Occit'amo - Sant Joan, a musical ascent to Roccerè

A solstice celebration in the heart of Valle Maira

Sant Joan is the Occitan feast of the summer solstice, and for years the Occit'amo festival has celebrated it with one of its most evocative events: the musical ascent to the summit of Roccerè, the mountain rising above the town of Roccabruna, in the province of Cuneo, on the watershed between the Maira and Varaita valleys in Piedmont. The event combines hiking, folk music, and the traditions of the Occitan-speaking lands into a unique collective experience, open to all and free of charge.

From the Sant'Anna pine forest to the peak

The historic starting point is the Sant'Anna di Roccabruna pine forest, at an altitude of about 1,200 meters, where the Roccerè Archaeological Site Visitor Center is located. From here, the procession of walkers heads along the mule track towards Colle della Ciabra (1,712 m) and continues to the summit of Roccerè (1,800 m). The climb, accompanied step by step by bagpipes and drums, is a ritual that blends physical effort, conviviality, and sound: once at the top, by the summit cross, the celebration continues with violins, bagpipes, songs, and Occitan dances.

The music of the Occitan lands

The soundtrack of the ascent is entrusted to musicians from the Occitan scene gathered around the festival, artistically directed by Sergio Berardo (the historic voice of the group Lou Dalfin). The trails resonate with the bagpipes of the Bandia, religious Occitan songs, and traditional instruments of the valleys, in a constant dialogue between the musical culture of the Maira and Varaita valleys.

Roccerè and its 'coppelle'

The destination is no ordinary peak: the summit area of Roccerè houses one of the most extraordinary rock art complexes in the Alps, with tens of thousands of coppelle (cup-marks) and carvings etched into the rock, dating back to the Bronze Age. Climbing up here for Sant Joan also means reconnecting the ancient bond between mountain communities, the solstice, and these sacred places.

An Occit'amo event

The ascent to Roccerè is one of the stops on the widespread calendar of Occit'amo, a festival that brings concerts, meetings, and musical hikes to the Occitan valleys of the Cuneo area every summer. For those who want to experience the authentic Piedmont of the Occitan lands, it is the ideal opportunity to discover Roccabruna, its mountain hamlets, and a festive tradition that is still very much alive.