The Maison de la Pêche et de l’Eau invites you to discover the Roya through water, the element that has shaped the landscapes, ecosystems and the lives of the valley’s communities. The exhibition showcases the richness of the aquatic environments – from high-altitude streams and lakes to the river itself – as well as the many species that inhabit them, with a particular focus on the Mediterranean trout.
The tour also recounts the long-standing relationship between people and the river. In Tende, fishing is a living heritage: since 1617, the town has enjoyed a special right to manage fishing, a tradition now upheld by the Tende Anglers’ Association.
Through artefacts, documents, images and interactive displays, the Centre offers visitors the chance to discover the techniques and skills of the fishermen, as well as the various uses of water in the valley, notably the development of hydroelectric power from the early 20th century onwards. Housed in a building that once accommodated a mill, and was later incorporated into Tende’s first small hydroelectric power station, it thus tells the story of a heritage that is at once natural, historical and cultural.