Bussolin Carnival

The Bussolin, the Alpine carnival of Crissolo

In the heart of the Po Valley, at the foot of Monviso, the town of Crissolo (Province of Cuneo, Piedmont) preserves one of the most evocative carnival traditions of the Occitan Alps: the Bussolin Carnival. This is not a carnival of floats and confetti, but a travelling theatrical re-enactment that brings the village streets to life with a procession of costumed performers.

The legend of the Bussolin

The name "Bussolin" comes from the French buisson, meaning bush. The performance tells the story of a beautiful young girl who, while lost picking blackberries, is hidden among the brambles and roses by a farmer. The girl is later discovered and won over by the king of the castle, who makes her his queen. It is a simple and poetic folk tale, passed down from generation to generation and brought to the stage by about twenty local actors.

A revived tradition

The roots of the Bussolin lie in the travelling folk theatre that animated the upper Po Valley in the 1950s and 60s. After decades of oblivion, the tradition was revived in the 1980s thanks to the accounts of historical participants, and since 2016, it has been a permanent fixture in the annual calendar of Crissolo events. The local Pro Loco association organises the event with the support of local businesses and restaurants.

Songs, accordion, and Occitan dances

The procession moves through the village with stops in front of bars and restaurants, where the performers sing in the Piedmontese dialect accompanied by an accordion. Participation in the dancing is open to everyone. In the evening, after a polenta-based dinner at the Sala delle Guide, the festivities continue with a new performance of the Bussolin and traditional Occitan dances, a living expression of the culture of the Occitan valleys of the Cuneo area.