Citadelle Saint-Elme

Villefranche-sur-Mer, France

To protect the County of Nice from invaders, the Duke of Savoy built the Saint-Elme citadel in the 16th century, together with the satellite fortresses of Mont-Alban and Saint-Hospice, and the port of La Darse where the galleys were moored. These constructions entrusted to Italian engineers were fore-runners of a new type of bastion fortification. Today, this remarkable complex (7.5 acres) accommodates the Town Hall, the Volti, Goetz-Boumeester Museums and the Roux Collection.

References:

French Riviera Tourism

Castles and fortifications in France

Address

Chemin de Ronde, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France

See all sites in Villefranche-sur-Mer

Details

Founded: 1554-1567
Category: Castles and fortifications in France

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

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User Reviews

Haroon Hammad (5 years ago)
Calm & wonderful place, far from tourists, there are couple of nice sea food restaurants

Anca Stan (6 years ago)
Such a nice place with lovely narrow streets and amazing view.

Stephen Lee (6 years ago)
Very large ground and nice garden to walk around. Also some exhibits to see. Free admission. Very enjoyable.

David Choi (6 years ago)
It's free and very photogenic! Go in and have a look. No crowds

Pete Watts (6 years ago)
Lovely fort! Free entry, various gardens to explore, and great views of Villefranche.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright itmpa

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Dryburgh Abbey

Dryburgh Abbey on the banks of the River Tweed in the Scottish Borders was founded in 1150 in an agreement between Hugh de Morville, Constable of Scotland, and the Premonstratensian canons regular from Alnwick Abbey in Northumberland. The arrival of the canons along with their first abbot, Roger, took place in 1152.

It was burned by English troops in 1322, after which it was restored only to be again burned by Richard II in 1385, but it flourished in the fifteenth century. It was finally destroyed in 1544, briefly surviving until the Scottish Reformation, when it was given to the Earl of Mar by James VI of Scotland. It is now a designated scheduled monument and the surrounding landscape is included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland.

David Erskine, 11th Earl of Buchan bought the land in 1786. Sir Walter Scott and Douglas Haig are buried in its grounds.