How To Spend An Afternoon In Roquebrune-Cap-Martin

Roquebrune-Cap-Martin can be explored in three sections: Cap Martin itself, a peninsula where you’ll spot luxury villas looking out to sea; the resort and ‘new’ town along the coast; and the historic village of Roquebrune in the hills up above. Here’s our itinerary for spending an afternoon soaking up the best this picturesque location has to offer.

Have lunch in Roquebrune village

When you arrive at Roquebrune-Cap-Martin train station, take the series of steep staircases that climb up to the village. This is the historic village of Roquebrune, with winding streets, deep vaulted passages and glorious views of the Mediterranean. After the steep ascent, you’ll need some lunch. For a traditionally delicious feast, head to Restaurant Casarella – with views great enough to match the climb up, it’s an ideal setting to sit back and enjoy the French and Italian cuisine.

Casarella, 15 Rue Grimaldi, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France, +33 493 350 357

Visit Roquebrune Castle

After lunch, you’ll want to walk off the over-indulging, so make your way though the quaint old streets to the Chateau Roquebrune. This castle dominates Roquebrune and is its most famous landmark. It was built in the 10th century and offers stunning views of the COte d’Azur. Its central tower is thought to be the oldest in France, however when you look around it much of what you’ll see has since been added by the Grimaldi family.

Roquebrune Castle, Place William Ingram, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France, +33 4 93 35 07 22

Take a stroll along the Promenade Le Corbusier

Descend back to the coast and you’ll find a coastal pathway you can follow all the way into Monaco. This coastal walk is called Promenade Le Corbusier, named after the famous architect who drowned here in 1965. There’s no need to walk the two hours to Monaco – just amble far enough east to see the modernist house Villa E-1027. Built in the 1930s by architect Eileen Gray, this house, her first architectural creation, has stood the test of time and is considered an icon of modern design.

Promenade Le Corbusier, 38 Avenue Winston Churchill, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France

Watch the sunset from Plage du Buse

Having taken a stroll, navigate yourself to Plage du Buse, one of the loveliest beaches on this stretch of the Riviera. We highly recommend picking up an ice cream and having a paddle, if it’s still warm enough to do so. There are some great eateries on this coastal patch of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin too, depending on how large a lunch you went for earlier in the day. Sunsets don’t get much better than from this spot, so whatever your onward travel plans, make sure to stay for sundown.

Plage du Buse, Sentier du Corbusier, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France, +33 4 93 35 62 87

About the author

Holly Howard

Holly is a freelance writer based in Béziers, South of France. From London to a life in the Languedoc, she has written for French Property News and Living France among other titles and covers travel, lifestyle and culture. She can be followed at: www.lostinthelanguedoc.com