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Origin and history

The Old Bridge of Sospel is a medieval fortified bridge located on the Bera River, in the municipality of Sospel (Alpes-Maritimes). Built from the second half of the 12th century, it served as a strategic axis between Nice and Piedmont via the Roya Valley and the Tende Pass. Its role was crucial for military trade and movement in this border region.

In 1217, an act first mentioned a bridge in Sospel, probably made of wood or stone. A partial reconstruction was witnessed in 1358, linked to the restoration of the enclosure and the local castle. In 1522, an arch collapsed, requiring a masonry reconstruction. The central tower, visible on a 1682 print, could date from the 17th century.

Despite the construction of a new bridge in 1773 for the Nice-Turin Royal Road, the Old Bridge was further improved in 1787 by Giacinto Donato, who rebuilt the north arch. Minished in 1944 by retired German troops, it was rebuilt in the same way between 1952 and 1957 with its original stones. Ranked a historic monument in 1924, it today symbolizes the medieval and military heritage of the region.

The bridge, 36 meters long, has two 14- and 15-metre arches opening, and a 5-metre-thick central pile. Its carriageway, 5.50 metres wide, reflects its use both civilian and defensive. The central tower, later added, reinforces its strategic character in a context of vigour and control of the channels of communication.

Sospel, the capital of Lantosque Valley and Vintimille County in the Middle Ages, drew its importance from its position on a major transalpine axis. The bridge, a key element of this infrastructure, illustrates the geopolitical and economic stakes of the region, between Provence and Italy.

Today, the Old Bridge and its tower are protected as historical monuments. Owned by the commune, they remain an architectural testimony to the exchanges between France and the Italian peninsula, as well as to the conflicts that marked this natural border.

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