Valle Gesso
Encyclopedia
Valle Gesso is a valley in the Maritime Alps
(south-western Alps
), located in the Italian province of Cuneo
and crossed by the Gesso torrent.
The language spoken by the inhabitants belongs to the Occitan language family.
(3,297 m). Its territory is divided between the municipalities of Entracque
, Roaschia
, Valdieri
and Roccavione
. Nearby valleys include the Valle Vermenagna, the Tinée valley
in France and the Valle Stura di Demonte. After Valdieri, the valleys divided into two sub-valleys known as Valle Gesso di Entracque and Valle Gesso della Valletta.
, who were defeated by the Romans
in 14 BC. After the fall of the Roman empire, around 600, the Benedictines founded here the Abbey of Pedona, which controlled the valley until emperor Louis I gave it to the bishops of Asti in 901. In the 13th century, after a short period under the Marquisate of Saluzzo
, it was acquired by the Angevines
, who had created a county in Piedmont with Cuneo
as its capital.
After the 14th century it became a fief of the Duchy of Savoy
, to which it belonged until the 19th century, aside from a short French rule after the French Revolutionary Wars
. The Savoy family created here a resort and a personal hunting reserve, which later became the Maritime Alps Natural Park. As a part of the Kingdom of Italy
from 1861, the valley remained economically based on animal husbandry and agriculture; after World War II
the presence of hydro-electric plant favored the creation of industries (especially cement plants), while tourist became increasingly relevant starting from the 1980s.
Maritime Alps
The Maritime Alps are a mountain range in the southwestern part of the Alps. They form the border between the French département Alpes-Maritimes and the Italian province of Cuneo. The Col de Tende separates them from the Ligurian Alps; the Maddalena Pass separates them from the Cottian Alps...
(south-western Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
), located in the Italian province of Cuneo
Province of Cuneo
ayr is a province in the southwest of the Piedmont region of Italy. To the west it borders on the French region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur ....
and crossed by the Gesso torrent.
The language spoken by the inhabitants belongs to the Occitan language family.
Geography
The valley is home to the highest peaks in the range, those of Monte ArgenteraMonte Argentera
Monte Argentera is a mountain in the Maritime Alps, in the province of Cuneo, Piedmont, northern Italy. With an elevation of , it is the highest peak in the range....
(3,297 m). Its territory is divided between the municipalities of Entracque
Entracque
Entracque is a small town in the Valle Gesso of the Maritime Alps of north-west Italy, about 20 km southwest of Cuneo and close to the French border...
, Roaschia
Roaschia
Roaschia is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 90 km south of Turin and about 15 km southwest of Cuneo....
, Valdieri
Valdieri
Valdieri is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 90 km southwest of Turin and about 15 km southwest of Cuneo, on the border with France...
and Roccavione
Roccavione
Roccavione is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 90 km south of Turin and about 9 km southwest of Cuneo.Located in the Valle Vermenagna, it is also known as "the Alps' gate"....
. Nearby valleys include the Valle Vermenagna, the Tinée valley
Tinée
The Tinée is a river that flows through the Alpes-Maritimes department of southeastern France. Its source is on the east side of the Col de la Bonette, in the Maritime Alps. It flows through Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, Isola and Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée, and it flows into the Var near Utelle.-External...
in France and the Valle Stura di Demonte. After Valdieri, the valleys divided into two sub-valleys known as Valle Gesso di Entracque and Valle Gesso della Valletta.
History
Historically, the valley was inhabited by the LiguresLigures
The Ligures were an ancient people who gave their name to Liguria, a region of north-western Italy.-Classical sources:...
, who were defeated by the Romans
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
in 14 BC. After the fall of the Roman empire, around 600, the Benedictines founded here the Abbey of Pedona, which controlled the valley until emperor Louis I gave it to the bishops of Asti in 901. In the 13th century, after a short period under the Marquisate of Saluzzo
Marquisate of Saluzzo
The Marquisate of Saluzzo was an historical Italian state that included French and Piedmont territories on the Alps.-Marquisate territories:The Marquisate of Saluzzo occupied parts of the provinces of Cuneo and Turin, and at times areas now under French control. However, Saluzzo was historically...
, it was acquired by the Angevines
House of Anjou
The Angevins, also known as the House of Anjou, were a noble family founded in the early years of the Carolingian Empire. They first emerged as part of the minor feudal nobility, in what would soon be known as the Kingdom of France during the 10th century...
, who had created a county in Piedmont with Cuneo
Cuneo
Cuneo is a city and comune in Piedmont, Northern Italy, the capital of the province of Cuneo, the third largest of Italy’s provinces by area...
as its capital.
After the 14th century it became a fief of the Duchy of Savoy
Duchy of Savoy
From 1416 to 1847, the House of Savoy ruled the eponymous Duchy of Savoy . The Duchy was a state in the northern part of the Italian Peninsula, with some territories that are now in France. It was a continuation of the County of Savoy...
, to which it belonged until the 19th century, aside from a short French rule after the French Revolutionary Wars
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
. The Savoy family created here a resort and a personal hunting reserve, which later became the Maritime Alps Natural Park. As a part of the Kingdom of Italy
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
from 1861, the valley remained economically based on animal husbandry and agriculture; after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the presence of hydro-electric plant favored the creation of industries (especially cement plants), while tourist became increasingly relevant starting from the 1980s.