The village of Sainte-Agnès, in the Alpes-Maritimes department, extends to Menton and offers an elevation gain of nearly 2,624 ft (800 m) between the heights of the old village and its lowest point. The locality stands on three levels: a lower part, a hilltop village, and an old municipality located on the ridges of the Sainte-Agnès mountain. The former village was abandoned from the 14th century and rebuilt lower down, sheltered from the winds. Until the 18th century, Sainte-Agnès was protected by a castle destroyed by Louis XIV during an attempt to conquer the County of Nice.