A visit to Beuil, France

Beuil is a small village in the Maritime Alps of France, 77 km north of Nice, dating from at least the thirteenth century. We were invited by some very dear friends to visit for a weekend and we had a really special and memorable time.
There are two main routes up the mountains to Beuil; one is via a steep and breathtaking gorge, and the other is by a more gentle road up through neighbouring towns.

Along the main road entering the village there is a gravel car park which serves much of the town since the homes within the village are packed tightly close together, into and against the mountain, and are mostly not routinely accessible by car.

Continuing up the tree-lined road there is a very nice hotel and restaurant, and before our departure on Sunday we all went there for a meal. It is a popular place, with veranda as well as indoor tables, and so it is good to reserve beforehand.


Walking downhill from there into the village there are a couple of small shops.

Walking a few paces further, the church square comes into view. It is a 17th century church with a Romanesque bell tower.Going farther into the heart of the village homes, the scenes are beautiful.Our friends told us that during their youth everyone nearby used to come to the wells to get water and do their laundry.
Downhill from the wells are more homes overlooking the valley.
The view is fabulous and there are small plots of garden area below the houses. Unfortunately many of the young people need to move to the larger towns and cities to get jobs and, increasingly, the gardens are untended.

It was incredibly special to stay for the weekend visiting in such a beautiful place. There are yet more interesting views of Beuil to come, so stay tuned for another post to continue this article!