Usseaux

Usseaux, the alpine villages of quiet living

The Name

Usseaux with its five mountain villages awaits in the enchanting backdrop of the Cottian Alps where Patouà, a variant of the Occitan Language once spoken in southern France, is still spoken.

The name has probably Celtic origins "uxellos = high”.
This area was traversed by Julius Caesar in ancient times, who cites in his "De Bello Gallico" a village called Occellum.

History

working in progress

THE ALPINE VILLAGES OF USSEAUX

The small village of Usseaux in the Alta Val Chisone was in the past, and is still today, an example of agricultural and rural reality of high mountains.
Usseaux, Balboutet, Laux, Pourrieres and Fraisse are five small mountain villages, among the oldest in the valley, laying in a charming mountain setting. The stone and wood houses one against each other, the fountains, washbasins, bread ovens together with the old mill are the signs of the culture, language and traditions of the peoples who have lived there over the time.
A place where you can discover the life of ancient times as well as today lifestyle, enjoying the beauty and tranquillity that nature offers, learning about history, culture and traditions of this land, the high Chisone Valley.
Going along the alleys of Usseaux, the main hamlet, you can admire the mural paintings; this is the reason why this village is known as the village of bread and murals. Forty murals representing the rural life, the world of nature and animals and fairy tale characters as well as the oven, the water mill and the parish church of San Pietro.
Not far from Usseaux, along the road to Pian dell’Alpet, is the hamlet of Balboutet, the land of sun, sundials and swallows. This is a small agricultural centre, known for the cattle and for the production of cheese; 20 sundials on the walls of houses and in Piazza del Sole illustrate the different typology of time measurement and propose an ideal educational path in the solar system.
On the right bank of the river Chisone you can visit Laux, the township water, lying on a small plateau, with its small natural lake. It is one of the most intact alpine village of the entire valley: the church with the ancient sundial and the square of requests recalls the Waldensian community.
Then is the village of Pourrières, the hamlet of the Assietta, overlooking the street for Sestriere, with the ancient church and the small cemetery and, upstream, the Valley of Cerogne and the Pass of Assietta.
The last upstream village is Fraisse, the hamlet of wood, surrounded by forests and thick vegetation, ran by the river Chisone.

Five little villages and the wonderful Pian dell’Alpe, a unique natural environment, rich in forests and lush meadows, with beautiful spring blooms and fascinating landscapes covered with snow.
Two natural parks: the Orsiera Rocciavrè and the Gran Bosco of Salbertrand make this area one of the richest in flora and fauna of the Alpine valleys of Piemonte.

The mountain villages of Usseaux offer many opportunities for quiet walks, also with snowshoes, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding along trails and military roads, skis itineraries.
You can also fish at Lake Laux, paragliding at Pian dell’Alpe, and walking along pathways within the villages.

The mountain villages of Usseaux: a destination for a quiet holiday in contact with nature, in the spectacular setting of the Cottian Alpes not far from Fort of Fenestrelle and the Olympic facilities in Pragelato and Sestriere.

Local Products

Wood crafts.

Cheese, including the “Plaisentif " - cheese of the violets - made with milk from the early days of summer pasture, which is rich of flower essences and is matured for at least eighty days. This cheese, already popular in the Middle Ages, was rediscovered thanks to the ancient recipe of Poggio Oddone (Perosa Argentina).

The Atelier of painting (stone-wood-Meridian) and the “Lino delle Fate” (knitting and embroidery creations) are actually more to be discovered.

Local dishes