Moncenisio

Access

Access to the municipality is mainly by road, from the bottom of Valcenischia: Moncenisio can be reached by taking the statle road of Moncenisio from Susa, continuing until the crossroads to Novalesa and overcoming the steep bends that climb towards the village. Connections to the nearest railway network are in the Susa plain; from there, it is necessary to use private vehicles or, sometimes, limited local bus connections, which operate on a non-continuous basis. In winter, weather conditions may make access difficult due to snow; snow tyres or chains are recommended and caution is advised for high altitude excursions.

Introduction

Moncenisio is a small alpine municipality located in the Metropolitan City of Turin, in Piedmont, at the western end of Val Cenischia, on the border with France. The territory covers an area of 4.5 km², with an average altitude of 1460 metres, and is characterised by a particularly evocative and rugged mountain environment, where pastures, alpine pastures and forests alternate with steep rocky slopes. Moncenisio's position, historically linked to transit through the famous Moncenisio pass, has deeply affected its local identity, with French influences recognisable in its dialect and customs.

Description

The village has just 37 inhabitants, known as Moncenisini, and in Piedmontese is known as Monsnis. The tiny community retains agricultural and pastoral traditions, and the urban fabric is configured according to the typical alpine village structure, with stone buildings and narrow pedestrian streets. Moncenisio is administratively the closest Italian municipality to the famous pass of the same name, which historically was the scene of strategic passages, trade and military crossings between Italy and France. The surrounding area offers remarkable naturalistic cues: from the extensive glacial basin of Lake Moncenisio, a short distance from the border, to the views of the side valleys and surrounding peaks. The municipal territory includes mountain pastures and scattered hamlets, evidence of an ancient rural economy strongly tied to seasonality.
Throughout the centuries, Moncenisio was a place of passage for soldiers, wayfarers and pilgrims, and various local legends tell tales of smugglers and resistance to the elements. The cult of St George, patron saint of the village celebrated every 23 April, is a central moment in community life, accompanied by customs and cultural activities that reflect the deep cohesion of the village. Moncenisio borders with Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis in French territory, Novalesa and Venaus, and is affected by limited tourist flows, linked in particular to hiking to the pass and the discovery of the landscapes of the upper Val Cenischia.

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Information

Area: 4.5 km²
Altitude: 1460m
Maximum elevation:
Number of inhabitants: 37
Name in dialect: Monsnis (Piedmontese)
Name in dialect: moncenisini
 Patron Saint:St. George (23 April)
Neighbouring municipalities: Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis, Novalesa, Venaus
Website: www.comune.moncenisio.to.it