The long summer in the Cozie Alps Parks

The Parks of the Cozie Alps have prepared a rich program of initiatives to enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the protected areas during the summer of 2024. Compared to last year, there is a growth in proposals for excursions, guided tours, literary walks, workshops, exhibitions, shows, and concerts tailored for adults and children. Below is a general presentation; to consult the detailed program, click here.

With the Guides of the Cozie Alps Parks

The new list of official Guides, implemented at the end of 2023, includes 21 experienced naturalist guides who have proposed a truly diverse program of excursions and guided tours. After expanding the work with school groups who visited the Parks of the Cozie Alps during the spring, summer 2024 foresees a catalogue of activities focused on new topics and new protected areas to explore.

The guided excursions range from the blooming magiociondolo to mountain orchids, from aquatic macroinvertebrates to butterflies, from wolves to birdlife such as birds of prey and vultures, from the military history of the high valleys to yoga, all the way to deer bellowing and foliage towards autumn. Regarding the explored territories, in addition to the 4 Natural Parks of Avigliana Lakes, Orsiera Rocciavré, Val Troncea, and Grande Bosco di Salbertrand, the proposals also involve the Natural Reserves of the Chianocco and Foresto gorges, as well as 9 of the 16 sites in the Natura 2000 Network managed by the Park Authority. One curiosity of the summer involves some excursions with a group departing from Val Chisone and one from Valle di Susa that will meet for a joint activity at Col Bleiger in the Natural Park of Grande Bosco di Salbertrand.

New in 2024, guided treks with stays at the Montebenedetto Charterhouse lodge to immerse in the atmosphere of the Orsiera Rocciavré Natural Park with the extended rhythms of mountain life.

Activities for Children and Teenagers

It is important to instill environmental protection values, especially among the younger generations. For summer 2004, the offer of nature camps and activities for children is expanding.

In the Val Troncea Natural Park, the "Young Park Guardian Week" will be doubled after the success of last year. From July 15 to 19 and from August 26 to 30, games, workshops, and outdoor educational activities for children aged 7 to 12 will be organized from 9 am to 4 pm.

In the Natura 2000 Site "Cima Fournier and Lago Nero," the Young Ranger weeks developed by the Life WolfAlps Eu project will take place, with overnight stays at the Capanna Mautino refuge. From June 9 to 15 and from June 7 to 13 for middle school students.

In the Grande Bosco di Salbertrand Natural Park, the Young Ranger week aimed at high school students includes an itinerant trek.

Finally, in the Orsiera Rocciavré Natural Park, a summer itinerant camp endorsed by the Park Authority between the Amprimo, Toesca, and GEAT refuges will take place from June 23 to 29, from July 7 to 13, and from July 21 to 27 for primary school children, and from June 30 to July 6 and from July 14 to 20 for middle school students.

Thematic Meetings

Scientific communication on environmental and historical-cultural themes is an activity that the Cozie Alps Protected Areas carry out with their park rangers, technicians, and involving scholars collaborating on numerous research projects developed over the years. This wealth of knowledge and expertise enables the proposal of an interesting conference program targeted at visitors of the Chisone Sangone and Susa valleys in the summer of 2024. Biodiversity will be discussed, and themes such as entomology, studies on vultures and birds of prey, ungulates, and large predators will be deepened. Also, biologist Marco Granata will hold two conferences on stoats and biologist Camille Mermillon will talk about her studies on birdlife from Val Troncea to Antarctica.

Culture at the Montebenedetto Charterhouse

The extraordinary Carthusian abbey built between the 12th and 13th century offers an ideal setting for shows, music, and exhibitions. It will host painters Raffaele Iovine and Antonia Bagnato, photographs by Claudio Rovere, Chianocco Click Club, and Bruzolo Photographic Group, as well as the splendid watercolors of park ranger Valentina Mangini and former park ranger Elio Giuliano.

In addition to exhibitions, the theatrical show "Small mountain schools" curated by ArTeMuDa, and the concerts of CorOulx and the polyphonic choir DiVentoCanto from Sant'Ambrogio di Torino will be performed.

120 years since the Beth tragedy

In April 1904, an avalanche caused the death of 81 miners working in the Beth mines in Val Troncea. In the last 20 years, a series of discoveries have significantly deepened historical knowledge related to the economic and entrepreneurial structure that led to the exploitation of the mines. On the occasion of the 120th anniversary, park rangers Domenico Rosselli and Bruno Usseglio will share the most recent studies and revelations, and the film "The Beth Mines in Pietro Giani's Footsteps" by Fabio Solimini Giani will be screened.

The Colombano Romean Ecomuseum

In Salbertrand, guided tours of the Colombano Romean Ecomuseum will be organized every Tuesday and Thursday from June 25 to September 5. On the feast day of San Giovanni, free guided tours will be available at the Hotel Dieu and the water mill. Throughout the summer, there will be theatrical guided tours by ArTeMuDa.

From July 17 to August 21, every Wednesday from 9 am to 5 pm, the Hotel Dieu at Via Roma n.88 in Salbertrand will be open thanks to the French Linguistic Service (French linguistic desk): from 9 am to 3 pm, information and conversations will be offered. Also, language activities and musical walks will be carried out.

Cozie Alps Golf Trophy

The second edition of the trophy established by the Parks of the Cozie Alps will take place on courses within the protected areas managed by the Authority and, in addition to Pragelato, Sestriere, and Avigliana, will include Claviere in 2024.

Typical Cheese of the Cozie Alps Parks

During fairs and food events, the Parks of the Cozie Alps organize cheese making demonstrations and tastings of the Typical Cheese of the Cozie Alps Parks and products from the high pastures located within the boundaries of the protected areas.

Visitor Centers, Museums, and Information Points

In addition to the territory of the protected areas and the event program, the Parks of the Cozie Alps offer visitors their headquarters, museums, and information points where staff are available to all visitors. For the summer opening hours, always refer to the program.