Vidracco: Lake Gurzia, Monti Pelati and Damanhur

Vidracco showcases an unusual combination of natural landscapes, history and distinctive buildings: at Lake Gurzia, water, trails and birdwatching take center stage. The Monti Pelati preserve a layered past through the Torre Cives and archaeological finds. Damanhur completes the picture with underground rooms, the Bosco Sacro and stone energy circles.

Lake Gurzia and the barren Monti Pelati

Lake Gurzia, also known as Lago di Vidracco, is an artificial lake. It was created by the simple arch dam built in 1922, 50 meters high, on the Torrente Chiusella, just below its confluence with the Savenca. The overflow plunges into the gorge below the lake as a high waterfall, which is particularly impressive during periods of abundant water. The area around Lake Gurzia has walking paths and small equipped areas connected on foot to the hiking trails within the protected area.

The Sentiero dell’uomo is a level, two-kilometer walking trail along the lake. Birdwatching hides for ornithology enthusiasts and information panels about the local flora and fauna accompany the trail. The path provides a clearly defined route for observing nature, while the Monti Pelati offer a distinctly different landscape: the nature reserve covers approximately 146 hectares on the right-hand orographic bank of the Torrente Chiusella, between Baldissero Canavese, Vidracco and Castellamonte. The hills are unusually barren; their almost complete lack of vegetation is mainly due to the type of rock and erosion caused by rainfall.

The Monti Pelati are also notable for their birdlife. They are the only known breeding site in the Canavese area for the European stonechat, rock bunting and Sardinian warbler. The municipal Torre Cives and Riserva Monti Pelati loop trail begins at the parking area of San Rocco Church and leads for 3 kilometers, with an elevation gain of 100 meters, to Monte Cives at an altitude of 581 meters. The 600-meter-long Touch and Go trail runs from the San Rocco chapel to the Torre Cives in the Riserva Naturale dei Monti Pelati and was designed for visitors with visual impairments.

Torre Cives, San Giorgio and traditional crafts

The Torre Cives is a 12th-century tower on the highest hill of the Monti Pelati. It was probably built to guard and defend the Valchiusella area. Archaeological excavations at the Torre Cives uncovered five Byzantine gold coins in 1956, known as the “Tesoretto” di Torre Cives. Today, the coins are kept at the Museo Archeologico di Torino. The cemetery church of San Giorgio also points to older construction phases: it appears to have a 17th-century floor plan, while a map from 1744 suggests that the chapel had already been rebuilt around the middle of the 18th century.

The first floor of the Ecomuseo dell’acqua e degli antichi mestieri houses a small museum of traditional crafts, with objects once used in everyday life. The completely restored former mill in Vidracco was converted into the premises of the ecomuseum, which is currently being developed. It contains stone millstones for corn, wheat and chestnuts, as well as an area dedicated to hemp processing for making yarn for textiles or ropes. The Fuminel is also part of the local everyday culture: a green apple with reddish stripes, whose trees were selected as a distinctive form of public greenery.

Damanhur as a unique visitor experience

The Sala della Terra in the Damanhur complex lies 30 meters underground and consists of two circular rooms forming a symbol of infinity. Damanhur’s one-day visitor program includes a guided tour of the Bosco Sacro. The experience there includes walking through the large stone energy circles of the Temple of Vegetation. Booking is required before traveling to Damanhur for a visit or experience.

For orientation on site, Damanhur provides parking at DamanhurCrea in Vidracco. The meeting point for check-in for the classic Damanhur tour is at the Welcome Center at Damanhur Crea, Via Baldissero 21, in Vidracco (TO).

More destinations

Stazione, Claviere, Frassinetto, Maglione, Gassino Torinese, Torre Pellice, Loranzè, Cesana Torinese

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