Sulla collina tra Vignolo e Cervasca, poco lontano dal Colle San Maurizio sorge il Santuario di San Maurizio, luogo di culto già conosciuto nel XIII secolo.
Dedicato da sempre a San Maurizio, il santuario è anche conosciuto come Santuario Madonna degli Alpini da quando, nel 1961 si decise di cointitolarlo alla Vergine in virtù del fatto che San Maurizio è anche il protettore degli alpini.
Già nel secondo dopoguerra, infatti, il Santuario di San Maurizio fu la meta di culto degli alpini e dei reduci dalla campagna di Russia.
Il sito è diventato quindi il luogo dove si ricordano i caduti e i dispersi della Divisione Alpina Cuneense durante la II Guerra Mondiale. Toccante è vedere che all'ombra di piccoli pini sono state posizionate diverse lapidi e molte croci in ferro che riportano il nome degli alpini caduti.
Un'altra cosa che colpisce quando si giunge al Santuario di San Maurizio è la sua incredibile posizione ed il panorama eccezionale che permette di ammirare non solo Cervasca e Vignolo, ma anche l'arco alpino, la Bisalta e la pianura cuneese.
Il Colle San Maurizio già 2500 anni fa era un luogo abitato, come testimoniano i reperti ritrovati che fanno pensare alla presenza di un villaggio probabilmente di popolazioni che si dedicavano alla caccia e alla pastorizia. All'inizio dell'anno Mille viene costruito un grande castello difensivo che prende il nome di castrum Vignolii e dotato di mura, cammino di ronda, un torrione centrale ed una cisterna.
Distrutto nel XIV secolo, dopo che gli Armagnacci che lo ebbero utilizzato come base per le razzie sul fondovalle, rimase in pedi la Cappella romanica, già dedicata al culto di San Maurizio. Tra il XVI e il XVII secolo fu ampliata per accoglere i sempre più numerosi pellegrini fino a quando, all'inizio del XVIII secolo venne costruito un nuovo edificio e la vecchia chiesa prese il nome di San Matteo. Per tre secolo qui convissero 2 chiese fino a quando la Cappella di San Matteo, rovinata da un fulmine, fu demolita.
L'attuale Santuario di San Maurizio è un edificio di color bianco con tetto a capanna e un bel porticato che corre lungo tutti i suoi lati. Davanti e parzialmente di fianco si estende il cimitero simbolico fatto di cippi, croci e lapidi.
L'oggetto di culto più antico conservato all'interno del santuario è la settecentesca statua in legno di San Maurizio, usata per le processioni. E' possibile, inoltre, vedere la tela della Madonna degli Alpini ideata dal cappellano militare Don Turla che rappresenta la Vergine in trono sulle nuvole con in braccio il Bambino Gesù che stringe un mazzo di stelle alpine. Ai suoi piedi c'è una grossa aquila ed in basso una colonna di alpini e di muli. Lo sfonso è, invece, occupato da pareti rocciose tra cui spicca la maestosa sagoma del Monviso, simbolo del cuneese
E' possibile raggiungere in auto il Santuario di San Maurizio sia da Vignolo, che, più agevolmente da Cervasca passando per la frazione San Michele
Il Santuario può rappresentare anche una semplice occasione di trekking. Infatti, un sentiero di 25 minuti collega Colle San Maurizio a Vignolo ed un altro in un'ora permette di raggiungere a piedi Cervasca.
Da non dimenticare, poi, la presenza di una Bigbench, la numero 123 di color verde/rosso rivolta verso l'abitato di Vignolo e la Bisalta.
Sanctuary of San Maurizio in Cervasca
On the hill between Vignolo and Cervasca, not far from San Maurizio Pass stands the Sanctuary of San Maurizio, a place of worship already known in the thirteenth century.
Dedicated to San Maurizio, the sanctuary is also known as Madonna degli Alpini Sanctuary since, in 1961, it was decided to co-name it with the Virgin by virtue of the fact that San Maurizio is also the protector of the Alpine troops.
In fact, already after the Second World War, the Sanctuary of San Maurizio was the cult destination of Alpine troops and veterans from the Russian campaign.
The site has therefore become the place where are remembered the fallen and missing of the Cuneense Alpine Division during World War II. It is touching to see that in the shade of small pines several tombstones and many iron crosses have been placed bearing the name of the fallen Alpine troops.
Another thing that strikes you when you comes to Sanctuary of San Maurizio is its incredible position and the exceptional panorama that allows you to admire not only Cervasca and Vignolo, but also the Alps, the Bisalta and the Cuneo plain.
San Maurizio Pass was already an inhabited place 2500 years ago, as evidenced by the finds found that suggest the presence of a village probably of populations who dedicated themselves to hunting and pastoralism. At the beginning of the year 1000 was built a large defensive castle which took the name of Castrum Vignolii and equipped with walls, a walkway, a central tower and a cistern.
Destroyed in the 14th century, after the Armagnacci used it as a base for the raids on the valley floor, the Romanesque chapel, already dedicated to the cult of San Maurizio, remained standing.
Between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries it was enlarged to accommodate the increasingly numerous pilgrims until, at the beginning of the eighteenth century, a new building was built and the old church took the name of San Matteo. For three centuries 2 churches coexisted here until the Chapel of San Matteo, ruined by lightning, was demolished.
The current Sanctuary of San Maurizio is a white building with a gabled roof and a beautiful portico that runs along all its sides. In front and partially to the side, there is the symbolic cemetery made up of stones, crosses and tombstones.
The oldest cult object preserved inside the sanctuary is the eighteenth-century wooden statue of San Maurizio, used for the processions. It is also possible to see the canvas of the Madonna degli Alpini designed by the military chaplain Don Turla which represents the Virgin enthroned on the clouds with the Infant Jesus in her arms clutching a bunch of edelweiss. At its feet there is a large eagle and below a column of Alpine troops and mules. The background is, instead, occupied by rocky walls among which stands out the majestic silhouette of the Monviso, symbol of the Cuneo area.
It is possible to reach the Santuary of San Maurizio by car both from Vignolo and, more easily, from Cervasca passing through the hamlet of San Michele
The Sanctuary can also represent a simple opportunity for trekking. In fact, a 25-minute path connects San Maurizio Pass to Vignolo and another in an hour allows you to reach Cervasca by foot.
Do not forget, then, the presence of a Bigbench, the green/red numbered 123 facing the town of Vignolo and Bisalta.
On the hill between Vignolo and Cervasca, not far from San Maurizio Pass stands the Sanctuary of San Maurizio, a place of worship already known in the thirteenth century.
Dedicated to San Maurizio, the sanctuary is also known as Madonna degli Alpini Sanctuary since, in 1961, it was decided to co-name it with the Virgin by virtue of the fact that San Maurizio is also the protector of the Alpine troops.
In fact, already after the Second World War, the Sanctuary of San Maurizio was the cult destination of Alpine troops and veterans from the Russian campaign.
The site has therefore become the place where are remembered the fallen and missing of the Cuneense Alpine Division during World War II. It is touching to see that in the shade of small pines several tombstones and many iron crosses have been placed bearing the name of the fallen Alpine troops.
Another thing that strikes you when you comes to Sanctuary of San Maurizio is its incredible position and the exceptional panorama that allows you to admire not only Cervasca and Vignolo, but also the Alps, the Bisalta and the Cuneo plain.
San Maurizio Pass was already an inhabited place 2500 years ago, as evidenced by the finds found that suggest the presence of a village probably of populations who dedicated themselves to hunting and pastoralism. At the beginning of the year 1000 was built a large defensive castle which took the name of Castrum Vignolii and equipped with walls, a walkway, a central tower and a cistern.
Destroyed in the 14th century, after the Armagnacci used it as a base for the raids on the valley floor, the Romanesque chapel, already dedicated to the cult of San Maurizio, remained standing.
Between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries it was enlarged to accommodate the increasingly numerous pilgrims until, at the beginning of the eighteenth century, a new building was built and the old church took the name of San Matteo. For three centuries 2 churches coexisted here until the Chapel of San Matteo, ruined by lightning, was demolished.
The current Sanctuary of San Maurizio is a white building with a gabled roof and a beautiful portico that runs along all its sides. In front and partially to the side, there is the symbolic cemetery made up of stones, crosses and tombstones.
The oldest cult object preserved inside the sanctuary is the eighteenth-century wooden statue of San Maurizio, used for the processions. It is also possible to see the canvas of the Madonna degli Alpini designed by the military chaplain Don Turla which represents the Virgin enthroned on the clouds with the Infant Jesus in her arms clutching a bunch of edelweiss. At its feet there is a large eagle and below a column of Alpine troops and mules. The background is, instead, occupied by rocky walls among which stands out the majestic silhouette of the Monviso, symbol of the Cuneo area.
It is possible to reach the Santuary of San Maurizio by car both from Vignolo and, more easily, from Cervasca passing through the hamlet of San Michele
The Sanctuary can also represent a simple opportunity for trekking. In fact, a 25-minute path connects San Maurizio Pass to Vignolo and another in an hour allows you to reach Cervasca by foot.
Do not forget, then, the presence of a Bigbench, the green/red numbered 123 facing the town of Vignolo and Bisalta.
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