Sospel
Sospel is a commune and former schismatic episcopal seat in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France near the Italian border and not far from Monte Carlo. And, from 1912 to 1932, Sospel even had a tramway system from Menton which had a length of 17,279 meters.
History and remains
The town dates back to the 5th century, when it served as an important staging post on the royal road from Nice to Turin. Its main monument is the former cathedral.- The old toll bridge used by travellers to cross the Bévéra, built in the 13th century, still stands. It was bombed by the Germans during World War II to prevent contact between the French Resistance and the Italians. Much of the town was destroyed. Renovated after World War II it now houses the tourist office.
- The ruins of a tower, part of a château belonging to the counts of Provence, are all that remain of the 14th century city walls.
Ecclesiastical history
;Suffragan anti-bishops of Sospel
- Bertrando Imberti, Friars Minor
- Pietro Marinaco, O.F.M., next Bishop of Famagosta
- Bartolomeo de Giudici
Population
Climate
Under the Köppen system, Sospel features an oceanic climate with warm-summer mediterranean climate influences. Influenced by its low altitude, Sospel experiences light frosts in winter and cool nights during the summer.Sospel in fiction
- The town of Sospel is mentioned in Daphne du Maurier's novel Rebecca, when Max de Winter declines an invitation from annoying social climber Mrs. Van Hopper on the excuse that he is driving to Sospel that day.
- In 1909 it was described in Gaston Leroux's novel, The Perfume of the Lady in Black, as
- Sospel is a setting in the 1977 mystery novel All Roads to Sospel by George Bellairs.