Usseaux

One of the main reasons to visit Usseaux is its fascinating architecture and historic buildings that make it a true open-air museum. Prominent among these are the ancient stone buildings, such as the Parish Church of St. Peter.

Usseaux’s frescoed houses are also worth a visit: these buildings, partly inhabited and partly used as museums, are decorated with frescoes depicting rural scenes, animals and mountain landscapes, works of art created in the 18th and 19th centuries by local master muralists.

Usseaux has been awarded the title of “Painted Village” for the uniqueness and beauty of these frescoes.

Nature and Landscape: The natural setting of Usseaux
The village of Usseaux is nestled in a striking natural landscape: located at an altitude of 1,414 meters, it is surrounded by mountains, forests and verdant pastures. There are numerous hiking trails and scenic routes nearby, ideal for discovering the local fauna and flora.

Among the most popular destinations for hiking and nature enthusiasts, Lake Laux stands out-it is a true piece of paradise.

The history of the village
Usseaux (Usseauso also in Italian; Usseaus in occitan, also known as Useaou; Ussò in Piedmontese), in Piedmont, is an Italian town that counts less than 200 inhabitants. The name Usseaux probably has Celtic origins “uxellos = high”. The village was crossed in ancient times by Giulio Cesare, who cites, in “De Bello Gallico”, the village called “Occellum”. Is located in Val Chisone and is affected by the Parco Naturale Orsiera – Rocciavrè and from the Natural Park of the Gran Bosco di Salbertrand. The Municipality, in addition to capital Usseaux (Usseauso), also includes the following villages: Balboutet (Finale), Fraisse (Fragoleto), Laux (Lauso), Pourrieres (Purrieri).

The human presence in the High Chisone Valley is very ancient. The first testimonies of rock art date back to 12,000 years BC The origins of the townships of Usseaux are linked to the peoples (Liguria-Celts-Romans-Barbarians-Byzantines-Provence-Longobard-Saracens) which over time lived in the Upper Val Chisone (in the Middle Ages called Val Pragelato) leaving a marked area impressions of their culture, language and traditions such as coins, streets, and toponyms. The first documentary evidence of the existence of Usseaux dates back to 1064, when Countess Adelaide founded the Abbey of Santa Maria di Pinerolo giving to it the territories of Upper Val Chisone. In the centuries of history Usseaux lived the experiences and events of other communities in the Upper Valley: the Dolphin (1091-1349), the Kingdom of France (1349-1713), the Duchy of Savoy, the wars between the French and Savoy (battle of 1777), again the French rule, the Napoleonic empire and the independence wars that led to unity in Italy in 1861. It was part of the Escartons (1343-1713) and for centuries shared the presence of two communities of different faith, the Catholic and the Valdese. With the unity of Italy, the inhabitants of the high Chisone valley and therefore also of Usseaux progressed gradually from the French habits; the language of the public acts became the Italian one and was taught in elementary schools. The First World War was experienced and suffered by the valley. The postwar period saw the phenomenon of seasonal emigration (people employed in the hotel industry in France or in the Pinerolese industry). The Second World War and the Liberation War also hit the high Chisone Valley with several episodes of blood and destruction. In the following years the valley revived the phenomenon of emigration (seasonal in France and towards the plain industries). Many emigrants have never returned to their homeland.