Balancing
both sides of the Bevera river and bordered by the Mercantour
national park and the Valley of Marvels, Sospel is ideally
located at only 15 kilometers from the Mediterranean.
With
over 30 kilometers of well-marked trails, Sospel and its
environs welcomes the avid mountain climber.
Sospel
also holds historic importance in the region. As the second-most
important city in the County of Nice, Sospel is located
at particularly strategic geographic point in the Bevera
plain.
In
the 5th century, Sospel bore the brunt of the siege of
the bishopric of Nice. Then, in the 12th century, it was
declared a county town under the control of the Counts
of Nice. From 1258, Sospel was administered as a free
commune by the "Consu" then by the Counts of
Savoy until it became a French town in 1861.
Throughout
the ages Sospel has endured numerous battles, the last
being that of the reconquest of the Authion plateau during
World War II.
The
"Pont Vieux"
ties the medieval quarter to the more modern district
of Sospel. As early as the 16th century, this bridge served
as a toll crossing along the salt route. Though damaged
during the Second World War, the bridge was fully restored
by the Fine Arts council in 1953 with stones found in
the Bevera river.
The
Faubourg Saint Nicolas
charms the visitor with a unique architectural ensemble
of a medieval square, an ancient communal palace, two
12th century arcades and a 15th century fountain. Just
to the faubourg’s north lies the 17th century Chapel
of Saint Croix which housed the Brotherhood of the White
Penitents. Inside the chapel one can admire a superb 17th
century wood sculpture of Christ and a 14th century statue
of Saint Nicolas.
Saint Michael’s Cathedral
Is
located on beautiful square lined with arcaded houses
dating back to the Middle Ages. Nothing remains of the
original church except for the 12th century Roman bell
tower. The rest of the cathedral was built during the
first half of the 18th century. Inside is the Chevet chapel
where one can find two 16th century triptychs. The ornate
wood tabernacle with its spectacular mother-of-pearl inlay
represents the Annunciation, the Baptism of Christ and
the Descent from the Cross.
As
one of the first fortresses built in the Maritime Alps
in the 1930s along the Maginot Line
(which runs from the North Sea to the Mediterranean),
the Fort of Saint Roch was designed to protect Sospel.
This is not surprising given the fact that as far back
as 1390, Sospel found itself at the heart of all defensive
strategies of the French army.
Don’t
miss
the 11th century bridge which now houses the main tourist
office, the squares of Saint Michael and Saint Nicolas,
the "rue de la Republique," and the Chapel of
Saint Croix. The GR52 path leaves Sospel and winds its
way through the Mercantour National Park and the Valley
of Marvels. And don’t miss the forts of Barbonnet
and Saint Roch which were major defensive edifices of
the old Maginot Line.
