Artse de Proley

Access

Leaving the [A5] motorway at the Chatillon/Saint-Vincent exit, turn left and take Via E. Chanoux for about a hundred metres then turn left again onto Via della Stazione. Following the signs for Pontey you will come to a roundabout, continue straight on passing the motorway with a subway. Continue along Via della Stazione, passing the railway station and through another subway to cross the railway line. A little further on, cross the Dora Baltea and continue on as far as the village of Torin. Turn right and follow the signs for Lezin - Bovaye and follow the small road until you cross the motorway again and reach the sign for Zerbio. Continue along the municipal road for about 700m until you come to a small road on the left and a little further on a large clearing where you can park your car.

Introduction

In 1963, during some work to remove the layer of topsoil in order to exploit the rock as a stone quarry, a tomb was found, initially considered to be pre-Roman and later, after studies by Professors Marc Sauter of the University of Geneva and Ferrante Rittatore Vonwiller of the University of Milan, attributed to the early medieval period, 6th-7th centuries AD.C.

The tomb, dug into the rock, was 200x110x70 cm in size and contained only a metal disc with a 10 cm diameter lobed rim, as it had already been violated in ancient times (PROLA 1964). In the local dialect, this site is called "artse" or "artson di djablo", or devil's ark or chest.

The itinerary proposed here allows one to reach this little-known but certainly very interesting site. A visit is currently recommended during the late winter period to avoid possible encroachment of vegetation.

Description

0h00' 0.00km Take the tarmac road which climbs a slight incline. Follow the hairpin bend and turn right in the direction of the motorway: just before the subway, turn left and take a small road that runs parallel to the motorway. In the final section, vegetation encroaches on the small road and makes it slightly uncomfortable. Aim towards some wooden steps visible slightly to the right, right next to the motorway, and quickly ascend the small hill until you reach its summit ledge. Continue briefly along the track until you come to the flat rock in which the tomb is dug (480m), 0h10' 0.35km .

From the archaeological site it is possible to appreciate an interesting view of Baron Gamba's castle and the mountainous setting that surrounds Saint-Vincent.

The return journey takes place along the same route taken on the outward journey 0h10' 0.35km .