The Glorious Return of the Vaudois

Saturday, July 23th - From Salbertrand to Montagne Seu
We move our first steps from Salbertrand battle ground, where the Vaudois defeated the allied troops of France and Piedmont. After a look at the beautiful Saint John medieval church, we hike the Gran Bosco for the Arlaud lodge, in an ancient hamlet. We dine by candlelight, because there is no electricity in Montagne Seu! (4,2 km, 1h40 of walk, ascent 730 m, descent 20 m).

Sunday, July 24th - From Montagne Seu to Mulino di Laval
We continue our walk to the Costa Piana Pass, then we gradually climb down to Pragelato, in the Chisone valley. We will not stop at the village, but will move on, past the Olympic ski jumping ramps, to enter the wild Troncea Valley. Our accommodation will be a lodge in an old mill, not far from the Joussaud hamlet, where the Vaudois actually spent the night, after the battle. (17 km, 6 hour walk, ascent 850 m, descent 1000 m)

Monday, July 25th - From Mulino di Laval to Massello
It’s the Alps, for real! High mountain climb, today, up to the Colle del Pis (2614 m). Then we gradually walk down on high pastures, dotted with Edelweiss, in the Valloncò Valley. We pass by the magnificent Pis waterfall, and finally hit the bottom of the valley at La Balziglia hamlet. This was the Vaudois last refuge in 1698. A tiny trail along the river will lead us to our lodge. (21 km, 7 hour walk, ascent 880 m, descent 1490 m)

Tuesday, July 26th - From Massello to Rodoretto
We walk on comfortable forest pathways, visiting the various hamlets of Massello, then we move on towards Didiero, where we check out the local elementary school, financed in the XIX century by British general Beckwith. Through the Serrevecchio pass we reach Rodoretto, and visit the museum. With a short drive a bus takes us back to our lodge in Massello. (10 km, 4 hours walk, ascent 850 m, descenta 560 m).

Wednesday, July 27th - From Rodoretto to Ghigo di Prali
A short climb to the Golmont pass, still deep in the forests, and we are in sight of the main Germanasca Valley and the small town of Ghigo di Prali, where we will go deep in Vaudois culture and lifestyle, visiting the museum and the temple. (6,7 km, 3 hours, ascent 650 m, descent 650 m).

Thursday, July 28th - From Ghigo di Prali to Alpe Crosenna
The Giulian Pass was the last climb of the Vaudois. On the other side of the mountain the Val Pellice was their land and their heritage. We will reach the pass with the Sette Laghi chair-lift and comfortable military roads. We climb down the valley, reaching the small hamlet and the lodge of Alpe Crosenna, having as neighbors for the night the shepherd, his family and his herd of cows (16 km, 5h30 walk, ascent 780 m, descent 1300 m).

Friday, July 29th - From Alpe Crosenna to Torre Pellice
Step by step we reach Villanova, the first village along the Pellice river. We will follow the stream all the way to Bobbio, and, with one last effort, climb to Sibaud with an half hour walk. In Sibaud Vaudois soldiers and officers signed their oath of solidarity, swearing not to use their weapons against each other. We then reach Torre Pellice by public bus, for a nice dinner together in trattoria and a visit to the Vaudois Museum (9,2 km, 3 hours walk, ascent 230 m, descent 950 m).

Saturday, July 30th - From Torre Pellice to Vigne di Rorà
In the morning, short walk (optional) to the family house of Giosuè Gianavello, a hero during the persecution known as the Pasque Piemontesi (Easter Day of 1655), when more than 1700 civilians were tortured and killed by troops of the duke of Savoy. Gianavello was also the author of the “instructions”, a guerrilla booklet the Vaudois army closely and successfully followed in their Glorious Return. In the afternoon, a public bus will bring us to Pinerolo.

Note: in case of bad weather conditions, the program may change (the valleys offer very interesting cultural alternatives). The trip is open to both Italian and English speaking participants. All explanations will be in both languages.