Inaugurated in 1976, the Walser Museum of Alagna is a perfectly preserved mountain hut dating back to 1628, an unaltered example of what the Walser House was like over the centuries and how it was used.
The Walser people built dwellings that, under the same roof, housed the stable, areas for rest, social life, and food storage, forming a harmonious synthesis of the fundamental needs of these high-altitude farmers. The museum shows how the ancient Walser were able to create an efficient system within the home, well suited to their need for self-sufficiency, and tells the story of daily life through everyday tools, following a carefully curated path through the material culture of the early inhabitants of Alagna.
The three-storey building has a dry-stone base on which rests the wooden Blockbau structure, made entirely of original wood, while the roof is covered with piode (blatte), stone slabs.
In the current museum layout, the semi-basement floor houses the stable (Godu), with a stone floor, the adjacent and communicating living room (Stand), with a wooden floor, the kitchen (Firhus) with tools for cooking, the room for milk processing, and the area for yarn preparation and hemp weaving.
On the raised ground floor, above the stable, are the bedroom (Stuba) with its alcove, the room for storing carpentry tools, the area displaying handcrafted objects, and the document room.
On the top floor, visitors can see the hayloft (Stodal), displaying tools for agriculture and woodworking, and the pantry (Spicher), with shelves and racks used for storing cereals and foodstuffs. Surrounding the building are the perfectly preserved pole-supported balconies, a characteristic feature of the Walser houses of Alagna.
Christmas Holiday Opening Hours:
From January 6 to April 16, open on Thursday mornings from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. by appointment.
Open during the following periods:
- Carnival Saturday February 14 and Sunday February 15 from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Saturday February 21 and Sunday February 22 (Ambrosian Carnival)
- Easter Saturday April 4, Sunday April 5, and Monday April 6 from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
San Lorenzo at Kreas is an ancient mining site in the heart of the “gold district” of Alagna Valsesia. Inside, the large millstones used to crush the gold-bearing ore extracted from local mines can still be seen. This complex represents a valuable testimony to the history of gold mining on Monte Rosa, one of the most important in the Western Alps.
Christmas Holiday Guided Tours:
At an altitude of 2,901 meters, on Col d’Olen, stands the Angelo Mosso Institute, founded in 1907 by the Turin physiologist Angelo Mosso, a pioneer in studies on human adaptation to high altitude.
Today, the Institute is part of the research station network of the University of Turin and is one of the highest permanent scientific laboratories in Europe. By visiting it, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Monte Rosa massif and discover a history of research and innovation that has made Alagna an internationally recognized scientific center.
Visits to the Mosso Institute:
Tips for your visit:
It is recommended to always check for any schedule changes at the Alagna Valsesia Tourist Office. For all information about guided tours, check here: https://www.alagna.it/blog/visite-guidate-alagna-valsesia/
