This village perched on its rocky spur overlooks two streams: the Banquière and the rio Sec. The site was fortified by the Ligurians, followed by the Romans. The location was strategic, allowing for access to the Vésubie valley after Levens.
It was not until the year one thousand that the summer residence of Miron, Viscount of Nice, was built on the site of a temple dedicated to a god or goddess of the Roman cohorts. In 1175, the Chabauds built their castle there, which remained the property of this family for six centuries. Honoré IV de Chabaud Tourette died on July 6, 1684, without descendants.
It was his great-niece, Marie Anne Peyrani, wife of Victor Félix Canubio, who inherited the fief. The Canubios became lords of Tourette. Joseph Canubio de Chabaud de Tourette sold the castle on May 8, 1829, to Louis Carles, a notary in Tourette, for 450 livres. Having stood the test of time, the castle became the property of the commune in 1992 and, after restoration, has been the Museum of Butterflies, Insects, and Taxidermied Animals since 1997.
Tourette offers visitors two other museums: one dedicated to prehistory and another to the trades of yesteryear. Tourette was elevated to a County by the House of Savoy on April 17, 1671. To prevent the division of lands, the principle of primogeniture was applied to the succession of this County. In 1685, the Revel district was ceded to Pierre Antoine Thaon.
During the revolutionary period, Tourette opposed the Barbets and collaborated with the French. In 1840, the habitat descended from its rocky spur, and the village expanded. After the annexation to France in 1860, the village was named Tourette de Nice. It was not until the dawn of the 20th century, in 1900, that the village was called Tourette Levens.
The church of Notre Dame de l’Assomption has a dual dedication, also dedicated to Saint Rosalie. This building was originally dedicated to the Holy Savior in homage to the first church from the 13th-14th centuries. After the construction of the new parish, the former became the chapel of the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem.
Another chapel that will catch our attention is that of the White Penitents with its curious triangular bell tower. Tourette is also known for the procession of the snails during the Feast of Corpus Christi in June. Hollowed-out snail shells filled with oil illuminate the alleys.
At the end of summer, in September, the celebration of Saint Rosalie is also a festive and traditional event. During the summer, after nightfall, as the cicadas cease their recital, classical concerts enchant Tourette’s nights under the centuries-old walls of its castle.
Thierry Jan
