Sospel
Sospel
The town of Sospel dates back to before the Romans as it is thought that the Picts had used the high point (where the ruins of the castle now stand) between the two rivers as a settlement.
After that there are traces of Roman occupation within the valley with the settlement becoming formalised in about the fifth century where it was used as an important staging post on the royal road between Nice and Turin.
The famous old « Pont Vieux » that can be seen today was originally built in about the 13th century allowing travellers to cross the Bevera and pay a toll for the privilege. This was mainly used packhorses which came along the old Salt Road coming up from the coast into the back lands. In fact it is on this trade and on the tolls levied for crossing the river that the town’s first fortune was made.
The bridge was bombed by the Germans during World War II as an attempt to both frustrate the Allies and to prevent easy contact between the French and Italian resistance movements. Using the original materials the bridge was rebuilt and the central tower was occupied — latterly by the tourist office until 2004.
The Bevera River effectively cuts the town into the larger parts being on the south side of the river which is where you will find most of the shops, the cathedral, the Marie and most of the commercial life of the town.
On the north side of the river you have the school, the hospital, police station and all the other facilities that make life in the town quite pleasant. Also on the north side of river you can see the highly decorated facades of the houses that overlooked the river itself.
Both sides of the town have narrow streets with tall buildings either side making them nice and cool in hot summers. Some people say that the streets are quite dark and dingy and up to a few years ago that was true but now there are many more signs of people taking increased pride in their homes and houses.
The cathedral
The cathedral can be found dominating the west end of the place St Michael with its ornate front facade and highly decorated interior — it’s well worth a visit.
The Maginot line
sospel is surrounded by Maginot line forts many of which are open to visitors on a regular basis these include;
- Fort St Roche
- Mont Agasin
- Fort Barbonnet
Location
Sospel is about 20 km more or less directly north inland from Menton and about 5 km from the Italian border.
Statistics
- Height above sea level — 360 m
- Population — approximately 3500
- Postcode — 0638
- Telephone Numbers — usually start 0493 04 xx xx
- Internet Access — broadband up to 8 Mb
- Market day — Every Thursday morning until about one o’clock (unless it’s very wet)
Restaurants and bars
There are a number of restaurants and bars in the village of varying quality and price.
Staying in sospel
Hotels
Just on the edge of the main town you will find two hotels — the Hotel des Etranges and right next to the hotel to France.
Chambre d’hotes
Villa Amiel.
Auberges
Auberge De Pont Vieux
Auberge Provancal
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