Sospel was struck by a plague epidemic, and following the vow of the population, the Saint Michael Cathedral (1641-1762) was erected on the site of an old church from which the 13th-century Lombard bell tower remains.
The cathedral is located on the square of the same name, a very important agora in the past. With two penitents’ chapels: Red and Gray, this square contains three religious buildings. Italy is not far away, as the Bรฉvรฉra flows into the Roya in Italian territory. Turning around, one can see a medieval house with arcades, where Pope Pius VII stayed in 1809.
There used to be many houses with arcades, allowing people to move around Saint Peter Street, protected from bad weather and the intense summer sun. This street was very commercial. One can still discern the old arcades on the faรงades. We cross the river; several crossings are possible, but we will choose the Vieux Bridge with its ancient toll booth for the gabelle at its center.
This bridge is the symbol of Sospel. We will find two chapels: the Sainte Croix Chapel from the 16th century, maintained by the white penitents, whose order is very old, dating from 1398. This place of worship was built instead of a church dedicated to Saint Nicholas, and the 11th-century apse still remains. The second chapel is near the hospital, abandoned, and is thought to have been under the protection of either Saint Francis, located on its square, or Saint Eloi, the name of the hospital.
Leaving the village, about 1 kilometer away, is the Saint Gervais Priory from 1180, where the Templars once stayed. Our exploration of the spiritual sites of Sospel will end at the cemetery. The latter is on the road to Fort Saint Roch, one of the many defense works of Sospel and France against Italy.
A tomb chapel at the entrance is dedicated to Saint Anne, which is unusual for such a place typically dedicated to Saint Joseph or Saint Roch. We have discovered the rich religious heritage of this village. We will add that the cathedral is one of the largest churches in our department.
For the return journey, we will have the choice between the train or a bus that will take us down to Menton, providing an opportunity to discover the village of Castillon and the remains of the old tramway.
Thierry Jan.
