The village of Sainte-Agnès in the Alpes-Maritimes department is said to have been named after a Roman princess. Agnès reputedly traveled with her escort along the Via Aurelia, a Roman road of the Mediterranean coast that crossed Roman Italy and ancient Gaul. Surprised by a violent storm, Agnès would have taken shelter in a cave near which she would have erected a chapel as a sign of gratitude. This sanctuary would be at the origin of the current village. The site, which would later have served as a stronghold in Roman times, is today occupied by a military structure.