Occitan Epiphany at Balma Boves

An alternative Epiphany, beneath the rock of Monte Bracco

The Occitan Epiphany at Balma Boves is a now-traditional event that, around the time of the Befana, transforms one of Piedmont's most fascinating hamlets into a small theater of culture and conviviality. We are in Sanfront, in the Rocchetta district, in the province of Cuneo, at the foot of Monte Bracco and at the entrance to the Po Valley, in the heart of the Piedmontese Occitan valleys.

The Balma Boves museum village

Balma Boves is an ancient settlement built entirely under a huge rocky overhang, at an altitude of about 650 meters. Its stone houses with almost flat roofs, nestled against the rock, are reminiscent of Native American pueblos and tell the story of the so-called "chestnut civilization": stables, barns, chestnut drying rooms, fountains, and an ancient oven bear witness to a life of self-sufficiency and wise use of natural resources. Restored and transformed into an ecomuseum owned by the Municipality of Sanfront, the village is now managed by the Associazione Vesulus, environmental hiking guides who accompany visitors to discover this unique place.

The Epiphany day

The event starts from the cemetery square in the Rocchetta district, from where you walk along the access path leading to the village. The tour is led by the guides of the Associazione Vesulus, who explain the environment, history, and architecture of the village. Once at Balma Boves, the day continues with:

• a guided tour of the museum village and its stone houses;
• entertainment with live Occitan traditional music;
• hot chocolate and Occitan dances to end on a high note.

It is an opportunity to discover a strong identity heritage, that of the Occitan communities of the Cuneo valleys, in a setting of great natural beauty and at a particularly evocative time of year.

For families and the curious

The event is designed for everyone, including families: the walk is simple and suitable even for children, accompanied by the magic of the Befana and the warmth of tradition. An authentic alternative to city festivals, immersed in the landscape of the Piedmontese mountains and the living memory of Occitan culture.