Location Molino, Massello – Usseaux

Frazione Molino, Massello 1131 m – Roberso 1188 m – Balsiglia 1370 m Bergers Lanson 2000 – Moremout 1544 m-Colle dell’Albergian 2713 – Laux 1359m – Usseaux 1446 m

The stage leads to Val Chisone, a bit long and with a considerable difference in altitude, but the effort is amply rewarded by the variety and beauty of the places crossed, in particular the area of the Pis waterfall and the pastures above. We recommend visiting the town of Usseaux, which is considered one of the most beautiful towns in Piedmont (in the town hall square there is a fountain from 1617 with sculpted coats of arms and French lilies)

From the stage stop continue on the road past the Roberso hamlet 1188 m, seat of the municipality, and the Balsiglia hamlet 1370 m, take the mule track (signpost 216) 0.20 hours which passes between the houses of that part of Balsiglia located on the orographic left of the Germanasca, and it climbs high above the stream, allowing you to observe the steep ridge between La Ciatel and Bric d’Autin. You soon reach Clot del Mian 1491 m, a small abandoned mianda located under a rocky crag with over a hundred-year-old beech trees. The mule track continues almost flat until it runs alongside the stream. among sparse larches and meadows now used as pasture, passing the ruined huts of Ciampas 1616 m and Ortiare 1628 m (on the other bank of the Germanasca you can see the beautiful Plans hut, on a ridge not touched by avalanches): you now in the vast pasture plateau of Crala Balmo, enclosed by a rocky bastion, about 220 m high, from which the beautiful Pis waterfall falls, the largest in the whole valley.

On a difficult to identify boulder on the plateau there is an important prehistoric rock engraving of a sub-naturalistic type which represents two deer (probably moose), a goat, another zoomorphic figure and a geometric figure.

After crossing the stream that descends from the Vergia valley, the mule track, expertly built on the rocky slope, climbs up with a long series of short bends next to the waterfall. You can thus admire in all its splendor the waterfall itself on the other side of the valley, the majestic north face of the Pelvo, a rocky spur that detaches from the Bric Ghinivert on which chamois love to hang out. Having reached the rocky crag, the mule track turns right and reaches the narrow grassy saddle on which the Lauson bergeria is located, 2000 m, 1.50 hours (source just below the mountain pasture) without touching the bergeria, it turns left (west) and, almost flat along the southern slopes of the Fea Nera which leads to a small valley rich in spring water which you overcome with a few hairpin bends until you come out at På då Senas at around 2210 m, located in front of the Bergeria di Valouncro. The now easier mule track goes up vast pastures in the Pis valley. At an altitude of 2247, leave the EPT 217 mule track on the left which goes down to Germanasca (then goes back up to Colle del Beth); at an altitude of 2336 m you come across a new crossroads where you leave the LPT 216 mule track which continues towards Colle del Pis, to take the one on the right (EPT 218) which climbs towards the north west and then with steep hairpin bends reaches the recognizable Moremout mamellone 2544 m even from afar due to the ruins of the military barracks, 1.45 hours. Passing near the large stable (source), go up the easy slope through pastures and debris until reaching Colle dell’Albergian 2713 m; 0.30 hours, which opens onto the Chisone-Germanasca watershed, between Monte Gran Miuls on the left and Fea Nera on the right.

From the hill you descend into the Albergian valley following the good path (EPT 313) which winds through debris and formwork, with frequent rhododendron tufts, ending at the crossroads (2378 m) in sight of the Albergian shelter. Take the mule track on the left (EPT 314) which runs a long diagonal under the east face of the Albergian. From here you have an overview of the characteristic conformation of the valley which, near the Albergian bergeria, bifurcates into two branches: the one on the right comes together

in the Cristove valley and descends to Fenestrelle, while the one on the left takes us to Laux.

<On these mountains a serious persecution against the Waldensians took place, according to what the historian Gerolamo Miolo narrates in the Historia brevi e vera de gl’affairs of the Waldensians of the Valleys around 1587: Among others in a persecution carried out against the Waldensians of Pella about 200 years ago (therefore at the end of the fourteenth century, editor’s note) eighty cune with the little children inside were found fugitives on the Colle de Albergean Very high mountain and this in the heart of winter that is at the Christmas holidays>

In the Laux valley there was, in 1526, a meeting of 140 members of the Waldensian Church during which it was decided to send a delegation to Switzerland to deepen their knowledge of the Protestant Reformation: the adhesion of the Waldensians to the Reformation was established 6 years later in Synod of Chanforans.

The mule track becomes much better and begins a series of hairpin bends, among the larches, which lead to the Bergeria del Laux 1719 m made up of two groups of daisies, 2.00 hours. Once you have crossed the clearing on which the bergeria rests, you continue: a steep descent through lots of pastures

shaded by larches or among denser larch groves, and you emerge into the wide meadows of the Laux plateau, one of the largest in Val Chisone and certainly the most evocative.

The happy conformation of the soil here makes easy mountain agriculture possible, which is based on grassland but also on other crops, both traditional (rye, wheat, potatoes, vegetables and even buckwheat), and newly planted such as genepy, lavender, the gentian, the raspberry. The town (1381 m), located on a beautiful hill, has maintained its characteristic rustic architecture (which can be admired by walking at least along the main street), together with old fountains and an ancient oven.

From Laux 1359 m you descend along the asphalt road that crosses the Chisone and reaches the crossroads on the SS 23 of Sestriere. Follow the state road towards the valley for a few tens of metres, then take the carriage road on the left which goes up to Usseaux 1446 m; 1.15 hours, stopover at Hotel La Placette; large village located like nearby Balboutet in a beautiful sunny position overlooking the valley, among large fields still cultivated; many houses have been renovated, without compromising the characteristic appearance of the two villages.