Imagine the Alps between 1200 and 1300. The weather was warmer than it was today, and the mountains were greener than white. Where the glaciers lie there were paths scattered among pastures and rocks. On the other side of the Alps there was the Rhone basin with the poverty of the lands and the increase in the population. These factors pushed the first small groups to cross the highest alpine passes. So was the beginning of the Epic of the Walzers, a people of Germanic origin, coming from Upper Valais.

Theirs was not a mass exodus. They migrated to small families that settled in still free areas, and when the lands began to bear fruit, new settlers were added to the first settlers. In this way the Walsers spread over the territory of Macugnaga, Alagna and Gressoney, located in the feet of Monte Rosa. The Walser emigration reached its peak in the 1400s and 1500s and then slowed down and extinct completely.

The interesting fact that, contrary to that time, their 'conquest' was certainly peaceful: the only 'weapons' that they were carrying their work tools and all they needed to survive. They also brought their customs: the style of the buildings and the dialects, traditions and folklore that are present and still vital today.

If the theme has intrigued you, visit the Walser Museum in Alagna that shows the daily life of this people, set in a typical Walzer style cabin. You can't miss the Walsertreffen, a big gathering that takes place every three years. The event will give you the opportunity to experience live the great culture of the Walsers: to feel the language, see the customs and learn about their traditions.