Orsiera Rocciavrè natural park

A park for four seasons

The Orsiera Rocciavré Natural Park is located in the northern part of the Cottian Alps, in the territories pertaining to the Chisone, Susa and Sangone valleys.

The borders of the protected area run on average at an altitude of 1400 m and the most important peaks reach 3000 m: Monte Orsiera (2890 m), Monte Rocciavré (2778 m) and Punta Rocca Nera (2852 m). The Orsiera Rocciavré massif is mainly made up of ophiolites or green stones, while other rocks of the continental layer are found on the outskirts of the massif.

The "recent" history of the Park's mountains has erosion as its protagonist. The glaciations of the Quaternary era favored the presence of moraines, cirque lakes and glacial barriers (Lake Chardonnet, Lake Laus and Lake La Manica, Lake Sottano, Lake Soprano), mountainous rocks and U-shaped valleys. There are also accumulations of debris and active landslides, triggered by the disappearance of the glaciers and the reduction of the snowfields that held them back.

The landscape dotted with large stone blocks in the Cassafrera basin is particularly evocative, reachable from Colle del Vento, Colle di Malanotte or from the Pian Mustione and Lago Rosso path. The Park maintains an extensive network of paths that allow easy walks of a few hours, long treks lasting several days or crossings from one valley to another, following the routes of the GTA (Grande Traversta delle Alpi) or the G.O. (Giro dell'Orsiera).

Identity card

Land surface area (ha): 10,947.00
Piemonte region
Province: Turin
Municipalities of the Park: Bussoleno, Coazze, Fenestrelle, Mattie, Meana di Susa, Roure, San Giorio di Susa, Usseaux, Villar Focchiardo
Institution: Regional Law n. 66 of 05/16/1980
Official List of Protected Areas: EUAP0223
Managing Body: Ente di gestione delle aree protette delle Alpi Cozie
Tax code: 94506780017
The Park's offices are in Bussoleno in Via Massimo d'Azeglio 16, Tel. 0122.47064 - 011.4321015 and in Fenestrelle, Mentoulles hamlet in Via Nazionale 2, Tel. 0121.83757, info.alpicozie@ruparpiemonte.it

The Orsiera Rocciavré Natural Park was established in 1980 by the Piemonte Region to protect 11,000 hectares which extend over the mountain massif which separates Val Chisone from Valle di Susa and which closes the head of Val Sangone. It takes its name from the two most significant peaks: Orsiera, the highest mountain (2890 m), and Rocciavré (2778 m), the only peak common to the three valleys.

The only direct carriageable connection between the valleys is the Colle delle Finestre (2175 m), crossed by a very panoramic nineteenth-century military road and open to traffic only from June to October. The main reason for the establishment of the Park is the protection of a territory which has remained largely unrelated to the tourist development of the valleys that surround it and is today recognized within the Natura 2000 Network on the basis of the European Habitats and Birds Directives. The Orsiera Rocciavré Natural Park operates through offices located in Bussoleno, Fenestrelle, in the hamlet of Mentoulles and in Avigliana for Val Sangone. It has a laboratory dedicated to the environment and mountain culture, used for events and educational activities, located in the Argiassera village in Bussoleno.

Téléchargez la brochure du Parc (5,5 Mo)

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Depliant_Orsiera.pdf

The fauna

The fauna is varied and interesting. The geomorphological characteristics of the Park allow a favorable habitat for many species of animals.

Among ungulates, the chamois is the most easily observable, as it frequents open spaces at high altitudes, while roe deer and deer prefer wooded areas. In addition to the wild boar, which has nocturnal habits, a colony of non-native mouflons frequents the Park, while around fifty ibexes come from a reintroduction programme. Of note is the presence of the wolf which has spontaneously returned to populate the Park territories since the end of the 1990s.

The high altitude pastures, stony ground and shrub areas are home to a small, rare and precious fauna: in addition to the marmot, symbol of the Park, we find the ermine, the ptarmigan, the variable hare, the black grouse, the rock partridge. At lower altitudes, extensive coniferous forests are home to martens, badgers, foxes, squirrels, jays, tits and treecreepers.

There are over one hundred bird species recorded, including large birds of prey such as goshawks, buzzards, honey buzzards, short-toed hawks and golden eagles.

The minor fauna that animates clearings and forests in summer almost always goes unnoticed: lizards, slowworms, salamanders, frogs and an immense army of small, colorful and buzzing insects. The alpine lakes are inhabited by fish species such as brook trout and brown trout.

The flora

The flora consists of all the most important alpine species of Piedmont. The vegetal landscape is particularly interesting both for the wide altitudinal range of the protected territory and because the three valleys on which it develops have different climatic and pedological characteristics.

Each area is characterized by the trees that populate it: larches, firs and pine trees for the highest mountains, pines and downy oaks for the arid and stony slopes, alders and willows for the marshes, hornbeams and oaks for the hills and finally beech and lime trees for the shaded areas. The woods have their greatest exponents in Sapei, between Bussoleno and San Giorio, in the Susa Valley, and in the Scots pine forests in Pra Catinat in Val Chisone.

The culture

Alongside the flora and fauna, the Orsiera Rocciavré Park protects two historic buildings in its territory.

The Certosa di Montebenedetto (Municipality of Villar Focchiardo) dating back to 1200, was founded by Carthusian monks who spread the teachings of San Bruno from Grenoble to northern Italy. The Certosa is open to the public in the summer, is equipped with a guesthouse and is an evocative setting for cultural events.

The Forte di Fenestrelle (Val Chisone) represents the largest fortress in the Alps, built starting from 1728 to defend the border between Savoy and France. It rises from 1150 meters of Fenestrelle to almost 2000 meters of Pra Catinat, following the mountain ridge with bold stone walls that house the longest covered staircase in Europe (4000 steps). The structure is open to the public and hosts musical and theatrical performances.