Walserweg Gottardo

Bosco Gurin is the highest village in Ticino that is inhabited all year round and the only community where German, or “Gurijnartitsch”, is spoken in everyday life. Founded in 1253 by the Walser people, the place remains picturesque with original houses made of stones and wood. The authentic village is also a paradise for hikers. Following in the tracks of the Walser people, you take the road downwards to the river for a while. Over the next few kilometres, the path follows the wild riverbed, winding through the forest or across small sections of meadow. Below the small settlement of Corino, near the water intake for the power plants, you cross the wide mountain stream on an old arched bridge. High above the roaring stream, the path winds down into the valley and steeply down to Collinasca.

With the ups and downs along the mountainside at the residential area of Linescio, over half of the hike is complete. What is impressive are the artistically landscaped terraces around the village on which cereals, potatoes and beets were once cultivated. Here, you descend to the parish church of San Remigio, an important part of the protected townscape of Linescio. The hike plunges into the dense forest via the valley road. A concealed Roman bridge passes over the stream, which has cut deep into the rock layers. A long set of steps winds up to the opposite slope. The dilapidated villages along the shady valley flank tell of better times in the valley.

The mountain path reaches the valley at Rovana. The stream is now almost dry because most of the water is diverted into tunnels and turbines to generate electricity. The wide floor of the upper Maggia Valley is surrounded by vertical rock faces and creates a classic U-shaped valley formed by glaciers. Old stone walls line the trail, and just before the destination for this stage at Bignasco, it ascends once again over stone slabs under a steep rock face. The people lining around Sott Piodau have constructed numerous buildings and cultivated areas in the jumble of blocks caused by a landslide from prehistoric times. The most famous structure is the wolf trap, into which animals were lured with bait. From the largest boulder in the hillside settlement, you have a great view of the old town centre of Bignasco and the entrance to the Lavizzara Valley. Attractive swimming pools await you below the old bridge, and there are several guest houses, shopping opportunities and places to stay overnight in the town.