What to see and what to do in Alta Val Susa e Chisone

The Tur d'Amun, in a dominant position over the Bardonecchia basin and the Borgovecchio, was born around the second half of the 12th century with military functions in order to control the outlets of the two valleys of Frejus and Rho and be visually in communication with the fortification by Bramafam. The residence of the legendary lord François de Bardonnèche originally had a mighty central tower 21 meters high, preserved up to the height of the battlements still in the 1920s. In the whole area, purchased in 1998 by the Municipality of Bardonecchia, an archaeological park is now set up which, by means of self-guided panels, allows to investigate the structures, their history and evolution over time. The tower can now be visited, of which the first two floors above ground have been recovered, parts of the small eastern tower, sections of the walls that delimited the downstream complex, the circular towers of the southern side and some service rooms.

Extended on the southern slope of the Susa Valley at an altitude ranging from 1,000 to 2,600 meters, the Park includes the areas of Chiomonte, Exilles, Oulx, Salbertrand and Sauze d'Oulx. Its purpose is to protect 700 hectares of mixed wood of white fir and spruce, unique in Piedmont. In the past, these forests have been exploited to obtain large beams used in civil and military engineering works, such as the Arsenal of Turin, the Basilica of Superga and the Venaria Reale. In addition, the wide variety of environments provides an ideal habitat for many animals: from birds of prey to mammals such as wild boar, deer and suede. Wolves have also returned in the park, frequent sightings since 1997.

Interesting frescoed testimonies both inside and outside.

The Torre Delfinale has a square-shaped structure composed of different stone materials. The building was built around the 14th century and served as the residence of Royal officials. In the middle of the 18th century, the tower was abandoned for reasons that are still unknown. In 1882 the tower was purchased by Minister Luigi Des Ambrois of Nevache. After his death, he passed ownership to the Municipality, which, in collaboration with the Superintendence for Architectural and Environmental Heritage of Piedmont, made it possible to restore it.

The Colombano Romean Ecomuseum in Salbertrand, in the Gran Bosco Natural Park, collects the memories of land and water of the community. The route includes: the hydraulic mill, which tells 800 years of exploitation of water, from feudal milling rights to the production of electricity; the school of the past and a set-up ethnographic; the common oven of the Oulme hamlet; the ancient charcoal maker and the lime furnace; the nineteenth-century ice box with the adjoining supply pond; the smoke-sauna built thanks to a project European conducted by the Politecnico di Torino; the site dedicated to the Glorious Return of the Waldenses. The tour also includes the splendid parish church of St. John the Baptist and the chapel of the Annunziata di Oulme. Ancient buildings and artifacts present themselves to the visitor as examples of a past today to be discovered. For school groups and organized groups there are thematic accompaniments carried out by specialized guides and educational courses have been devised. In addition, since 2006, the cultural association Ar.Te.Mu.Da animates guided tours to the ecomuseum with theatricalized accompaniments.

Bramafam Fort was built between 1885 and 1894 with the function of controlling the Frejus Gallery. The fortification has a stone structure with concrete cover. He held a defensive role during World War II, becoming the seat of the 516th Border Guard Battery. After a period of neglect, the building was used as a museum area hosting environmental reconstructions, models of fortifications and artillery.

Accessible on foot from the hamlet of Horres. Interesting pictorial testimonies both outside and inside. Panoramic position above the Basin of Bardonecchia.

Objects that reflect everyday life.

Do you want to know the testimonies of the material culture of the old mountain village of Bardonecchia? Since 1954 there is the Ethnographic Civic Museum, housed in the nineteenth-century building once the seat of the municipal house. It offers an insight into the daily life and culture of mountain people, and illustrates the rhythms of the agricultural and pastoral economy that characterized the country before the advent of mass tourism. It collects objects, furniture, furnishings and tools, as well as a small section of sacred art. It is also possible to observe the local women's costume and the precious lace made in a ring, a traditional workmanship that is still practiced by some local women. Also on display are objects and work tools, photographs and vintage postcards depicting views of the time that was.

It houses on two floors the collection of testimonies of the local material culture.

53 religious buildings: 5 parish churches, numerous frescoed chapels and votive pylons. The churches and chapels constitute and contain an artistic and architectural heritage of great interest. Info www.barrdonecchia.it

Headquarters of the Museum of Alpine Religious Art

Rebuilt between 1826 and 1829 in the same area on which the primitive Romanesque church stood, the current parish church has two bell towers (the original Romanesque and the coeval dome) and important testimonies of sculpture and carving.

Built between 1694 and 1698 (original from 1487). Interior dominated by wooden carving. Decorations with garlands of flowers and fruits (bunches) are the work of carvers of the Melezet from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Accessible on foot, a country building of great interest as it retains significant frescoed cycles dated between the end of the 15th and 16th century (inside and outside)

Built in 1477. Among the furnishings stands out the retable of the high altar dated to the seventeenth century and the choral lectern one of the oldest evidence of the sculptural activity of the inhabitants of the Bardonecchia hamlet.

The antiquity of the building is evidenced by the small Romanesque bell tower. Rogational cross in pink marble on the outside, large retable, canvas by Our Lady of the Rosary with SS Hippolytus and Lorenzo, baptismal font in marble dating back to 1632 inside

Already mentioned in 1296. A single nave with polygonal apse oriented to the east and decorated with tuff ribs. The construction site dated to 1758 is remarkable. Inside there are significant fresco decorations.

Going up the Sommeiller carriage road you will find a crossroads that leads to the Decauville, created for the transport by rail of the materials necessary for the construction of the dam. Going along this flat path, on foot or by mountain bike, you will arrive at the area called Bacini on the slopes of Mount Jafferau from which to admire the majesty of the Alps.

Ring itinerary of about 60 miles. Departure from the Rock Cut

Just above Bardonecchia, there is the beautiful 'canal walk': a wide path crosses a forest and is surrounded by wood carvings produced over several years by many authors.

The Jafferau gondola lifts at an altitude of 2000 meters, offering a splendid view of the Bardonecchia basin. It is possible to take the gondola lift both on foot and by bike. At high altitude you can stroll to discover the many paths that wind on the slopes of the Jafferau with breathtaking views and panoramic points.

The village path consists of 14 stages to discover the soul of Bardonecchia and its historical and artistic treasures.

From the Grange di Valle Stretta follow the mule track that slightly descends through the beautiful pastures and, at the first fork, take a right to reach the bridge over the stream of Valle Stretta near a grangia. Continue along the path that follows the course of the stream in a suggestive environment immersed in the coniferous forest and with numerous springs. After a short uphill stretch you reach Lake Verde, a jewel with emerald colors.