ECOMUSEO DELLE GUIDE ALPINE “A. CASTAGNERI”

The Ecomuseum of the Alpine Guides of Balme documents the experience of the inhabitants of Balme who dedicated themselves to the profession of mountain guide to accompany the pioneers of Turin and Italian mountaineering to discover the highest peaks of the Western Alps, with period photos, mountaineering equipment and clothing. The pioneers of Italian skiing also made their debut in Balme at the turn of the century, and for a few decades the village managed to establish itself as one of the most sought-after tourist resorts in Piedmont.An introductory part of the museum is dedicated to the history of the settlement, with subsequent reference to the founding by shepherds from Savoy, the immigration in the Middle Ages of miners from Bergamo and Valsesia, the large-scale recourse to the resource of smuggling after the mining activities had been exhausted, the rapid conversion of smugglers into alpine guides in the 19th century, and the current balance between traditional activities (livestock farming), tourism (mountaineering/hiking), handicrafts (woodworking) and industry (mineral water).Specific sections are aimed at illustrating the characteristics of the environment and aspects of daily life and local culture. A section documenting the participation of mountain people in the wars and the Resistance period in the valleys was recently opened. The museum is completed with several routes through the village where explanatory panels have been installed describing the historical and architectural features of the various places.Photo: © Gianni Castagneri