THE OCCITAN VALLEYS - THE LAND
HISTORY, ART AND ARCHITECTURE
The area around Cuneo is on the border between Italy and France and for that it has always been of strategic importance for the passing trade and as conquer territory.
For this reason, on the Roman road toward France via the Maddalena Pass, it was built the abbey of Pedo Dalmatia, amonst the best examples of Romanesque of the surroundings.
The “Roads of the Gothic” leads us in the area around Saluzzo, to the work of the Cistercian monks, who built the magnificent Abbey of Staffarda in 1135, when the domination of the Marquisate of Saluzzo started.
This very powerful dynasty called to work to the court famous painters such as the Flemish artist Hans Clemer and the local master Pietro from Saluzzo.
The medieval architecture is characterized by the imposing fortifications as the castle of Manta and the ancient boundaries of Dronero.
The history of the Cuneo region is strictly connected with that of the kingdom of Italy and the Savoia family, which made the Castle of Racconigi one of its favourite summer residence.
From the architectural point of view, it is possible to admire great examples of Baroque art, such as the cloister of the Certosa di Pesio and the biggest elliptic dome of all Europe in the Sanctuary of Vicoforte Mondovì, built by the local architect Francesco Gallo.
Higher up in the mountans of Cuneo region, the alpine architecture is characterized by the use of stone and wood; recurrent elements are the round columns, the dome façades, the bifores, the têtes coupées… artistic treasures of rare beauty are guarded in the chapels scattered along the paths and tracks, where during II World War the Partigiani fought against German troops for the liberation of the country. Other interesting architectural element they are the forts, the massive constructions built in the period of the Savoia, as the Fort of Vinadio.
The history of Cuneo was made greater by important characters such as: Giovanni Giolitti, Silvio Pellico, Duccio Galimberti, Luigi Einaudi, Nuto Revelli, Lalla Romano…
THE OCCITAN REGION
The occitan flag contains the symbols and the history of this land without time.
The cross was the banner of Raymond Gilles, count of Tolosa, during the crusades, and it became soon the symbol of the region of Tolosa and then of the whole Occitan Region.
The red color testifies the bloodshed during the religious persecutions against Catari, Calvinists and Valdesi, while the gold represents the wealth of the region in the South of France, around the 1200.
Gold also represents the golden age of literature, that of the sublime compositions of the”troubadours”, celebrated by Dante in the Divine Comedy.
“Iu siu arnaud che piuru e vau cantand veu la passata coluro e spero enca la gioio che vai deman”, says in Occitan language the troubadour Arnaud Daniel to Dante when he met him in the Purgatory.
The small star with seven points is the symbol of the 7 occitan regions, but also it is the symbol of the Felibres, group of researchers of the troubadours and composers which used the ancient neoromance language. Among these, Frederic Mistral won the Nobel Prize for the literature in 1904.
The Felibres marked the rebirth of the occitan language that today in Italy is protected as minority language.
FOOD AND WINE
The occitan cuisine brings back the flavours of tradition, recipes guarded for centuries and prepared today in the numerous local restaurants: anchovies served with green or red sauce (anchovies were introduced in the traditional cuisine by the itinerant sellers of products conserved under the salt), handmade gnocchi made of flour and potatoes and accompanied by the vigorous taste of the king of the cheeses, the Castelmagno; wild boar marinated in wine and, at the end of the meal, a delicious pear pie, cooked in the woodburning oven. Wonderful food, to be tasted together with the full-bodied and intense taste of the wines of the mountain. Have a look at our tasting tours, and enjoy!
NATURE
The Valleys of Cuneo are characterised by spectacular nature, where it is possible to admire widelife and rare floral species, 360 degrees views and amazing scenaries. Among the most fascinating animals that populate these places there is surely the wolf, that has always lived the fables of the children and the stories around the fire of our grandparents. The presence of river that gush out from the tallest peaks enriches the peculiarity of this territory: the views around the Monte Matto, valleys engraved by the ices and mirrors of water set among the rocks, through some of the most spectacular landscapes of the Tre Marie Lake, the Visaisa Lake, the Apzoi Lake. Also the geological characteristics of the territory are unique and very peculiar and they result in natural beaty, such as the Gardetta plateau or the Ciciu of Villar San Costanzo.
SPORT AND FREE TIME
The Valleys of the Cuneo are an openair gym, ideal place for all the sports in contact with nature.
In the summer the mountain paths lead trekking lovers to the discovery of breath-taking views.
On a the mountain bike you can cross the field and lawns of the low valleys or you can follow the most impervious mule-track reaching high altitudes, enjoying of a wild and uncontaminated nature.
For those who want to experience a more extreme adventure, we offer mountaineering tours to the peaks of the Alpi Marittime or a kayak or rafting descent along the clear waters of the mountain streams.
After a long walk or an intense day of sport there are a lot of occasions to relax and takea care of the body, thanks to the healthy thermal waters that the Province of Cuneo offers.
Also in winter, when snow covers the mountains, the Occitan Valleys are the ideal place for an an unforgettable sport holiday.
With the snow-shoes you can discover sceneries of incredible beauty, surrounded by the silence of the mountains.
The ski mountaineering lovers can reach the high peaks and enjoy the meeting with the nature, undisputed protagonist of the territory.
The Valleys of Cuneo also offer plenty of opportunities for those who preferred alpine ski, in the Mondolé Resort.
