in Val Pellice

Val Pellice, along with Val Germanasca and the lower Val Chisone, are commonly called "Waldensian valleys", and in ancient times, also the high Val Chisone and the high Susa Valley were part of them (French until 1715).

First inhabited in prehistoric age (many places show traces of settlement and classic cup marks holes), then the area was populated by the Celts. Later, it passed under the Roman Empire. In the middle Ages, it went through the phases of feudalism until the affirmation of the Acaia’s House of Pinerolo first and then the Savoy.

As all the Alpine valleys, in the XII-XIV century it lived a period of remarkable economic development, thanks to trade with the Provence through easy passes, especially the Croce Pass and the Monginevro in the nearby Val Chisone.

It was very lively also the circulation of religious ideas; at that time, representatives of the movement of the "Poor" arrived in the area, probably from Lombardy. Disciples of a Lyons merchant named Valdo, who lived around 1160-80, so called "Waldensian", supported the absolute fidelity to the Gospel and poverty as the Apostles.

Excommunicated by the Roman Church, scattered across Europe and persecuted by the Inquisition, "Waldensians" were forced to live their faith in clandestine way. One of their major centers was the area of Piedmont and Dauphiné valleys. It is documented on their books in Occitan language and the fact that their ministers were called "barba" (dialect for "uncle"), and then called "barbetti ".

In early 1500, the area underwent a profound religious and political transformation. The population in fact joined in a massive way (as also in the nearby Saluzzo area) the Protestant confession breaking away from the Roman Catholic one.

This time of religious reform coincided with the French expansion in Italy towards the Duchy of Milan. The Val Chisone, at that time part of Dauphiné and Pinerolo transformed into a fortress, were the operative base of this action.

These valleys became a small Protestant island in a Catholic land, determining the story for over two centuries.

The kings of France and Savoy, Catholics, indeed endeavored to bring their subjects back to the Roman Catholic confession but these were opposed by claiming, also with weapons, freedom to worship God according to their conscience.

The years 1560-61, 1655-60, 1685-90 were particularly tragic, characterized by violence and massacre by the Franco-Savoy armies, arousing the indignant reaction of Europe.

In 1686 the French Waldensian and in 1687 the Savoy ones were expelled from the country. The first, especially from the Val Chisone, emigrated to Germany where they founded colonies that still exist. The second instead returned to their native valleys three years later with a military expedition famous for its daring and courage (the "Glorious Repatriation").

With these animated vicissitudes, the Protestant area, however, was reduced progressively; the few thousand Waldensian of Piedmont lived locked in their valleys like in a ghetto.

As well as Jews, they were victims of discrimination and intolerance, deprived of all civil and political rights, second-class subjects of the kingdom of Sardinia; their survival was ensured by the intervention of Protestant countries who took charge of their problems.

The first recognition under Napoleon was followed by civil and political equality with the Royal Patents of Carlo Alberto in 1848 (in memory of whom every year the Waldensian celebrate the Freedom Day on February 17).

The Waldensian valleys thus became the only corner of Italy where a Protestant minority was able to realize its Christian faith and civil vocation. Visiting the valleys at the end of the century, Edmondo De Amicis defined Torre Pellice "the little Italian Geneva" and the valley of Angrogna a "Waldensian Thermopylae"; he identified the characters of the area: the opening to Europe of modern liberalism and the ideal of freedom.

From the half of the XIX century, emigration was very common and many inhabitants moved abroad in search of work.

The Waldensian valleys reality remained unit until the end of World War II; a mixed economy of agriculture and industrial facilities has allowed economic stability and social cohesion particularly strong during the Resistance period, in fact, the area was one of the most active center.

The location in a border area rich in history, culture multilingual (Occitan, French, Piedmontese, Italian) and the presence of the Waldensian community, always connected to the European world, make the Val Pellice a place full of charm and interest in the context of a Europe in constant evolution.