Discover 8 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Sospel (France). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Ouvrage Saint-Roch, Ouvrage L'Agaisen, and Sospel Cathedral. Also, be sure to include Col de Turini in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Sospel (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur).
Table of Contents
Ouvrage Saint-Roch
Also known as: Ouvrage de Saint-Roch
Ouvrage Saint-Roch is a work of the Maginot Line's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line, also known as the Little Maginot Line. Small for a gros ouvrages, the ouvrage consists of one entry block, one artillery block and two observation blocks overlooking Sospel at an altitude of 426 metres. The position is located just to the southwest of Sospel, its entrance block in a narrow valley and the artillery block on the other side of the ridge overlooking Sospel. The ouvrage is laid out along a single line, with the entry block to the rear, immediately followed by the usine, with barracks farther along and Blocks 2 and 3 at intervals. The position's main armament is concentrated in Block 4, a massive blockhouse designed to protect against rockfalls from higher up the mountain.[1]
Ouvrage L'Agaisen
Also known as: Ouvrage de l'Agaisen
Museum in Sospel, France. Ouvrage L'Agaisen is a work of the Maginot Line's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line, also known as the Little Maginot Line. The ouvrage consists of one entry block, two artillery blocks and one observation block above Sospel. Additional blocks were planned but not built. The ouvrage is located at an altitude of 663 metres on the Agaisen massif overlooking Sospel from the north. The position fired 1821 shots from Block 3's 75mm gun turret in 1940. It has an unusual 75mm gun turret in Block 3.
The ouvrage was built between 1930 and 1935, and was equipped from 1935 to 1937. L'Agaisen possesses an instruction casemate that was used to allow soldiers to practice attack and defense skills.[2]
Sospel Cathedral
Also known as: Cocathédrale Saint-Michel de Sospel
Cathedral in Sospel, France. Sospel Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church and former cathedral in the town of Sospel, France.
It was formerly the seat of the schismatic Bishopric of Sospel, created in 1378 from the Diocese of Ventimiglia during the Great Schism as the Avignon-obedience seat of the effectively split bishopric (the 'Italian' part remaining loyal to Rome with seat in Ventimiglia) and restored to Rome's papal rule and Ventimiglia's diocesan authority (after three anti-bishops) in 1412; formally recognized as abolished under the Concordat of 1801. It is now in the Diocese of Nice.
Apart from a belltower of either the 11th or the 13th century, from the Lombard period of Sospel's history, the cathedral was built between 1642 and 1762, and is claimed to be the largest building in the Alpes-Maritimes. The Renaissance façade is from 1642, and contains in two niches the statues of the town's protectors, Saint Hippolytus and Saint Absende. Inside, the principal feature is the altarpiece in carved wood in three panels, containing the figure of the "Immaculate Virgin of Sospel". It is by the artist François Brea, of a family of artists from Nice, from the 15th or early 16th century.[3]
Address: 3 Place Saint-Michel, 06380 Sospel
Col de Turini
Mountain pass in France. The Col de Turini is a high mountain pass in the Alps in the department of Alpes-Maritimes in France, situated entirely in the Arrondissement of Nice. The road connects Lantosque in the commune La Bollène-Vésubie, with Sospel in the commune Moulinet. It is the major road link between the river valley of the Vésubie and the Bévéra valley. It is notorious for its many hairpins and scenic landscapes.[4]
Address: Route de Turini, 06450 Sospel
Fountain
The Cabraïa fountain is located at Place de la Cabraïa, in Sospel, France.
Fontaine du Cours
The fountain of the Course is located in France in Sospel, in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.
It has been registered as a historical monument since 1931.
Chapelle des Pénitents Gris
The Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, formerly the Chapel of the Grey Penitents, is a Catholic chapel located in Sospel, France.
Chapelle Sainte-Croix
The Sainte-Croix chapel, or chapel of the White Penitents, is a baroque style chapel of the seventeenth century dedicated to the Holy Cross, Place Sainte-Croix, in Sospel in the Alpes-Maritimes. The building is registered as a historical monument December 10, 1949.