Bobbio Pellice

Let's start with something simple: a hike in the hamlets and forests around Bobbio Pellice. This is a nice loop tour that starts from the town square and explores this part of the valley, between the villages on the south side and the forests on the north side.

In Bobbio Pellice, then, two fascinating paths end: the Roads of the Forts, the fourteenth and final stage of which, with a great descent in altitude, leads right from the Conca del Prà to the village, and the Glorious Repatriation of the Waldensians, an itinerary that retraces the route taken by the Waldensians and Huguenots in 1689 to return to Val Pellice, Val Germanasca and Val Chisone after being sent into exile for three years. Staying with the theme, those who walk theWaldensian Valleys Ring alsopass through these parts: the fifth stage, in fact, connects Bergerie Giulian to the Conca del Prà, passing through the Barricate locality, which recalls the 17th-century riots related to Waldensian repression.

The town of Bobbio Pellice is not far from some of the potential starting points, located in the Pellice Valley, of the Grand Tour of Monviso, an extraordinary 5-day high-altitude itinerary that offers breathtaking views of Monviso, the so-called "King of Stone."

But Bobbio Pellice also gives great satisfaction to bicycle enthusiasts. If you are a mountain bike lover, for example, the Val Pellice Refuge Tour starts right from Bobbio for a loop that touches the wooded Comba dei Carbonieri, a long and narrow valley; the Barbara Lowrie Refuge and the Barant Refuge, from which you can enjoy a wonderful panorama; the Peyronel Botanical Garden; and finally the Willy Jerwis Refuge, in the Conca del Prà, and the Pis Waterfall. A quieter alternative is the so-called shepherds' route, composed of back roads and forestry, which, in addition to being an excellent bicycle route that winds along the Pellice stream, also serves as a transhumance route for flocks and herds.

Another charming loop route is the one that leads from the bottom of the valley to Alpe Bancet and Col Content, through quiet mountain pastures and the remains of World War II fortifications. Or, there is theSarsenà - Serre Cruel - Punta Garin loop, which from Bobbio Pellice runs along both sides of the valley, through forests, villages and Waldensian monuments.

Finally, if you're into road biking, we recommend the climb to the Barbara Lowrie Refuge, which can be counted among the hardest climbs in Italy, with an average gradient of 10 percent and many points over 20 percent.

Finally, if you're into road biking, we recommend the climb to the Barbara Lowrie Refuge, which can be counted among the hardest climbs in Italy, with an average gradient of 10 percent and many points over 20 percent.

Around Bobbio Pellice the influence of the Waldensian church is felt even more strongly. A Torre Pellice, for example, there is the important Waldensian Museum, an ethnographic museum that reconstructs the history of the long-persecuted Protestant community, which only among these valleys has found relative peace. The museum is within what is called the Waldensian Quarter, which also houses the church and other buildings with essential but austere lines. Also in this regard, the locality of Angrognais home to several Waldensian temples of great interest.

In the nearby village of Villar Pellice, on the other hand, there is a very special place: theCrumière Felt Factory Ecomuseum, which makes it possible to learn a great deal about felt making; in this building, which once housed the factory, which went bankrupt in the 1980s, it is now possible to admire ancient looms and machines for spinning and felting fibers. The museum is run by volunteers, so visits must be arranged. In addition, engaging hands-on workshops for adults and children can also be held by reservation.