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It is a beautiful country and truly a stone's throw from Italy Switzerland. A fairy-tale land rich in natural heritage and villages that seem to have come out of a postcard, it also surprises the visitor with its peculiar atmosphere, like the one you can breathe in Bosco Gurin, a picturesque and ancient location which still retains its splendor today.
Bosco Gurin, the story
Bosco Gurin it is one of the most fascinating mountain villages in Switzerland. Founded by the Walser from Val Formazza in 1253, an ancient language is still spoken there today, in addition to Italian: Ggurijnartitsch.
In the 800 years since, little has changed about the history of Bosco Gurin. The small village lived happily ignored by the rest of the world, until it was rediscovered in the twentieth century for the beauty of its landscapes, while in 2020, it was even declared the 42nd most beautiful village in Switzerland.
What to see in Bosco Gurin
Although Bosco Gurin has also suffered progressive depopulation due to emigration in recent years it was able to be reborn thanks to tourism and his courageous projects such as the ski resort, among the most popular in Ticino. But not only. Visiting it is like taking a dive into the past of typical architecture, heart-warming nature and ancient traditions that are still well-rooted.
An original composition characterized by authentic houses built in stone and wood, and particular stables scattered across the meadows. And, whatever time of year you are, However, Bosco Gurin always offers wonders.
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The center of the village has a timeless feel, thanks to its whitewashed buildings and gray slate roofs. In fact, walking through its steep streets is an unforgettable experience. Absolutely fascinating, then, is the suggestive Museum of Ethnographic History “Guriner Walserhaus” which allows you to learn about the oldest history of the valleys of the Canton of Ticino and at the same time discover the Ggurijnartitsch culture, linked to the ancient dialect that is still spoken today.
Always among the paved streets of the center you can visit the Church of Saints James and Christopher, an elegant building with neoclassical shapes that we can define as the heart of Bosco Gurin. The graffiti and frescoes that decorate the buildings are also beautiful, and among the houses and public structures you can see the characteristic Gadumdschi, small one-room buildings that are still used by shepherds as stables or shelters during snowstorms.
Wonders even just outside the center. For example, along the ancient road that leads further down the valley you can come across the Church of Our Lady of the Snows, built in the eighteenth century after the disastrous avalanche of 1696 which almost completely razed the village to the ground. While along the route that leads to the valley, and throughout the surroundings of Bosco Gurin, you can find the peats, the traditional buildings with a stone base and wooden walls which for centuries were the refuges of woodcutters and shepherds.
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Bosco Gurin in winter
As mentioned above, Bosco Gurin it was reborn from its ashes during the twentieth century. In fact, the ski facilities in the Grossalp area are spectacular, a system of over 30 kilometers of slopes suitable for every type of snow sport and of every difficulty.
It is certainly among the most famous slopes in the area Sandy Boda, oriented towards the south and therefore almost always kissed by the Alpine sun. And for those who don't like skiing there is the spectacular Snow Park, a place to have fun even with the little ones. Without forgetting the suggestive adventure routes among the snow-capped peaks, which allow you to admire the spectacular landscape of Alps of the Canton of Ticino.
Mountain lovers know perfectly well that, in winter, it reveals its most magical side. The ascent to the Ritzberg or Martschenspitz allows those who face the conquest of the peaks to experience moments of pure poetry in the silence that is occasionally interrupted by the call of some sweet animal.
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Bosco Gurin in summer
The fairytale Bosco Gurin It is very fortunate: the region in which it is located is characterized by an insubric Alpine climate. This means that its winters are dry, very sunny and with periods of north wind and a limited number of frost days. Summer, for its part, is an explosion of sunshine, even if sometimes violent storms make room. The Alpine chain prevents the arrival of disturbances from the north in winter, while during the summer the disturbances coming from the Mediterranean give rise to heavy downpours which quickly discharge significant quantities of water.
This doesn't stop this enchanting village in Switzerland from providing memorable experiences. In this phase of the year, in fact, it turns into a naturalistic paradise where the very green alpine meadows give way to fantastic coniferous forests.
In these parts, lovers of walking and mountain excursions can seriously leave behind the chaos of the cities and come into contact with uncontaminated nature. After all, the entire area of Bosco Gurin it is crossed by a dense network of paths and routes that allow you to reach the surrounding peaks and nearby villages. All without the need to be experienced hikers, even if a good dose of physical preparation is always recommended and, at times, necessary.
One of the most evocative routes is the one that follows the so-called "Stone Paths“, a network of routes that follows the ancient sheep tracks used by shepherds to cross the Alps, to reach the spectacular area of the lakes of Schwarzsee, Herli e Ussera See.
Small basins that are a naturalistic daydream where you can admire the snow-covered peaks reflected in the pure water that collects in the deep basins of glacial origin.
In short, whatever season it is, there is something to take into consideration trip to Bosco Gurin, a place that manages to embody the charm of one of the most evocative mountain villages in Switzerland. A destination to take a real dive into the past and which, at the same time, is the perfect destination for a stay characterized by tranquility, physical activity in contact with the wonders of Mother Nature and also, and above all, the rediscovery of traditions.
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