Holiday apartment in Vidracco: Lake, Nature and Damanhur
Accommodation in Vidracco
Vidracco between lake, nature reserve and history
Vidracco combines Lago Gurzia, the barren hills of Monti Pelati and the Damanhur complex.
Lago Gurzia, also known as Lago di Vidracco, is an artificial lake. It was created by the simple arch dam built in 1922 at the Torrente Chiusella, shortly 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 high water. The area around Lago Gurzia has walking paths and small equipped areas that are connected on foot to the hiking trails within the nature reserve.
Water, paths and Monti Pelati
The Sentiero dell’uomo is a level, two-kilometre walking path along the lake. Birdwatching hides for ornithology enthusiasts and information boards about the local flora and fauna line the route. The municipal Torre Cives and Riserva Monti Pelati circular trail begins at the car park of San Rocco Church and leads for 3 kilometres, with an elevation gain of 100 metres, to Monte Cives at an altitude of 581 metres. The 600-metre-long Touch and Go trail leads from the San Rocco Chapel to Torre Cives and was designed for visitors with visual impairments.
The Monti Pelati Nature Reserve covers approximately 146 hectares on the right bank, in orographic terms, of the Torrente Chiusella between Baldissero Canavese, Vidracco and Castellamonte. The unusually barren hills owe their almost complete lack of vegetation mainly to the type of rock and erosion caused by rainfall. At the same time, Monti Pelati is the only known breeding site in the Canavese area for the stonechat, rock bunting and Sardinian warbler.
From Damanhur to the history of Torre Cives
The Sala della Terra is located 30 metres underground in the Damanhur complex. Two circular rooms form a symbol of infinity there. Damanhur’s one-day visitor programme includes a guided visit to the Bosco Sacro; the experience there includes walking through the large stone energy circles of the Temple of Vegetation. Booking is required before travelling to Damanhur for a visit or experience. The meeting point for check-in for the classic Damanhur tour is at the Welcome Center at Damanhur Crea, Via Baldissero 21, in Vidracco.
Torre Cives stands on the highest hill of Monti Pelati, a 12th-century tower probably built to guard and defend the Valchiusella area. Archaeological excavations there uncovered five Byzantine gold coins in 1956, the so-called “Tesoretto” di Torre Cives; they are now kept at the Museo Archeologico di Torino. The cemetery church of San Giorgio appears to have a 17th-century floor plan; a map from 1744 suggests that the chapel had already been rebuilt around the middle of the 18th century.
The fully restored former mill of Vidracco is also part of the area’s history. It has been established as the home of the Ecomuseo dell’acqua e degli antichi mestieri, which is currently being developed. It contains stone millstones for corn, wheat and chestnuts, as well as an area for processing hemp to make yarn for textiles or ropes. Another local speciality is the Fuminel, a green apple with reddish stripes whose trees were selected as a distinctive form of public greenery.
Choose a holiday apartment in Vidracco based on your interests
When choosing a holiday apartment in Vidracco, you can consider DamanhurCrea as a separate point in your plans: Damanhur provides parking there.
Other destinations in the same region: Caprie, Venaria Reale, Fenestrelle, San Gillio, Marentino, Chivasso, Mathi, Montanaro.
To the main travel overview: Turin.
