San Claudio Festival – Borgata Gad

The patronal feast of Borgata Gad

The San Claudio Festival is the patronal feast of Borgata Gad, a hamlet of the Municipality of Oulx, in the Upper Susa Valley within the Metropolitan City of Turin, Piedmont. Nestled at an altitude of 1068 meters, bordering Salbertrand, Gad is the lowest hamlet in the municipal territory: a small cluster of homes, artisan workshops, and farms, crossed by the historic Via Francigena and serving as a starting point for the Sentiero dei Franchi.

The small church of San Claudio

The heart of the festival is the village's small church, dedicated to San Claudio. The building is documented as early as 1660, when the vicar general visited the parish of Oulx: a testament to the mountain community's long-standing devotion to its patron saint. Every year, at the beginning of June, the hamlet gathers around the church to honor its religious and folk traditions.

Mass, refreshments, and 'gofri' at the fountain

The day begins in the morning with Holy Mass, celebrated in the hamlet's small church, followed by refreshments offered after the service. In the afternoon, the festival comes alive with gofri prepared and cooked at the village fountain. Gofri are a specialty typical of the Upper Susa and Upper Chisone Valleys: waffles made of water, flour, and yeast, cooked in special cast-iron plates called gofriere, to be enjoyed sweet with jams and chocolate spreads or savory with mountain cold cuts and cheeses.

A community tradition

The San Claudio Festival is one of those genuine events that bring the hamlets of the Upper Susa Valley to life during the summer. Organized by the San Claudio Association, it is a moment of encounter that unites residents, vacationers, and hikers passing through on the Via Francigena in a simple and convivial atmosphere. An ideal opportunity to discover the authenticity of mountain life and the flavors of the local gastronomic tradition, far from the major tourist circuits.