TREKKING
Trails and walks of varying difficulty to reach refuges and unforgettable views
What awaits you in Pellice valley
A stay in Torre Pellice
Torre Pellice is a town of about 4,500 inhabitants, located at an altitude of 516 m. in Pellice valley, the southernmost valley in the province of Turin, not far from the French border
It is a lively centre rich in history as it is the heart of Waldensianism and it is here that the Synod, the general assembly that expresses the unity of the Waldensian Churches, meets every year. Strolling in the wide pedestrian area, the Waldensian Museum, the Library and the Waldensian College are definitely worth a visit to understand the interesting evidence of Protestant culture in the Valley.
Starting from Torre Pellice, however, it is also possible, in just a few minutes by car, to reach the upper valley with its great variety of trekking trails, alpine refuges and cycling routes
To find out more also visit InValPellice
HISTORY and CULTURE
Museums, historical sites and guided tours to understand the history of the Valley and its Waldensian traditions
SPORT
Ice sports and cycling routes and climbing walls
Sports and cultural events
In Torre, the moments of gathering are varied:
The ‘Giorgio Cotta Morandini’ Olympic Ice Rink is a facility at the service of the community and sport. It is the home rink of the HC Valpellice Bulldogs ASD, but once the games are over, it is possible to ice skate and attend the numerous events that are organised
The Waldensian Temple hosts numerous concerts throughout the year, at Christmas, in summer and during local events
Every year on the evening before 17 February throughout the Valley, bonfires are lit as a significant moment of remembrance of the Letters Patent with which Carlo Alberto put an end to centuries of discrimination against the Waldensians in 1848. It is exciting to watch the torchlight processions that lead to the lighting of the bonfires, the songs, the concerts, the meetings, a day that can be full of meaning for everyone, reminding us all that “living as free men, not only to say and do freely, but to be free, is the result of a long battle, never concluded”
A bit of history
The town of Torre Pellice consists of a small, characteristic historical centre and owes its name to the tower built on the hill (known as the Forte) behind the town, around the year one thousand
From the 13th century onwards, its history is closely linked to the events of the Waldensian people due to the presence in the valley of numerous families adhering to the movement, which arose in France in the 12th century, through the work of Pietro Valdo
Starting in the 16th century, the town, like the entire valley, was marked by the events of the Waldensian persecutions, until 17 February 1848 when King Carlo Alberto, with the signing of the ‘Lettere Patenti’, granted the Waldensians civil and political freedom. The spirit of freedom and democracy that has always distinguished the local community accompanied Torre Pellice even during World War II, and is still palpable today in many details that can be perceived by living it for a few days, visiting the cultural realities and participating in the events
The territory also extends into numerous hamlets, mostly hilly and mountainous, and in a few kilometres by car, you reach Villar Pellice and then Bobbio Pellice, heading towards the end of the valley
There are many places that can be the destination of a peaceful walk, but also the starting point for hikes to the surrounding alpine refuges and peaks. The Pellice valley also boasts a rich gastronomic tradition, linked to the Waldensian world and the Piedmontese culinary tradition, much appreciated outside Piedmont and Italy
