Neighboring Italy and the Train of Wonders
From Jasmins Studio, Italy is very close.
But rather than viewing the border as a limit, why not take advantage of this proximity to discover the Franco-Italian hinterland ?
One of the most beautiful ways to do this is to take the Train of Wonders from Nice.
From Nice to Tende
The line connects Nice to Tende, crossing the valleys of the Paillon, the Bévéra and the Roya.
The route gradually climbs from sea level to over 1,000 meters altitude.
Viaducts, tunnels and mountain landscapes follow one another.
The line is a true railway feat: it includes several helical tunnels.
The Train of Wonders
This is not simply a regional train.
À certaines dates, un A tour guide accompanies the journey and comments on the landscapes and heritage of the Nice hinterland.
The line reopened after major works in December 2025.
The steps to discover
Depending on the time you have available, several stops deserve your attention.
Sospel
Sospel, a medieval village in the Bévéra valley, boasts its famous Pont-Vieux and Saint-Michel cathedral.
Breil-sur-Roya
An interesting stop to discover the valley and its railway heritage.
The village is home to, among other things, a transport ecomuseum.
Saorge
Clinging to the mountainside above the Roya, Saorge is one of the most spectacular villages on the route.
La Brigue
Mountain village near the Italian border, remarkable for its religious heritage and old houses.
Tende
End of the line.
It is also the gateway to the Valley of Wonders, in the heart of the Mercantour.
And Italy?
The line is a constant reminder that this region is a territory of borders and exchanges.
The Italian influence is particularly noticeable in the architecture and religious heritage of the Roya and Bévéra valleys.
This excursion allows you to discover another side of the French Riviera: the French Riviera of the mountains.
Also worth discovering:
→ Monaco – Èze – Menton
→ The hilltop villages of the French Riviera
→ The Gorges of Cians and Daluis
→ Var and inland Provence
→ The Verdon Gorges
→ L’Arrière-pays niçois