Balme is the highest municipality of the Lanzo Valleys, the last one of Val d’Ala, the cradle of Piedmont mountaineering and an historical vacation site.
It already was a mining site in the XIIIth century and attracted immigrant-mining families from the Bergamo region and Val Sesia. Balme became an independent municipality in 1610.
Dominated by the majestic Ciamarella and Bessanese massifs, Balme offers its visitors a variety of summer trekking natural and cultural itineraries, the opportunity to experiment rock climbing during the summer and ice water falls climbing during the winter. There also are a wonderful cross-country skiing track, various ski mountaineering itineraries and a wide choice of more demanding mountain climbs.
It is not by chance that Balme is known as the mountain guides’ village. Most important of all is Antonio Castagneri, called “Toni dei Tuni”, famous for his forty-six first ascents. He died in 1890 on a Mount Blanc glacier.
To people loving nature contemplation, Balme offers the chance to meet wild animals, to admire spectacular flowerings, thick larch woods and pastures. Nuances continuously alternating make each season striking and unique.
Finally, Balme is also known as the “water village”. This is due not only to the many mountain lakes and streams on the territory but also to the fact that, since 1922, Pian della Mussa’s waters partly flow into Turin aqueduct.
