Vieux pont de Sospel, Medieval stone bridge in Sospel, France
The Vieux pont de Sospel is a fortified stone bridge with two arches and a central defensive tower rising from its span across the Bevera River. The structure connects both banks with a width of about 5.5 meters and a total length of 36 meters.
The structure was first mentioned in documents from 1217, but received its stone form in 1522. It developed into an important link between Nice and Piedmont.
The tower on the bridge once collected tolls from mule caravans carrying salt and goods between France and Italy through mountain passes. Visitors can still sense how crucial this location was for trade in the region.
The bridge is located at Place Saint-Nicolas in the historic center of Sospel and remains open to pedestrians. The tower and bridge pathways offer good photo opportunities and views of the surrounding streets and river.
German forces destroyed the bridge in 1944 during the war, but workers rebuilt it in 1957 using stones recovered from the river. This reconstruction with original materials makes it a rare example of war damage restoration.
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