Rocher de la Vierge

About

By piercing the rock and building a wooden bridge connecting it to the cliffside, Napoleon III created what has become known as the Rock of the Virgin. Legend has it that the statue of the virgin found atop the rock was erected in 1865 after a “divine light” from the rock led fishermen safely to shore during a terrible storm. Later, in 1887, Gustave Eiffel was commissioned to replace the dilapidated wooden bridge with the metal one still in use today. Visitors will find that making it out to the rock is an experience in itself. The beach path leading to the bridge winds through a quiet garden with secluded areas that allow for a peaceful stroll through nature. The long walk along the bridge and through the grotto to the observation deck provides magnificent views of the coastline as well as marine life in the waters below.