The Alpes-Maritimes have the privilege of possessing an exceptional religious heritage, made up of both architectural gems and splendid works of art, inviting contemplation and reflection.
In order to preserve and enhance this asset, the Cercle Bréa and the General Council of the Alpes-Maritimes have created a tourist and cultural guide, inviting tourists and locals to discover the major buildings and artworks of our department.
We leave it to François Dunan, president of the Cercle Bréa, to present and illustrate it:
This guide is a collective work; let all its contributors, both volunteers and permanent staff, be fully thanked for the excellence of their work, with a particular mention for Professor Germaine LECLERC and Mr. Conservator Luc THEVENON, ardent defenders of our departmental heritage and precious mainstays of this compilation.
From time immemorial, mankind has drawn inspiration from its beliefs—for our ancestors in the Valley of Marvels—and later on faith for builders, painters of altarpieces or murals, and sculptors who have worked there since.
Our azure lands offer a remarkable testimony, the result of one of the oldest monastic settlements in the West (Lérins, Saint Pons) and continuous religious fervor with, notably, many centuries-old Penitent Brotherhoods still present.
However, at first glance, the attraction to our department would not be driven by the discovery of its rich religious heritage.
Yet, our Alpes-Maritimes department abounds with masterpieces, some official and recognized for their unique character, others more modest but nonetheless dear to the hearts of both the faithful and the population; masterpieces belonging to various registers, fruits of a tumultuous history, with the peak being the activity of altarpiece painters, with Louis Bréa being the most famous among them, followed by the baroque period with its array of magnificence.
Indeed, there are many rich altarpieces, chapels, and churches, painted or not, scattered throughout our valleys, sometimes in places that might seem abandoned, poignant testimonies of the generosity of their patrons.
How can we not also mention the “creative” inspiration that our azure lands were able to evoke in the greatest names of artistic creation, for example in La Brigue in the 15th century (chapel Notre Dame des Fontaines) or more recently in Vence (Chapel of the Rosary) and Fréjus (Chapel Notre-Dame of Jerusalem) where Canavesio, Matisse, and Cocteau not only “created” beautiful things but, above all, gave shape to beauty.
Therefore, for those who know, who want to, or who are taught, to go beyond this coastal showcase…there are wonders to discover. Yes, our “country” only shows what it hides; our azure lands remain a delightful secret shared among those who discover them.
May this Sacred Routes guide to the discovery of the religious heritage of the Alpes-Maritimes offer you one of the keys, not the least moving one; the one that grants access to the beauty that saves.
Read the online version: [https://www.calameo.com/read/00033464440bb53df458b](https://www.calameo.com/read/00033464440bb53df458b)
