Visits from Sospel Many people may be familiar with the Cote d’Azur that when you speak to those who have visited often find that they stick to just the coastal area rarely visiting farther inland. That in itself is a big shame simply because there are lots of things to see without having to venture too far. On visiting the Cote d’Azur one can that there are many people who are tiring of the so-called attractions along the coast finding them increasingly expensive while at the same time standards seem to be dropping. This has encouraged many of the more discerning visitors to start turning their attention to the towns and villages further inland. Staying at a bed-and-breakfast or hotel in Sospel — a village about 18 km from the coast has been a breath of fresh air for many people. They have found that they no longer have to confront the traffic and congestion along the coastal roads but instead have discovered a relatively traffic free (although quite narrow) and pretty routes up through the mountains. Sospel itself, is essentially very easy to get to either by road and rail or bus. By rail journey time is only a mere 45 minutes from the centre of Nice and about 40 minutes by bus from the coastal town of Menton. And from the auto route — the A8 — it’s just a 20 minute drive up from the coast. The history of source all goes back more than two millennia having been settled by the Picts, Romans — after whom it fell into a little bit of disrepair only to find favour again in the Middle Ages when it became popular with the princes of Savoy. Modern-day sospel reflects this rich history with early ruins still to be found in and among many middle-aged dwellings that are still in use today. Many people are surprised that for a town of only 3500 inhabitants there is, hidden at the back of the village, a cathedral of some note. That in itself is not the only interesting and historical offering the sospel has to give the discerning visitor. Around the village there are five Maginot line forts one of which can be visited most weekends and during the week in the summer while the others are open on special occasions for guided visits by local historians. Sospel is of course famous for its two arched bridge and the house that sits in the middle of it was inhabited until quite recently after which it was used as the tourist office until that outgrew the accommodation available there and moved to larger premises on the south side of the river. There are many things that visitors to sospel can take part in the village itself. Things like walking, hiking, mountain biking and more to suit the physically active. In fact on Mount Agasan to the north of the river there is a very popular launchpad for Hang glider enthusiasts. But the more sedate are catered for as well particularly those who were interested in architecture and history as there’s plenty of both within the village. Also you all within easy reach of many of the other villages nearby. One such is the village of luceram which every winter celebrates the theme of Christmas by richly decorating the town and constructing what seemed like hundreds of creches — which is what the French call the nativity scene — in some of the most unlikely places. You can get more details about this and watch a video on the Villa Amiel website.