We finished our trip with a visit to the Alpine town of Tende. It was a very interesting town. For a good part of its history it was part of the House of Savoy. It's primary form of income was taxing the transport of salt through the mountains and valley it controlled. We took a self-guided walking tour through the old town. Some highlights were the chapels of the black and white penitent brotherhoods -- two adjacent chapels both built in the 1600s -- and the remains of the old castle. It was originally built in the 14th century to protect against the attacks of the Count of Provence, Charles d'Anjou. In the 17th century Louis XIV destroyed all the fortified sites that might rival his authority including this castle. Tende converted the one remaining tower into a clock tower in the 19th century, so the only unaltered part of the original castle is a small part of the walls.
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| Tende | Gate Chapel | Public Wash Basin | Castle Remains |