands adjacent to the Chapelle Saint-Hospice.

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