En un regard
Le château en bref
The Château de Malmort, whose remains stand in the commune of Saorge in the Roya valley (Alpes-Maritimes), is a former medieval stronghold mentioned before 1285, its construction predating 1380. Built on a rocky spur rising some 500 metres above the Roya gorges and nearly 200 metres above the village of Saorge, it belonged to the Counts of Ventimiglia and served as an isolated fortified lookout during the feudal period. Its strategic importance declined after Saorge was attached to the States of Savoy in 1388. The present remains form a trapezoidal quadrilateral about 30 metres long and 10 to 18 metres wide, arranged around a central tower about 8 metres wide. The north-east rampart, still relatively complete, retains its stone facing and putlog holes, as well as remains of a parapet; crenellations and arrow slits survive on the north-west wall and the tower. A bastioned tower is thought to have stood at the east corner, while the south-west and south-east walls retain only their foundations. Now in ruins, the site is freely accessible via a hiking trail from the hamlet of Cayros, with an elevation gain of about 500 metres, and offers a panorama over the villages of Saorge, Fontan and Bergue.
