The Val Grande National Park is just a short distance from Lake Maggiore and is Italy’s largest wilderness area. It’s only a brief drive from Verbania (the county town of the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola) and from the shores of Lake Maggiore, while it is about 100 km from Milan. This is a unique, one-of-a-kind valley dominated by silence, where nature reigns. A sanctuary for the environment, it must be toured respectfully.
The history of the Val Grande National Park
The Val Grande National Park was only established in 1992, when this area’s importance was finally rightfully acknowledged. Here, 15,000 hectares of oak trees, beech and alders - one of the least contaminated areas of civilisation – are kept in a state of wilderness. This vast territory includes the smaller valleys in the Ossola region, in Vigezzo Valley, and on Lake Maggiore and protective measures have only just recently been taken. Today’s protected area was abandoned and completely ignored for some 40 years (1950-1980) after WWII, when the entire Ossola area was the land of the Resistance and the partisans. In truth, man inhabited the Grande Valley since pre-historic times as shown by the incisions on the rocks (one of them has become the park’s logo).
Grande Valley and the park
Today, Grande Valley is within man’s reach and can only be toured on foot due to its difficult trails. The territory is shaped like a gigantic heart, the right side (corresponding to the Pogallo Valley) being smaller than the left. The latter, western side is characterised by the San Bernardino Stream, and is bordered by the Corni di Nibbio range, which includes the renowned Faiè Summit.
Heading south is Cicogna (the little “capital” of the Grande Valley and its main access point for those arriving from Verbania and Milan) and then Zeda Mountain (it dominates the lake with its 2,156 metres). From this point on, the mountain tops become gentler and more accessible.
In truth, 50% of the park’s green areas are pastures and only woods make up the other half (species range from the English oak, lime tree, birch and willow). In terms of fauna, it is home to the chamois, roe deer, fox, badger, weasel, hedgehog, stone marten, hare, marmot, rodents and the eagle.
Touring the Grande Valley National Park
There are many projects associated with the National Park, whose official headquarters are in Vogogna: from trails at the Centri Visita (such as those in Cicogna and Intragna) to museums [such as the Museum dell'Acqua, Acquamondo (Acquamondo Museum of Water) in Cossogno] and educational-environmental initiatives dedicated to children. For those looking to wander off into the wilderness, we always recommend contacting the park’s official guides and not going into the heart of the Grande Valley on your own. The wild nature in these places conceals unexpected dangers for those who are not experts. But for those who approach it with respect, Grande Valley has magnificent landscapes: from the incomparable views spanning from Rosa Mountain to Lake Maggiore, to close-up encounters with the park’s flora and fauna.
Photo gallery Val Grande National Park
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