Val Grande National Park, National park in Piedmont, Italy.
Val Grande is a protected area in Piedmont covering over 14,598 hectares of mountains and valleys between Lake Maggiore and the Lepontine Alps. The landscape ranges from steep ridges to deep forested valleys with clear streams running through.
German troops evacuated the area in June 1944 during World War II and transformed previously inhabited valleys into an empty territory. This isolation allowed nature to return largely undisturbed and take on wilder forms over the decades.
The Candoglio Quarries within this territory supplied marble for Milan Cathedral over many centuries and remain part of local identity. Visitors today recognize white marble blocks along old transport routes through the mountains.
Visitor centers in Santa Maria Maggiore, Cossogno, and Premosello-Chiovenda offer information and guided nature walks from May through October. Trails vary widely from gentle valley paths to demanding mountain climbs, so assessing your fitness level beforehand helps plan a suitable route.
The forests contain chestnut trees, black alder, white alder, fir, willows, poplar, Turkey oak, and several beech varieties growing side by side. This mixture arises from different elevations and soils and changes color dramatically with the seasons.
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