Bobbio Pellice

Access

To reach Bobbio Pellice, the most common route is to start from Pinerolo, from where you take the Val Pellice provincial road to Torre Pellice, then drive up the valley into the heart of the town. Bus services (lines 279 and 284) connect Torre Pellice with Bobbio Pellice on a regular basis; the main railway station is in Pinerolo. The nearest airport is Turin-Caselle, about 80 km away, which can be reached by car or combined public services. Given the alpine nature and the limited availability of parking spaces, the use of public transport is suggested especially during peak periods.

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Introduction

Bobbio Pellice is located at the far end of the Pellice Valley, in the Metropolitan City of Turin, Piedmont, and is the municipality with the largest surface area in the valley (94.08 km²). The municipal territory is extremely varied: at lower altitudes, chestnut groves and meadows bordered by ancient dry stone walls predominate, while on the way up there are high-altitude pastures and the imposing mountains that form the striking alpine backdrop. This environmental variety is home to a rich wildlife consisting of ibexes, chamois, deer, birds of prey and aquatic species.

Description

The history of Bobbio Pellice is inextricably intertwined with that of the Waldensian community. The town was the scene of dramatic events during the wars of religion between the 16th and 17th centuries, including the Pasque Piemontesi of 1655, when Savoy troops ravaged the valley, forcing the inhabitants to flee or abjure. This past has made Bobbio Pellice a symbolic place of Waldensian resistance. In the 20th century, in memory of the Glorious Repatriation of 1689, the Sibaud Monument was erected, where a contingent of Waldensians returning from Swiss exile swore loyalty to the cause. Local historical figures include Bartolomeo Peyrot, an alpine guide originally from Bobbio Pellice, the first Italian known to have conquered the summit of Monviso.
The local economy has traditionally revolved around sheep farming and cross-border trade with the Queyras region of France; in more recent times it has also been based on livestock farming, agriculture and traditional crafts. In recent decades, services and hiking tourism have developed: Bobbio Pellice is in fact an important starting point for itineraries leading to the Conca del Pra and the Barbara Lowrie, Willy Jervis and Battaglione Alpini Monte Granero mountain refuges. These routes pass through rocky environments and panoramic scenery of great beauty, enriched by local legends, traditions and curiosities.
From a cultural point of view, the town keeps alive religious recurrences and traditions linked to the Waldensian identity and ancient rural practices, particularly during events such as the Fìra d'la Calà and the Fira d'la Pouià, which are central to the social cohesion of the community. In the villages and numerous hamlets - which dot the extensive and often difficult to access territory - expressions of the Occitan and Piedmontese languages survive, evidence of ancient colonisations and migrations.

Information

Area:94.08 km²
Altitude: 732m
Maximum elevation: 3.171m - Monte Granero
Number of inhabitants: 521 (2025)
Name in dialect: Beubi (Piedmontese), Buebi (Occitan)
Name of inhabitants: Bobbiesi
Patron Saint: Annunciation of Mary (patron saint's day 25 March)
Neighbouring municipalities: Abriès, Crissolo, Prali, Ristolas, Villar Pellice
Website: www.comune.bobbiopellice.to.it