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Le Cabanon сreated by Le Corbusier in 1952 was included in the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites .
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Le Corbusier , a pioneer of modern architecture , used to spend summertime in Roquebrune .
was completed . The town then passed under the reign of the Grimaldi family who rebuilt the castle several times . In the mid
19th century , when Monaco was experiencing a crisis of power , Roquebrune became independent for some time . Monaco and France subsequently signed a treaty making Menton and Roquebrune French territories . But we still call this castle « Château Grimaldi ».
In the 20th century , Roquebrune Castle was under the ownership of Sir William Ingram . The wealthy Englishman contributed to its medieval appearance by adding still another tower in the English style . In 1921 Sir Ingram returned the castle to the town . These days Roquebrune guests get to enjoy its ancient streets and wander through the castle halls and dungeon . Touching the imitation shackles in this cramped stone room would take you many centuries back …
Sainte Marguerite Church situated in the heart of the village dates back originally to the 12th century . And as with the castle , it has been significantly modified through the centuries . Notice its colourful Baroque-style façade and its beautiful paintings and frescoed ceiling .
FROM THE DEPTH OF CENTURIES
In addition to its old castle and church ,
Roquebrune-Cap-Martin boasts yet another historical attraction — the Vallonet grotto . It is considered one of the most ancient places in Europe . Discovered in 1958 by a young girl , it has been under excavation since . Two Monegasques — Louis Barral , curator of the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology , and René Pascal , an employee of a Monte-Carlo casino and an amateur prehistorian and speleologist , were among the first persons who began studying this natural treasure . This grotto overlooking Cap Martin is sadly closed to public . But all the artefacts revealing the secrets of Homo Erectus can be viewed in the Regional Museum of Prehistory in Menton , Rue Lorédan Larchey .
Fortunately , there is another place to visit here . The Thousand-year-old Olive Tree is designated the oldest olive tree in the world ( its age is estimated between 2000 and 2800 years ). It has a circumference of
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