Cogne

Considered the small capital of the Gran Paradiso National Park, Cogne, located at an altitude of 1,534 metres, has always been synonymous with nature. The town is surrounded by a velvety expanse of green, the Sant'Orso Meadow (551,131 m2), and protected by the ‘Protection of Natural Beauty’ regulations. Nestled at the base of the Gran Paradiso massif, Cogne offers infinite natural beauty, stretching as far as the eye can see towards snow-capped peaks, pastures and clear streams.

 

The Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy's oldest park, protects an area with a wonderful variety of environments: larch and fir forests, vast alpine meadows, rocks and glaciers. This scenery means that the protected area can boast an extraordinary wealth of flora and fauna.

 

The Paradisia Alpine Botanical Garden, founded in July 1955, is located at an altitude of 1700 metres in the hamlet of Valnontey. The name originates from Paradisia Liliastrum, the mountain lily with delicate white flowers. The garden is home to around 1,000 species of plants and flowers from the Alps and Apennines, as well as examples of the flora of other mountain groups from around the world (Europe, Asia, America).

 

Cogne has been officially recognised as Pearl of the Alps, joining the group of more than twenty municipalities that can boast this prestigious label; Cogne's prerogative is to offer its guests high quality holidays that are ecologically sustainable, culturally stimulating and rich in unique experiences. Cogne pursues the philosophy of sustainable mobility and respect for the environment, offering its visitors the possibility of an eco-friendly holiday.

 

The town is a coveted destination for both summer tourism, thanks to its offer of excursions and relaxation in the midst of nature, and winter tourism, with its 80 km of cross-country skiing trails, numerous itineraries for snowshoeing and stupendous icefalls.

 

Cogne also offers much from a cultural point of view. The iron fountain in the central square, built in 1809, is a symbol of Cogne's history, strongly linked to its magnetite mine. The Miners' Village, a landmark at the bottom of the valley of the Cogne mining complex, now houses the Cogne PNGP Visitor Centre and the Cogne Mining Park and Mine Museum, which allow visitors to discover the most relevant peculiarities of both the natural and industrial parts of the area.

 

The eco-museum Maison de Cogne Gérard Dayné is one of the greatest examples of traditional architecture; inside, it is possible to discover the main aspects of ‘wood and stone’ architecture and the typical spaces of the Cogne house, with an evocative tale of ‘life in the past’.

 

The uniqueness of the area also guarantees a high quality of local food products.