This hilltop town above Menton claims to be the highest coastal town in Europe at 780m above sea level, although even with a catapult you'd struggle to dive into the ocean from here.
The views over Menton, Monaco and the surrounding valleys are truly fabulous and there are at least a couple of restaurants to admire them from.
The town is only 20 minutes drive from Menton, or less from the corniche roads and motorway, but feels off the beaten track.
For the adventurous, try climing to the old XII fort and medieval garden at the top of the town which are in a shambolic state of disrepair.
The town contains numerous vaulted passageways and you can admire beautiful houses dating back to the XV century, with their magnificently restored doorways.
For those looking for more recent history, the town is the entry point for a tour into what remains of the Maginot Line fortress.
The restaurant with the best views in town is Le Righi, 1 place du fort, 06500 Sainte-Agnès. Reservations are recommended and can be made on: 04 92 10 90 88.
Sainte Agnes is 10km north of Menton. Menton is near the French-Italian border.
Map: tinyurl.com/37mx5l
It also makes for a spectacular cycle ride from Menton if you are fit and have a reasonably good road cycle. Take an hour and a half to get there, and come back down via the corniche in twenty minutes I recommend le Logis - the set menu comes with 5 or seven courses and the best rabbit I have ever eaten! The staff are always friendly and the food is cheap. You can walk to St Agnes from Menton on well signed footpaths in about 2hrs, from there you can get onto the Balcon des Alpes and just keep walking!
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