The Parco Naturale (Natural Park) Orsiera-Rocciavrè , is a large part of the Villar Focchiardo territory. Several itineraries can be suggested.
Born in 1980, it’s one of the biggest Park of Piemont which is located in the middle of the Chisone, Susa and Sangone Valleys. Its size is about 11.000 acres.
Orsiera comes from the Monte degli Orsi
(Bears Mountain) and Rocciavré from the
Monte delle capre (Goats Mountain).
The Park’s goal is to defend and keep the flora and the wildlife of
the Alps which are on its territory such as deer, chamois, ibexes, stoats, foxes, eagles,
badgers and the marmots, which became the Park symbol.
Vegetation is coloured by numerous colours thanks to the beech, birch, larch, chestnut trees and oak trees woods, to the conifers forests, to the mountain fields.
The paths have different difficulty levels, which allow everybody to discover the mountain.
Rough roads, which starts from the village allow to gain access to very exciting places or can be the beginning for several trips by foot or by mountain bike, inside or outside the Park territory.
The Sentiero dei Franchi (Francs Path)is in the Orsiera-Rocciavrè Park; abandoned during several years, this path has been opened in 1982.
It starts from Oulx to reach the Sacra of Saint Michael.
This path links the Sacra of Saint Michael with the other Chartusian sites of Susa Valley: the Montebenedetto and Banda Charterhouses, the Lady of Losa (Meana) and Oulx.
Several armies went on this path. Among them is the Charlemagne army, which came in Italy to fight the Long bards in Chiusa in 773.
The name of the path originated from this event.
Another major itinerary using Villar Focchiardo mountains is the Great Alps Crossing (GTA, Grande Traversata delle Alpi).
Going up the rough road leading to the Casotto-Fumavecchiamountain field, we can find a fork on the right which goes to the Montebenedetto Charterhouse.
To reach this place, you can also climb by foot from the village by a pedestrian way in 1h45 min.
The Carthusian monks, a contemplative monks order, arrived in our Valley in 1189 and settled in Losa, a little village located upside the Gravere district.
During the 13th century, they moved to Montebenedetto, where they stayed till 1498.
This move was the beginning of an economy system, which increased its size more and more: land donations, money and products such as food. A land patrimony was bought which gathered lands between Villar Focchiardo and Avigliana in the lower and medium part of the Susa Valley.
This good economical expansion is due to the House of Savoy generosity, to the Villar Focchiardo Baratonia Lords and to the Reano Lords.
Tommaso the First, son of Umberto the third the Happy, offered the field where the Charterhouse is currently, in 1210.
The Montebenedetto Charterhouse at 1180 meters high, in the Gravio Valley,
has a big church in the roman and gothic style with a single nave and vaults. Light comes inside by three large arc formed windows on both sides. Two other large windows let the light in, one illuminates the altar and the other, by the west side, illuminates the under roof with an opening forming a cross.
The abbey churchis in the central part of the court closed by the house where the monks used to live. An arc still visible adorns the access today, which is not very well conserved.
The Lady sat on a table with the Christ as a child, two angels next to her and three monks at her feet were represented on it.
The reasons why the Charterhouse was abandoned to move the monks community in lower slopes come probably from the difficulty to reach this place, the absence of new Saracen invasions in the Valley and the damages caused by the torrent in 1473.
The Charterhouse belongs today to particular owners who allowed restorations financially supported by the local administration and the Orsiera-Rocciavrè Park.
This allows the public to visit the whole structure, from June to September, with guided tours,
and to participate to numerous cultural events.
Part of the property is used as mountain pasture in summer.
The definitive move of the Carthusian monks from Montebenetto to the Banda Charterhouse happened in
1499.
This Charterhouse was abandoned too in 1598, with the move to Avigliana, and then to Collegno.
As for Montebenedetto, the church is orientated with the apse pointing to the east.
The most beautiful paintings have been transferred to the Susa cathedral in 1865.
On the Charterhouse remains is now the small village of Banda, 670 meters high.
Some residents lived in a part of the former building next to some remains.
You can reach these magical places by the rough road or by foot on a small path starting from the little village of Parore.
Located at 999 meters high the hamlet of Tampe,
ancient site composed of stone made such as chalets, cowsheds and barns,
is in a wood and offers a marvellous panorama on Villar Focchiardo and on the Susa Valley.
In 1h30 you can reach this hamlet by foot, following an old patch starting from the village or you can leave your car in the hamlet of Feisana, where another patch leads to Tampe.
This place is now abandoned, but events are organised here in May and August. These events attract Villar Focchiardo residents: the Saint Rita Chapel Day and the Hamlet Chapel Day.
People formerly living in the hamlets houses stayed in our memories: Melania and her love for songs and the mountains and her brother Vigiu, who, on becoming blind, didn’t wish to leave his soil, where everything was so familiar for him.
The edification of the Saint Rita Chapel, currently private, is due to them. This Chapel is located next to this hamlet.
Michele and Vincenzo, two brothers who, despite their rough looks, are always ready to welcome others and to talk a little bit, and are always with Melania and Vigiu.
After Montebenedetto, in 30min you can reach the Pra du Sap
at 1380 meters above sea level. It is a glade where, once a year, friends form the GAV meet in summer to party. However, you can continue your way to reach in 15min the
Refuge GEAT Valgravio which is 1485 meters high.
To reach the Pian dell’Orso, 1920 meters high, you have to make a half turn and take the rough road again, to follow it till the end by going to the
Cittadella and the Fumavecchia mountain field,
(a group of houses in the typical mountain style); from there, you can reach
Pian dell’Orso in 30 minutes following a little path going to the woods. The presence of bears on this plain gave the place its name. From this plain, you have a wonderful view of the lower Susa Valley from one side, and of the Val Sangone from the other side.
The Cappella della Trasfigurazione(Transfiguration Chapel), recently restorated, and its bivouac are here.
Not far from the Pian dell’Orso, following the Vento Pass, is the Ca’ d’ Marc, 1730 meters high. It’s a
shelter in the stone where several old drawings representing men and animals, have been done by Marco Delo, a solitary shepherd who lived at the end of the 9th century.
From the Pian dell’Orso, near a spring called Moutoun Rock, you can reach in 1h30 the
Colle del Vento at 2231 meters high, where you can observe mountains which are located inside of the Park: Rocciavrè mountain, 2617 meters high, the Cristalliera 2801 meters high, Malanotte 2736 meters high, the Pian Paris 2738 meters high, the Villano 2663 meters high and the valleys which separate these sites : Pian Reale, Cristalliera, Malanotte and Villano Gate Passes.
By looking down to the conch, you can admire the
Lago Rosso (Red Lake), 1920 meters high, which has a glacial origin. This lake is also known as Loo Lake or Pian delle Cavalle Lake. If you go down to this lake, you will reach the
Mustione glade, 1670 meters high, to arrive then to Montebenedetto.
So, the Charterhouse is the starting point to make the same but reversed itinerary, by going up to the Red Lake, and then by the Pian delle Cavalle to Pian Paris Peak or Villano Peak. Or else you can start by the Pian delle Cavalle, crossing the superb Cassafrera conch and continue to follow its valley to arrive at Malanotte Peak and then to Cristalliera.
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