Pommattertag — Walser Traditions Day

A day for the Walser soul of Val Formazza

The Pommattertag (Day of the Pomatter, or the people of Formazza in the Walser language) is the most important identity-focused event in Formazza, a mountain municipality in the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, at the northern tip of Piedmont. It is held in the main village of Ponte (Zumstäg in the Titsch dialect), overlooking the town square, the Dorf Platz, the heart of the valley's community life.

Formazza, known by its inhabitants as Pomatt, is the oldest Walser settlement in Italy and the only one directly bordering the Swiss Goms region, the cradle from which this Alemannic people migrated between the 12th and 13th centuries. For this reason, the Pommattertag is not just a simple village fair, but a true celebration of roots, where the community proudly asserts its language, customs, and way of life in the mountains.

Costumes, crafts, and Alemannic culture

The most recognizable moment of the day is when the locals wear their traditional Walser attire, preserved from generation to generation and reserved for the most solemn occasions. Alongside the garments, the festival showcases the ancient knowledge of the valley, starting with the renowned woodworking, the raw material with which the Walser built their homes, barns, and everyday objects.

• Traditional costumes worn by the community
• Craft demonstrations, with a focus on carving and woodworking
• Titsch language, songs, and oral traditions of the Walser community
• Moments dedicated to the typical gastronomy of Pomatt and local valley products

The role of the Walserverein Pomatt

Behind the Pommattertag is the work of the Walserverein Pomatt, the Walser association of Formazza active since 1983 in protecting the Titsch dialect and promoting local cultural heritage, together with the Pro Loco Formazza and the Municipality. The day is part of a summer full of events in Val Formazza, from the high-altitude But Formazza race to the Walser Häpfla Fest dedicated to mountain potatoes.

Why it is worth the trip

Traveling up to Formazza for the Pommattertag means reaching one of the most remote and evocative corners of Piedmont, amidst waterfalls, alpine pastures, and architecture of wood and stone. It is the ideal opportunity to discover a unique culture in the Italian landscape, in a setting of great natural beauty at the foot of the Basòdino massif.