Sospel: Mont Agaisen loop hike

Mont Agaisen (751 m) overlooking Sospel (350 m) in the Bévéra River Valley is one of the many summits in the region with Maginot Line fortifications. Towards the end of WWII, the Wehrmacht occupied Sospel and the surrounding mountaintops including Agaisen. After heavy fighting, Sospel was liberated in late October 1944.

Bévéra River Sospel

Sospel

GR52 north of Sospel

Mont Agaisen western flank

Today, Mont Agaisen has excellent hiking trails. The summit is a take-off point for paragliders, and the fortifications have guided visits in summer.

We started from the town centre/townhall on a busy market day and crossed the Bévéra River, then used stairs to signpost #72 near the local school. From here, we headed north along the GR52 trail, first along a paved road then along good trails on the western flank of the mountain. We reached a paved toad before signpost #75 where we left the GR52, forked sharply right and followed a yellow-marked trail in the woods. We walked past signpost #84 to #83 at Col de l’Agaisen (666 m). We took a detour to the summit with super views down to the Bévéra Valley, parts of Sospel and the surrounding peaks.

North of Mont Agaisen #84

Soon after signpost#84

View to south Mont Agaisen

View to north Mont Agaisen

After a break we returned to Col de l’Agaisen, forked right (east) along the GR52A which circled the mountain. Once on the southern flank, the descent gradually steepened but the trail mostly remained nice and soft. We crossed a paved road a few times, and passed the first houses before reaching signpost #81 by Chemin du Vier, not far from #72.

Climb: 420 m

Distance: 8,5 km

Duration: 3h 15

Map: 3741 ET Vallées de la Bévéra et des Paillons