Breil Sur Roya France is a delighfull village just north of Monte Carlo. My two friends & I were the guests of Riny Doyle in his apartment overlooking the lagoon in July 2010. Riny is an excellent chef, in the photo above we are eating wild boar pasta. His secret is to freeze the wild boar meat for 6 months before cooking. 🙂
Rinny is a very generous host.
How about this for a spread?
View from our apartmant
How lucky were we being able to stay in a great 3br apartment with a view like this?
Jody & Deb in Rinny’s apartment
Just across the road from the Roya river
Enjoying a beer with Riny
This was a bar at the local railway station. There are two lines that pass through the village, one is French the other Italian, which make it very easy to vist places in both countries.
Location
So many wonderful towns & villages in the area. Just check out THIS LINK.
A few miles south of Breil
In october 2020 the river flooded after severe storms & devastated the whole area.
Absolutely heartbreaking.
To see more of this tragic event please follow THIS LINK.
Breil Sur Roya France, the main street
So peacefull compared to the previous photo.
The home of Rinny & Suzanne on the hill above the village.
This is for your wood fired pizzas. 🙂
Turn up the heat.
The master chef at work. 🙂
A night on the town for the girls
Rinny’s daughter Masha took the girls clubbing in Monte Carlo, Deb bought a round of drinks & nearly fainted when the cost was $100. 🙂
Breil Sur Roya devastated by storm Alex on October 4 2020, it destroyed dozens of houses and washed away roads in the mountainous border region north of Nice.
Riny Doyle
Ten years ago I spent 2 weeks in this beautiful French village as a guest of Riny Doyle & his partner Suzanne. We are dining on one of Riny’s specialties, wild boar pasta. I remember Riny saying the boar had to be frozen for 6 months before cooking. 🙂
Main street in Breil
The force of the flood water must have been incredible.
Cars submerged in mud.
Three more bodies have been discovered on the French side of the border with Italy after severe mountain flooding ravaged parts of both countries, leaving at least 12 dead.
It will take months to clean up
Sadly the village may never fully recover, many residents will be afraid the flood waters may return in the future.
Perhaps there was no warning
That may be the reason there were so many vehicles in the middle of the village.
Breil Sur Roya devastated
Barely hanging on to the edge of the cliff, how frightening is that?
Another one bites the dust
Totally heartbreaking for the residents of this beautiful village.
This home I’m sure will be demolished.
It’s difficult to see any other solution.
Breil Sur Roya devastated, such a sad sight
Another photo of the main street in the middle of Breil.
This is so hard to believe…
A simple reminder that we should never underestimate the awesome power of nature.
Compare the area above to 2010
From a tranquil setting to a scene of devastation.
A little roadwork needed here
How frightening would this have been for anyone driving on this busy road?
Flashback to 2010 with my friend Riny Doyle.
Also with me were two Australian friends, Jodie O’Neil & Deborah Holiday. Here is the message I got from Riny the day after the disaster; “no water no électricité no phone roads collapsed. A temp road-fix allowed me to go to next valley to let everyone know we are ok. Village is a disaster.”
Thanks for visiting my Breil Sur Roya devastated photo blog, my sympathy to all the residents who have suffered in this horrific event.
Sospel village near Monte Carlo is a small town situated about 15km inland from the coastal resort of Menton & close to the French border with Italy. We were based in Breil Sur Roya just a short drive through the mountains.
Briel Sur Roya to Sospel & Monte Carlo
A short drive to the coast.
Medieval town
This small medieval town feels almost Italian in character, maybe because it was part of Italy until 1860.
Relaxing in the town square
Sospel became prosperous in the 13th century when an important salt trading route between Nice and Turin passed through the town and those using the route paid tolls to use the bridge across the Bévéra river.
Houses along the riverbanks
The streets of the old town contain numerous attractive medieval houses, many with decorative painted facades.
Toll Bridge
The tower in the centre of the fortified bridge was originally the toll gate for the mules using the trade route. A bridge has stood here since at least the 13th century, although it is likely the original version was built of wood. In 1522 the wooden bridge was replaced by a stone version, much as we see it today.
Viaduct beside the village
You can spend many days exploring the beautiful part of France.
Coffee with Deborah
Thanks for sharing my Sospel village near Monte Carlo photo blog, lots more links below.
Checkout some more of my terrific blogs on the links below.
La Brigue ancient French village north of Menton was originally part of Italy, the village was annexed to France as part of the Treaty of Paris in 1947.
Donjon tower
The village is both pretty and interesting, with colourful buildings, ancient churches, arcades, vaulted passages, streets to explore, and the pleasure of a fast-flowing river that’s joined by a mountain stream in the centre. The stream is called “Rio Sec”, or dry river, but was full of spring water when we were there. Many of the buildings are of natural stone and many are nicely renovated with pastel facades and green doorways and steps. The 14th-c medieval Chateau des Lascaris perched above the village is in ruins, with only some walls and a tall, round donjon tower remaining. Partial reconstruction, however, has been started, and the castle is used for medieval festival weekends. Reconstruction will be followed by archaeological digs on the site.
Medieval stone structures
La Brigue is very attractive with steep rocky hills rising either side, also there are several important monuments.
Saorge beautiful French village was classed as one of the “40 most beautiful villages of France”. The main village streets traverse narrowly between the buildings at very different levels, with smaller streets and steps leading up and down between them. The view from anywhere in the village is spectacular, looking outward to snow-capped mountains in the middle distance (into May and June) and the deep gorge and rushing white-water river below.
Road to Saorge
The region belonged to the old County of Nice. From 1388 to 1860 Saorge was part of Sardinia-Piedmont when it was ceded to France. In June 1793 the armies of the First French Republic and Sardinia clashed here. In the Battle of Saorgio on 24–28 April 1794, the French wrested the town from the Piedmontese. The town was returned to Sardinia-Piedmont after the overthrow of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Saorge beautiful French village
Saorge is 11 km north of Breil Sur Roya where we were based. There are so many interesting French & Italian villages in this particular area, you can spend weeks exploring these fabulous part of Europe.
Bath house or wash house?
Whichever one it is or was I can guarantee it is old, very old. 🙂
Saorge homes
The tall solid stone houses date from the 15th-17th centuries and line the narrow steep cobbled street that climb up through the village.
Narrow streets & Alleys
Exploring the village is straightforward as the village mostly follows one long street that climbs the hill through Saorge, with lots of smaller alleys climbing the hill to either side.
My travel buddies
Deborah Holliday and Jodie ONiell from the Gold Coast in Australia spent a couple of weeks with me exploring the French & Italian villages, French Riviera & the Cinque Terre. My best travel tip for this area is to base yourself in the central village of Breil Sur Roya, from here you can easily reach all the wonderful surrounding villages similar to Saorge.
Thanks for visiting my Saorge beautiful French village photo blog.
Antibes Mediterranean resort is on the Côte d’Azur between Cannes and Nice. I enjoyed a nice Spanish Paella for lunch followed by a few hours exploring this delightful seaside resort town.
After the disintegration of the Western Roman Empire, various barbarian tribes seized Antibes. This resulted in destruction and a long period of instability. In the 10th century, Antibes found a protector in Seigneur Rodoart, who built extensive fortified walls around the town and a castle in which to live. For the next 200 years, the town experienced a period of renewal. Prosperity was short-lived, as the whole region fell into disarray for several centuries. The inhabitants of Antibes stayed behind their strong city walls as a succession of wars and epidemics ravaged the countryside. In the 1244, Antibes’s bishop moved his see to Grasse.By the end of the 15th century, the region was under the protection and control of King Louis XI of France. Relative stability returned, but the small port of Antibes fell into obscurity.
From around the middle of the 19th century the Antibes area regained its popularity, as wealthy people from around Europe discovered its natural beauty and built many luxurious homes here.
Stones instead of sand
Like the majority of Mediterranean beaches you have to tolerate rocks instead of sand unless you are somewhere like Nice where they import sand for some of the private beach areas where you have to pay for the luxury.
This does not look comfortable
However I would be very happy lying beside her, I would gladly put up with the pain from the pebbles.
Warm sun & calm cool water
No sandcastles here. 🙂
Toys for the boys.
There are so many beautiful boats on the Riviera all along the coast from St Tropez to Menton. There is only one problem facing many of the owners, no matter how big your boat is soon somebody will arrive with a bigger one, see below. 🙂
The Sultan arrives, chopper on-board of course. 🙂
Some of the wealth on display is astonishing.
An Aussie in Antibes
Good name for a boat. 🙂
Antibes Mediterranean resort there is No Compromise
All you need is money, a lot of money. 🙂
Fort Carré d’Antibes
The Romans probably built the first fortifications at Antibes. In 1553, a tower called la tour Saint-Florent was built around a preexisting chapel. Henry III had four bastions added in 1565, whereupon it became Fort Carré (the squared fort).
Beach Babes French Riviera the very cosmopolitan city of Nice was originally founded by the Greeks & later became a retreat for 19th-century Europe’s elite. The lackluster port area is rapidly filling up with the city’s coolest restaurants and bars.
July 2010 marked 150 years since the Mediterranean city was ceded to France as a reward for French help in the second Italian war of independence against Austria. The locally born Italian hero Giuseppe Garibaldi was irate about the handover, knowing well – as generations of film stars, millionaires, princes, Mafiosi and tourists would later come to realize – that France had quite a trophy on its hands.
Iconic sea-blue chairs
While away the hours on one of its iconic sea-blue chairs rather than lay on the uncomfortable pebbles.
36 Hours in Nice
36 Hours in Nice, France | The New York Times
A very nice You Tube video courtesy of The New York Times.
Private beach area
The private beaches offer very comfortable sun chairs, umbrellas, and full service to their very EXPENSIVE bars. It’s a nice get away from the hordes of people on the public beaches, and the chairs are much more comfortable than the rocks.
Beach resort French Riviera Nice
Many of these private areas actually have sand instead of pebbles.
This can’t be comfortable
However I would be very happy lying beside her, I would gladly put up with the pain from the pebbles. 🙂
The very congested boat harbour
I bet there is a long waiting list for a berth.
Toys and Condominiums
As in many other cities on the French Riviera you can really smell the money here. 🙂
Church Maria Sine Labe Concepta
This rather impressive church overlook the harbour in Nice.
‘BLUE VISION’ was built in 2007 by Benetti and last refitted in 2012. The yacht’s interior has been designed by Zuretti and her exterior styling is by Stefano Righini. Blue Vision’s interior layout sleeps up to 10 guests in 5 staterooms, including a master suite, 2 double cabins, 2 twin cabins and 2 pullman beds. She is also capable of carrying up to 9 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience. Timeless styling, beautiful furnishings and sumptuous seating feature throughout her living areas to create an elegant and comfortable atmosphere. With a cruising speed of 12 knots, a maximum speed of 15 knots and a range of 4606nm from her 63000 litre fuel tanks, she is the perfect combination of performance and luxury.
Beach resort French Riviera Nice
Sometimes written off as staid and sleepy, France’s fifth city is is thriving, tourism is a huge business in Nice, but the city also has one of Europe’s biggest technology parks, hosting 1,200 international companies.
Strolling along the promenade.
Nice’s Promenade des Anglais is part of the heart of this seaside French city. Nice’s Promenade des Anglais is lined with cafes situated directly on the beach, and it’s a bustling area active with cyclists, runners, walkers and roller bladers.
Wealthy Play St Tropez, a place for sheer opulence, people watching, & great restaurants and bars. Please remember to take your money with you. 🙂
Boules-type games are traditional and popular in France, Italy and Croatia, and are also popular in some former French colonies. In those countries, boules games are often played in open spaces (town squares and parks) in villages and towns. Dedicated playing areas for boules-type games are typically large, level, rectangular courts made of flattened earth, gravel, or crushed stone, enclosed in wooden rails or back boards.
Paella anyone?
The huge place des Lices Market is a kaleidoscope of everything from fruit and veg to antique mirrors and slippers. It’s truly legendary and It is studded with plane trees, cafés and (when the market’s not on) pétanque players.
Saturday is market day in St Tropez
The seaside resort town Saint Tropez is still very popular with the tourists, although the jetset and the in-crowd have long since left it behind. Set on the lovely blue water of the Bay of Saint-Tropez, this modern version of a medieval town is most popular for the line of yachts along the quay, and the facing line of terrace cafés, divided by a parade of strolling tourists.
Look at me, look at me. 🙂
Naturally all the chairs face the footpath so customers can ogle & gawk at the people passing, while pretending not too. 🙂
The famous Cafe de Paris.
There is of course another famous Cafe de Paris in Monte Carlo.
So many restaurants & so little time. 🙂
I guess I’m stating the obvious however you can get far better value for your money by visiting the restaurants a couple of blocks away from the sea front.
The old part of town is quite fascinating.
Behind the cafés, the small streets and old buildings are picturesque, but they’re more popular for the multitude of shops and restaurants than historical significance.
The back streets are interesting
Very interesting back streets of ST Tropez.
Wealthy Play St Tropez
There are always luxury yachts cruising in the area.
Narrow lanes & arches
I’m sure this arch has not changed for hundreds of years.
L’Olive St Tropez
Very good food at L’Olive at 9 Rue Aire du Chemin, 83990 Saint-Tropez.
A very brassy lady
Surely this can’t be Bridgette Bardot. 🙂
Could this be a Trojan Horse?
I really like this sculpture near St Tropez wharf.
Mt travelling companions Deb and Jodie heading for a night out, some guys bought them drinks and Deb in return shouted a round, 110 Euros later, some smelling salts were required for her to recover and fight another day.
There is always someone with a bigger boat.
Imagine the cost of filling this east up with fuel. 🙂
You can really smell the money here. 🙂
Wealthy Play St Tropez”.
Super boat
Certainly not the prettiest boat in the harbour.
If you can’t afford a boat, get a bike.
Not much traffic here so a bike would be a safe way to see the city.
Paris Fashion Food Wine, even though generally the French are rather arrogant & rude to tourists. I’m guessing they love their city & resent the intrusion of so many foreigners.
It was years ago in 2005 when I was last there so I’m due to visit again soon. In 2014 I was in Amsterdam, Brussels and London, and in 2013 I got as close as Bruge & Versailles which of course is adjacent to the beautiful city.
Ella says it better than I can.
Notre Dame Hotel Paris.
I imagine the attraction of Paris means different things to many people. The architecture, the food & restaurants, the culture & museums, etc etc.
Grand Cluny
Everywhere you look in Paris there is a brasserie.
Champs-Élysées.
The Avenue des Champs-Élysées is a street in Paris. With its cinemas, cafés, luxury specialty shops and clipped horse-chestnut trees, the Champs-Élysées is arguably one of the world’s most famous boulevards.
ZAZ - Champs Elysées (Clip officiel)
Dinner with friends in Paris
Another great dinner with friends in Paris washed down with a nice Bordeaux. I’m with Gavin & Cheryl Kernot from Australia & Malvina who now lives in Paris. I first met Malvina a few years ago when she lived in Mexico city.
Paris Kebab.
This is one of my favourite photos from Paris. I think the guy looks a little like Al Pacino.
Wonderful seafood street stall
Malvina has a photo with this great Parisian character.
Paris Fashion Food Wine
I rally need to plan another trip to Paris, perhaps in 2017.
David Herd loves Paris
The Buddha Bar is a very cool trendy spot with good music, make sure you have plenty of money. You will find it at 8 Rue Boissy d’ Anglais M. Concorde.
Here is some Buddha bar music.
Buddha Bar.
No prizes for guessing what dominates the floor space inside this ultra-cool Parisian imbibery. You might think it’s the Buddha that attracts the oh-so-trendy set here, as it’s always flattering to stand next to someone more rotund than yourself. A very popular haunt with drinkers and diners alike.
Sunset in Paris and another wonderful evening begins.
Cruising along the Seine.
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Buildings along the Seine.
Take a boat cruise you won’t regret it.
Restaurant on the Seine
So many wonderful photo opportunities along this magic river.
Cruising on the Seine.
I think an open top boat is more fun.
I wonder if there are bats in the belfry?
The ancient buildings are amazing.
This structure looks familiar.
Located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. It was named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower. Erected in 1889 as the entrance arch to the 1889 World’s Fair, it has become both a global cultural icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. The tower is the tallest structure in Paris and the most-visited paid monument in the world; 7.1 million people ascended it in 2011.
The tower received its 250 millionth visitor in 2010. The tower stands 324 metres (1,063 ft) tall, about the same height as an 81-storey building. During its construction, the Eiffel Tower surpassed the Washington Monument to assume the title of the tallest man-made structure in the world, a title it held for 41 years, until the Chrysler Building in New York City was built in 1930. Because of the addition of the antenna atop the Eiffel Tower in 1957, it is now taller than the Chrysler Building by 5.2 metres (17 ft). Not including broadcast antennas, it is the second-tallest structure in France, after the Millau Viaduct.
Nymphs of the Seine
The Pont Alexandre III is an arch bridge that spans the Seine, connecting the Champs-Élysées quarter and the Invalides and Eiffel Tower quarter, widely regarded as the most ornate, extravagant bridge in Paris. It is classified as a historical monument.
Monte Carlo Charismatic Wealthy, they are squeezed into this tiny principality like sardines. In fact Monaco is the most densely populated piece of dirt on Earth.
Mind blowing wealth is everywhere.
The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present day Monaco in 1215. The current ruling Grimaldi family first seized temporary control in 1297, and again in 1331, but were not able to permanently secure their holding until 1419.
Monte Carlo Charismatic Wealthy, an amazing city
Monaco, bordering France on the Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The principality also is a banking center and has successfully sought to diversify into services and small, high-value-added, nonpolluting industries. The state has no income tax and low business taxes and thrives as a tax haven both for individuals who have established residence and for foreign companies that have set up businesses and offices. Monaco, however, is not a tax-free shelter; it charges nearly 20% value-added tax, collects stamp duties, and companies face a 33% tax on profits unless they can show that three-quarters of profits are generated within the principality. Monaco’s reliance on tourism and banking for its economic growth has left it vulnerable to a downturn in France and other European economies which are the principality’s main trade partners.
I could happily live aboard this awesome ship
Lady Moura is a private luxury yacht. She was the ninth largest private yacht when she was launched in 1990, but has moved down the list in 2011 to number 24. She is owned by Saudi Arabian businessman, Nasser Al-Rashid.
Lady Moura in Monte Carlo
Both the hull and the superstructure are made of steel. The propulsion plant consists of two KHD-MWM diesel engines, each with a power of 5050 kW (over 6700 bhp), and controllable pitch propellers producing a speed of over 20 knots. A crafty hydraulically operated system of shell ports, doors, flaps, roofs, bath platforms, gangways and cranes provide the most possible ease of operation and comfort. Even the boats, anchors, life-rafts and navigation lanterns are hidden behind covers and do not disturb the aesthetics of the yacht. Both the name and the escutcheon that can be seen at port, starboard and at Stern are carved in 24 carat gold.
I would be happy with the gold one.
We were staying in a small French village Breil Sur Roya about 45 minutes drive from Monte Carlo, a great location to explore surrounding French and Italian historic villages.
Perhaps a Mercedes as well.
That is one beautiful motor vehicle.
Magnificent Monte Carlo
The castle dominates and overlooks the city.
Reclaiming the Mediterranean
Obviously there is no more land so they are building out into the sea. I believe there is another similar project about to start, it is expected to take 10 years to complete.
Café de Paris Monte-Carlo is the place to watch the passing parade in Monte Carlo, right next door to the casino and rather expensive, as you would expect.
A brief 17 second video of the harbour.
Monaco, I can smell the money.
Thanks for visiting my Monte Carlo haven for the rich & famous photo blog.
How about this for a spread?
How lucky were we being able to stay in a great 3br apartment with a view like this?
Just across the road from the Roya river
This was a bar at the local railway station. There are two lines that pass through the village, one is French the other Italian, which make it very easy to vist places in both countries.
So many wonderful towns & villages in the area. Just check out THIS LINK.
In october 2020 the river flooded after severe storms & devastated the whole area.
To see more of this tragic event please follow THIS LINK. 
So peacefull compared to the previous photo. 
This is for your wood fired pizzas. 🙂
The master chef at work. 🙂
Rinny’s daughter Masha took the girls clubbing in Monte Carlo, Deb bought a round of drinks & nearly fainted when the cost was $100. 🙂
Airole is a village close to Breil.
Living in each others pockets. 🙂
TripAdvisor rating is #2 of 8 Restaurants in Breil-sur-Roya.
About 40 minutes south of Breil.
Thanks for visiting my photo blog, & many thanks to Reni & Suzanne for looking after us so well.
