Sanctuaire Notre Dame des Fontaines

Parc National du Mercantour


Dubbed the Sistine Chapel of the Southern Alps, this church is famous for its wall-to-wall 15th-century frescoes, created by Piedmontese painters Jean Canavesio and Jean Baleison. It's 4km east of La Brigue.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Parc National du Mercantour attractions

1. Maison du Miel et de l’Abeille

3.47 MILES

This little museum celebrates the craft of local honey-makers. Needless to say, there are plenty of opportunities to taste the goods – this is France,…

2. Musée des Merveilles

3.57 MILES

In Tende, this museum provides useful context if you're visiting the prehistoric carvings of the Vallée des Merveilles. Inside the striking modern…

3. Lac des Mesches

6.38 MILES

From St-Dalmas-de-Tende, the D91 winds 10km west to this alpine lake (1390m), where trails lead into the valley (plan on eight hours' hiking, round-trip)…

4. Monastère de Saorge

7.28 MILES

Situated 9km north of Breil-sur-Roya, the dramatic Gorges de Saorge lead to the fortified village of Saorge (elevation 520m). Perched on sheer cliffs, the…

5. Parco Naturale del Marguareis

9.65 MILES

This 6800-hectare park spreads across two valleys – the Valle Pesio and Valle Tanaro – located in an area south and east of Cuneo. It's a great place for…

6. Vallée des Merveilles

10.87 MILES

Wedged between the Vésubie and Roya valleys, this narrow, remote canyon is famous for its amazing Bronze Age petroglyphs – ancient pictures carved into…

7. Parco Naturale Alpi Marittime

14.75 MILES

Piedmont's largest park is home to spectacular landscapes, encompassing wildflower-filled grasslands, topaz lakes, shimmering glaciers and jagged mountain…

8. La Madone de Fenestres

15 MILES

At an altitude of 1904m, this impressively situated hilltop church was supposedly founded on the site where a local villager had a vision of the Virgin…