GERMANASCA VALLEY, TURIN

From Perosa Argetina toward the village of Pomaretto begin the Val  Germanasca.

Vines Wine Ramie climb the steep slopes that surround this narrow valley. The wine is rough and rugged as the people who produce it. It seems that in these areas there were vineyards as early as the fourteenth century.

From Pomaretto the road rises towards Perrero the capital of the valley. Immediately after Perrero are the old mines of Gianna that a group of young people has turned into a museum (Scopriminiera) dedicated to the hard work of the miner who once represented the main source of economic Germanasca Valley.
For more information: www.scopriminiera.it

Germanasca Valley is one of the places of origin and greater expansion of the Waldenses and their traditions. These places were a step in the "Glorious Return", which in 1689 reported in the alpine valleys of the Waldensian a small group who returned from Geneva.

Going to Prali you reach the junction for the Massello Valley. The Massello Valley became famous in history for the fierce resistance that the Waldenses returned with the "Glorious Return" opposed to the French troops under Marshal Catinat in 1690.
Four thousand French soldiers attacked 370 Waldensians who resisted and repulsed them in the village of Balziglia in a snowstorm.

The Massello Valley (or St. Martino valley ) is also remembered for being the "Republic of the Salt of the San Martino Valley " which had its capital in Perrero.
Created between 1704 and 1708 by Louis XIV (the Sun King) to enlist on his side the Waldenses against Vittorio Amedeo II of Savoy.
The "Republic of the Salt of the San Martino Valley " was so called because the inhabitants of the Republic had significant benefits on the cost of salt and could freely profess Valdese religious .

Then along the road finally arrives at Prali the touristic center of the valley. The chairlift in the winter, allowing skiers to reach the ski slopes. The slope  of Cross-country skiing and the ice rink offers a wide choice for winter sports.
 
In the summer, the chairlift is used as a starting point for trekking in the surrounding mountains that are part of the Alpine circuit, from Thirteen Lakes at Green Lake and then cross the border and arrive in France. In the last years it has also built a downhill path. Bicycles are carried in pointing to the chair and bikers have to try 3 different tracks in the dirt down.
Since the end of the chairlift can also paragliding.


For more information: http://www.nuova13laghi.com/




Notable people of Germanasca valley:

- LIDIA POET (1855-1930 PRIMA DONNA AVVOCATO IN ITALIA)
- PAOLO FERRERO (Pomaretto 1960, POLITICO)


RICETTE TIPICHE DELLA VAL GERMANASCA:
- WALDENSIANS SOUP
- GOFRI
- CAIETTES
- BAGNA CAODA
- AGNOLOTTI
- GENEPI