Alla scoperta della Valle Stura di Demonte
La Valle Stura di Demonte, situata tra le Valli Gesso, Grana e Maira, è segnata dal tracciato dell'omonimo fiume e mette in comunicazione la Provincia Granda con la Valle dell'Ubaye in Francia attraverso il Colle della maddalena, a 1996 metri s.l.m.
Questa valle cuneese, infatti, grazie alla sua posizione è stata da sempre luogo di facile transito per attraversare le Alpi.
Abitata dai Liguri, fu conquistata dai Romani in epoca augustea che insediarono a Pedona, l'attuale Borgo San Dalmazzo, una stazione doganale detta "Quadragesima Galliarum". A partire dal V secolo fu oggetto delle invasioni barbariche e, successivamente, dalle incursioni saracene.
Evangelizzata dai monaci dell'Abbazia di San Colombano di Bobbio che fondarono l'Abbazia di San Dalmazzo di Pedona, fu feudo del vescovo di Torino fino al XXII secolo quando passò sotto il dominio del Marchesato di Saluzzo. Dopo anni di contese con il Comune di Cuneo, legato agli Angiò, la Valle Stura di Demonte, infine, fu conquistata interamente nel 1588 dai Savoia.
La presenza dei sabaudi coivolse la valle in diverse conflitti militari con i francesi, gli spagnoli e le truppe napoleoniche. Per questo motivo vennero costruite diverse opere difensive, come il Forte della Consolata a Demonte ed il Forte Albertino a Vinadio a cui si aggiungono le opere difensive innalzate nei due conflitti mondiali.
Con uno sviluppo di circa 60 km, è caratterizzata nella parte bassa da pendii dolci e ampi spazi, mentre comincia a restingersi a Vinadio fino alle "Barriccate" di Pontebernardo, superate le quali si apre su prati e boschi di conifere.
L'Alta Valle Stura conserva ancora paesaggi incontaminati, antiche case alpine e resti di vecchie fortificazioni.
Compresa all'interno del Parco Naturale delle Alpi Marittime, comprende almeno 11 cime al di sopra dei 2800 metri, tra cui il Monte Tenibres ed il Corborant che superato i 3000. Grazie alla sua fitta rete sentieristica, offre la possibilità di effettuare trekking, escursioni, alpinismo, arrampicata sportiva e sci nordico e di discesa rispettivamente negli impienti di Festiona ed Argentera.
In bassa valle, a Festiona di Demonte e a Gaiola, è possibile, invece, praticare kayak, rafting, canoa e pesca lungo il fiume Stura.
Tra le località da visitare ci sono: Demonte, con il suo centro storico e la via porticata; Vinadio con il Forte Albertino, il Santuario di S.Anna, il più elevato d'Europa, e le terme; Pietraporzio con l'Ecomuseo della Pastorizia di Pontebernardo; Aisone con i resti dell'antico acquedotto medievale e le abitazioni del vallone di Rio Borbone con i tipici tetti in paglia di segale; Ferrere, frazione di Argentera, abitata solo nei mesi estivi e dove gli usi, costumi e strumenti dei contrabbandieri rivivono all'interno di una casa museale.
La Valle Stura di Demonte, ricca sia dal punto di vista artistico e culturale che sportivo e naturalistico, è anche interessante dal punto di vista del turismo gastronomico. Qui si possono gustare i sapori tipici della cucina alpina come la polenta, le carni, i formaggi ed i salumi. I più rappresentativi sono l'agnello sambucano, la lumaca helix pomatia alpina, i crousét, tipica pasta della valle, il miele e le castagne.
Discovery Stura Valley
The Stura Valley, located between the Gesso, Grana and Maira Valleys, is marked by the route of the homonymous river and connects the Granda Province with the Ubaye Valley in France through the Colle della Maddalena, at 1996 meters above sea level.
This Cuneo valley, in fact, thanks to its position has always been an easy transit place to cross the Alps.
Inhabited by the Ligurians, it was conquered by the Romans in the Augustan era who installed in Pedona, the current Borgo San Dalmazzo, a customs station called "Quadragesima Galliarum". From the fifth century it was the object of the barbarian invasions and, subsequently, of the Saracen raids.
Evangelized by the monks of the Abbey of San Colombano in Bobbio who founded the Abbey of San Dalmazzo in Pedona, it was a fiefdom of the bishop of Turin until the 22nd century when it passed under the dominion of the Marquisate of Saluzzo. After years of disputes with the Municipality of Cuneo, linked to the Anjou, the Stura Valley in 1588 was finally entirely conquered by the Savoy family.
The presence of the Savoy involved the valley in various military conflicts with the French, the Spanish and the Napoleonic troops. For this reason, were built several defensive works, such as the Consolata Fort in Demonte and the Albertino Fort in Vinadio, to which are added the defensive works raised in the two world wars.
With a development of about 60 km, it is characterized in the lower part by gentle slopes and wide spaces, while it begins to rest in Vinadio up to the "Barriccate" in Pontebernardo, beyond which it opens onto meadows and coniferous woods.
The Upper Stura Valley still preserves unspoiled landscapes, ancient alpine houses and remains of old fortifications.
Part of the Natural Park of the Maritime Alps, it includes at least 11 peaks above 2800 meters, between which Monte Tenibres and Corborant that exceeded 3000 meters. Thanks to its dense trail network, it offers the possibility of trekking, excursions , mountaineering, sport climbing and Nordic skiing and downhill respectively in the ski facilities in Festiona and Argentera.
In the lower valley, in Festiona and in Gaiola, it is possible, to practice kayaking, rafting, canoeing and fishing along the Stura river.
Among the places to visit there are: Demonte, with its historic center and the arcaded street; Vinadio with the Albertino Fort, the Sanctuary of S. Anna, the highest in Europe, and the thermal baths; Pietraporzio with the Ecomuseum of Pastoralism in Pontebernardo; Aisone with the remains of the ancient medieval aqueduct and the houses of the Rio Borbone valley with the typical rye thatched roofs; Ferrere, a hamlet of Argentera, inhabited only in the summer months and where the customs, habits and tools of the smugglers come to life in a museum house.
The Stura Valley, rich both from an artistic and cultural and from a sporting and naturalistic aspect, is also interesting from the point of view of gastronomic tourism. Here you can taste the typical flavors of Alpine cuisine such as polenta, meats, cheeses and salami. The most representative products are the Sambucano lamb, the snail helix pomatia alpina, the crousét, typical pasta of the valley, honey and chestnuts.
The Stura Valley, located between the Gesso, Grana and Maira Valleys, is marked by the route of the homonymous river and connects the Granda Province with the Ubaye Valley in France through the Colle della Maddalena, at 1996 meters above sea level.
This Cuneo valley, in fact, thanks to its position has always been an easy transit place to cross the Alps.
Inhabited by the Ligurians, it was conquered by the Romans in the Augustan era who installed in Pedona, the current Borgo San Dalmazzo, a customs station called "Quadragesima Galliarum". From the fifth century it was the object of the barbarian invasions and, subsequently, of the Saracen raids.
Evangelized by the monks of the Abbey of San Colombano in Bobbio who founded the Abbey of San Dalmazzo in Pedona, it was a fiefdom of the bishop of Turin until the 22nd century when it passed under the dominion of the Marquisate of Saluzzo. After years of disputes with the Municipality of Cuneo, linked to the Anjou, the Stura Valley in 1588 was finally entirely conquered by the Savoy family.
The presence of the Savoy involved the valley in various military conflicts with the French, the Spanish and the Napoleonic troops. For this reason, were built several defensive works, such as the Consolata Fort in Demonte and the Albertino Fort in Vinadio, to which are added the defensive works raised in the two world wars.
With a development of about 60 km, it is characterized in the lower part by gentle slopes and wide spaces, while it begins to rest in Vinadio up to the "Barriccate" in Pontebernardo, beyond which it opens onto meadows and coniferous woods.
The Upper Stura Valley still preserves unspoiled landscapes, ancient alpine houses and remains of old fortifications.
Part of the Natural Park of the Maritime Alps, it includes at least 11 peaks above 2800 meters, between which Monte Tenibres and Corborant that exceeded 3000 meters. Thanks to its dense trail network, it offers the possibility of trekking, excursions , mountaineering, sport climbing and Nordic skiing and downhill respectively in the ski facilities in Festiona and Argentera.
In the lower valley, in Festiona and in Gaiola, it is possible, to practice kayaking, rafting, canoeing and fishing along the Stura river.
Among the places to visit there are: Demonte, with its historic center and the arcaded street; Vinadio with the Albertino Fort, the Sanctuary of S. Anna, the highest in Europe, and the thermal baths; Pietraporzio with the Ecomuseum of Pastoralism in Pontebernardo; Aisone with the remains of the ancient medieval aqueduct and the houses of the Rio Borbone valley with the typical rye thatched roofs; Ferrere, a hamlet of Argentera, inhabited only in the summer months and where the customs, habits and tools of the smugglers come to life in a museum house.
The Stura Valley, rich both from an artistic and cultural and from a sporting and naturalistic aspect, is also interesting from the point of view of gastronomic tourism. Here you can taste the typical flavors of Alpine cuisine such as polenta, meats, cheeses and salami. The most representative products are the Sambucano lamb, the snail helix pomatia alpina, the crousét, typical pasta of the valley, honey and chestnuts.
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