FAI Spring Days in Cossato - Castellengo Castle and Ecomuseum
Extraordinary openings in the village of Castellengo for the 34th edition of the FAI Spring Days
About FAI Spring Days Cossato
A weekend between castle, church, and ecomuseum in Castellengo
The FAI Spring Days are the flagship event of the Fondo per l'Ambiente Italiano (National Trust for Italy): every year, during a weekend in March, hundreds of places that are normally closed or little-known are opened to the public across Italy. In Cossato, in the heart of the Biella area (Province of Biella, Piedmont), the FAI Delegation of Biella has chosen the charming hamlet of Castellengo, an ancient village at the gates of the Baragge Nature Reserve, for its 34th edition.
The three sites open to the public
The star of the show is the Castellengo Castle (via Castellengo 31), a manor with ancient origins: tradition attributes its foundation to Alberico di Monterone in the 10th century, but more recent studies suggest an even earlier origin linked to a collective fortified shelter of the "Monte Limone village". During the tours, visitors can discover the castle complex, the antique historical carriages, and the Chapel of Saint John the Baptist.
Not far away is the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, already mentioned in a papal bull from 1155: inside, in 1999, precious fragments of late-Gothic frescoes were rediscovered, attributed to the painter Daniele De Bosis and his workshop, who were active between the Novara and Biella areas at the end of the 15th century, depicting Stories of Mary and Jesus.
The itinerary is completed by the Ecomuseum of the Cossatese and Baragge (via Castellengo 16F), housed in the former school of Castellengo: it preserves about two thousand artifacts and recounts the feudal system, religious life, rural economy, and the unique landscape of the Biella baragge.
Tours and young guides
The heart of the FAI experience is the guided tours led by local students: students from the Liceo del Cossatese e Valle Strona offer dramatized tours, while on Sunday at the Ecomuseum, fifth-grade children from the Valle San Nicolao Primary School take on the role of young guides. It is a practical way to bring new generations closer to heritage conservation.
The FAI Spring Days in Cossato combine history, art, and nature in a family-friendly itinerary, perfect for rediscovering the roots of the Biella area and supporting the activities of the Fondo per l'Ambiente Italiano.
FAI Spring Days Cossato — edition 2026
2026 Edition (34th)
For the 34th edition of the FAI Spring Days, the FAI Delegation of Biella opened three sites in the hamlet of Castellengo in Cossato to the public on Saturday, March 21st, and Sunday, March 22nd, 2026. The three sites - Castellengo Castle, the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, and the Ecomuseum of the Cossatese and Baragge - were open for visits from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and from 2:30 PM to 6:00 PM on both days.
The tours, in groups of up to 20 people, were conducted by students from the Liceo del Cossatese e Valle Strona with dramatized visits; on Sunday, at the Ecomuseum, children from the Valle San Nicolao Primary School also acted as guides, with the support of students from the Gae Aulenti Institute. Entry was subject to a voluntary donation to support FAI.
Programme FAI Spring Days Cossato 2026
Saturday, March 21st and Sunday, March 22nd, 2026
Opening hours for the three sites: from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM (last tour at 12:00 PM) and from 2:30 PM to 6:00 PM (last entry at 5:00 PM).
- Castellengo Castle (via Castellengo 31) - visit to the castle complex, historical carriages, and the Chapel of Saint John the Baptist.
- Church of Saints Peter and Paul - late-Gothic frescoes by Daniele De Bosis and workshop (Stories of Mary and Jesus).
- Ecomuseum of the Cossatese and Baragge (via Castellengo 16F) - feudal system, rural economy, and the landscape of the baragge.
Guided tours in groups of up to 20 people, lasting about 30-40 minutes per site, led by local student guides (dramatized tours by the Liceo del Cossatese e Valle Strona; young guides from the Valle San Nicolao Primary School on Sunday at the Ecomuseum).
Highlights FAI Spring Days Cossato 2026
Prices FAI Spring Days Cossato 2026
Practical information — FAI Spring Days Cossato
When
Saturday, March 21st and Sunday, March 22nd, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM (last tour at 12:00 PM) and from 2:30 PM to 6:00 PM (last entry at 5:00 PM).
Where
Castellengo Hamlet, Cossato (BI): Castellengo Castle (via Castellengo 31), Church of Saints Peter and Paul, and Ecomuseum of the Cossatese and Baragge (via Castellengo 16F).
Admission
Admission with a voluntary donation to support FAI. Tours in groups of up to 20 people, lasting approximately 30-40 minutes for each site.
Accessibility
The Castle is not wheelchair accessible; the Church and the Ecomuseum are accessible.
Information
Full program and updates on the websites www.fondoambiente.it and www.giornatefai.it.
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Where does it take place — FAI Spring Days Cossato
Castello di Castellengo, Chiesa dei Santi Pietro e Paolo ed Ecomuseo del Cossatese e delle Baragge
Via Castellengo 31, frazione Castellengo, 13836 Cossato