Sospel
Sospel is a small town in the Alpes-Maritimes Département of France, near the Italian border and not far from Monte Carlo.
History
The town dates back to the 5th century, when it served as an important staging post on the royal road from Nice to Turin. The old toll bridge used by travellers to cross the Bévéra, built in the 13th century, still stands; renovated after World War II it now houses the tourist office. Ruins of a tower, part of a château belonging to the counts of Provence, are all that remain of the 14th century city walls.
According to one tourist website, the town today is "popular with cyclists, motorcyclists and fans of twisty-road driving."[1]
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.
Guidebook
A good guidebook in English can be obtained at no charge from the sospel06 website.[2]
References
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