Mise en page 1 - Le Alte Valli

COTTIAN ALPS
GEOPARK
APPLICATION
FOR MEMBERSHIP
IN THE EUROPEAN
GEOPARKS NETWORK
Novembre 2013
Fonds Européen de Développement Régional
Fondo Europeo di Sviluppo Regionale
Summary
Gino Baral (Comunità Montana del Pinerolese)
Gianluigi Perrone, Marco Giardino, Enrico Giordano and Paola Cadoppi
(Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Torino)
Thierry Dumont (Institut des Sciens de la Terre, Grenoble)
Raymond Cirio (Centre Briançonnais de Géologie Alpine)
A. Identification of the Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1. Name of the proposed Geopark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2. Surface area, physical and human geography characteristics of the proposed Geopark . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
3. Organization in charge and management structure (description, function and organigram)
of the proposed Geopark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
4. Application contact person (name, position, tel./fax, e-mail) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
B – Geological Heritage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1. Location of the proposed Geopark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2. History of geological studies and knowledge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3. General geological description of the proposed Geopark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
4. A brief picture of the geodynamic evolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
5. Geomorphological setting, morphogenetic processes and climatic conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
6. Listing and description of geological sites within the proposed Geopark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
7. Details on the interest of these sites in terms of their international, national, regional
or local value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
C – Geoconservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
1. Current or potential pressure on the proposed Geopark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
2. Current status in terms of protection of geological sites within the proposed Geopark . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
3. Data on the management and maintenance of these sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
4. Listing and description of non-geological sites
and how they are integrated into the proposed Geopark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
5. Connections between the non-geological sites in the area and the geological heritage . . . . . . . . . . . 30
D – Economic Activity & Business Plan (including detailed financial information) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
1. Economic activity in the proposed Geopark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
2. Business Plan (including detailed financial information) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
3. Existing and planned facilities for the proposed Geopark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
4. Analysis of geotourism potential of the proposed Geopark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
5. Overview and policies for the sustainable development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
6. Policies for, and examples of, community empowerment (involvement and consultation)
in the proposed Geopark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
7. Policies for, and examples of, public and stakeholder awareness in the proposed Geopark. . . . . . . . . 40
E – Interest and arguments for joining the EGN/GGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Annex 1: Self evaluation document
Annex 2: Geological Heritage
Annex 3: Letters of support
Annex 4: List of local authorities and municipalities
Annex 5: CHAV statuts
Annex 6: List and description of geological sites, indicating their relevance
Annex 7: Sites demo - etno - antropologici
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A. Identification of the Area
1. Name of the proposed Geopark
The name of the proposed Geopark project is «Geopark of the Cottian Alps» [“Geoparco delle Alpi Cozie” in Italian
- Geopark des Alpes Cotiennes in French] B). It is a trans-border Geopark between Italy and France and is named
after the part of the Alpine mountain chain known as the Cottian Alps. The part in Italy is in the Piedmont region
and the part in France is shared between the departments of Savoie, Hautes-Alpes and Alpes de Haute Provence.
They are separated from the Maritime Alps to the south by the Colle della Maddalena or Col de Larche (1996 m),
from the Graian Alps to the north by Col du Mont Cenis ( 2084 m) and from the Dauphiné Alps to the west by the
Col du Galibier ( 2647 m). They take their name from the local ruler Cottius. In the High Roman Empire it constituted a Roman province, under the name of Alpes Cottiae. Cottius (ca 60 BC - ca AD 10), son and successor of
Donno, had the dual role of king of the Celtic-Ligurian tribes of the Cottian Alps and the Roman prefect of the
same province.
2. Surface area, physical and human geography characteristics of the proposed Geopark
The territory of the Geopark of the Cottian Alps is located in the heart of the Western Alps, an area that is almost
entirely mountainous, and which reflects both the influence of northern Europe and a Mediterranean influence.
The territory in question can be reached in about an hour from major cities such as Turin and Grenoble, and in
about two hours from the sea (the Ligurian Riviera and the Côte d’Azur).
On the French side, the
area of the Geopark of the
Cottian Alps includes the
‘Communities of Communes’ of the Briançonnais, the Pays des Ecrins,
the Guillestrois, the Queyras ( in the territory of the
Department of Hautes Alpes ) and the Syndicat du
Pays de Maurienne (in the
territory of the Department
of Savoie ), and on the Italian side it includes the valleys of Susa, Sangone
Pellice, Chisone and Germanasca, and the Pinerolese Pedemontano ( in the
Province of Turin). It is an
area that extends for
652,905 hectares, of which
406,482ha belongs to
France and 246,423ha to Italy. It concerns 85 municipalities in the Italian part (43 in the territory of Valle Susa e
Val Sangone, 10 in the morainic amphitheater of Rivoli-Avigliana, 32 in Pinerolese) and 99 municipalities on the
French side, of which 62 in the Pays de Maurienne and 37 in the Grand Briançonnais. The majority of the population is concentrated in the Pinerolese and Lower Susa Valley on the Italian side and in the Briançon on the
French side, with a significant imbalance between the two sides of the border, as there are 380,628 inhabitants
on the Italian side and 73,343 on the French side, for a total of 453,971 inhabitants. (Annex no. 4)
This large area has within it a number of features that makes it possible to differentiate rather clearly territories
which fall into three significant areas, that can be defined as:
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Valley floors. These are areas close to the Po valley, and in some cases they are closely linked to metropolitan
areas, as they constitute a peri-urbanized area of the Turin hinterland. They were directly affected by the process
of de-industrialization, but on the other hand, have been affected by the growth of services, commercial activities
and SMEs (in the low valleys of Susa, Chisone Pellice, Sangone and the Mountain Community of Pinerolese Pedemontano as a whole). The area has fewer problems in terms of employment and socio-economic development,
but has some critical environmental issues (air and noise pollution, etc).
Mountain winter sports areas. These areas are characterized by rather massive winter tourism (Briançon, Pays
des Ecrins, Haute Maurienne Vanoise, Upper Susa Valley, Alta Val Chisone, and partially the Germanasca Valley
with Prali);
Rural Mountain areas. These areas are characterized by having maintained their rural condition and by a stress
on nature, resulting in typical poly-factorial tourism (agritourism, nature tourism, soft tourism). Other areas, however, are more marginal, due to a low impact of tourism development, lack of employment opportunities, abandonment of territories by the young, and consequent aging of the resident population.
3. Organization in charge and management structure
(description, function and organigram) of the proposed Geopark
In view of the territorial extension of the Geopark – which involves two states, France and Italy – and the number
of partners and their organizational diversity : (individual municipalities and conglomerations of municipalities
(‘Communautées de Communes and Pays in France, and Mountain Communities - future Montain Unions of Municipalities in Italy), Nature Parks, and Management Associations and Companies, it is foreseen that the future
management of the Geopark will make use of an articulated organizational form that values and uses the existing
form of cross-border governance: the High Valleys Conference, which makes use of the management, skills and
competences of organizations concerned with the preservation and enhancement of the geological, environmental and cultural heritage of the territory, encouraging the participation of all partners and the involvement of local
communities, and seeking the benefits of the scientific and technical knowledge of the institutions working in
the area.
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The proposed articulation and form of organization is the following:
La Conferenza Alte Valli – CHAV – Applicant authority
Associazione della Conferenza Alte Valli (CHAV)
Via Roma, 22 – 10063 PEROSA ARGENTINA (TO)
Tel. +39 0121 80 25 26 – Fax +39 0121 80 25 40
e-mail: [email protected]
Mountain Communitie of Pinerolese and Valle Susa and Val Sangone, along with the Communauté de Communes
Briançonnais, Pays des Ecrins, Guillestrois, Queyras and the Syndicat du Pays de Maurienne started a process of
collaboration long ago, already at the beginning of the 1990s making use of the tools made available by the first
INTERREG I - II - III programme, and lately also by ALCOTRA.
The Italian and French local authorities from the outset considered it important to start with a phase of comparison and shared projects based on cooperation between directly neighboring regions, in order to reduce the
«distances» created by the national boundaries.
Aims of CHAV
With the Cooperation Protocol signed at Oulx on December 14,
• to increase and strengthen inter-munici2000, the association «Conference of the High Valleys» was
pal cooperation through new cross-border
born, a voluntary instrument that inter alia aimed to bring togerelationships
ther in a single assembly experts on the political and technical
• to work and negotiate with subordinate
aspects of cross-border territories. A new protocol to strengthen
local authorities to plan higher-level actions
cooperation agreement was signed in Briançon on 9 May 2005.
and interventions for the integrated development of the territory
To create practical cross-border cooperation, the community
• to strengthen the bargaining power of
members at the conference (on 4 September 2007) formed in
mountain areas in respect of the policies of
association called the «Association of the Conference of the High
higher authorities (EU, State, Regions, ProValleys» CHAV (Annex no. 5 - CHAV statutes)
vinces and Departments)
To improve and better organize cross-border relations, CHAV
• to transfer skills, experience and knowprepares documents for the creation of an EGTC (European
how from completed projects to other EU
Grouping of Territorial Cooperation). The aim is the management
countries.
of territorial cooperation projects.
5
As an applicant - Applicant authority – as well as for the coordination of the Geopark, the General Council of
CHAV has set up a special Geopark commission that consists of the President and 3 members representing the
four areas involved. For the Briançonnais area, Mr Guy HERMITTE, mayor of Montgenèvre, for the Maurienne
area, Mr Jean-Pierre Anselme JORCIN, mayor of Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis, for the Pinerolo area, Mr Gianni
AROLFO, mayor of Pragelato and President of CHAV, and for the Susa Valley and Sangone, Mr Paolo TERZOLO,
commissioner of the Mountain Community and vice-mayor of Oulx.
The role of the CHAV in the management of the Geopark of Cottian Alps:
- To provide contact details for the sustainable development and operation of the Geopark ;
- To prepare the annual programme of activities of the Geopark and check and evaluate its implementation;
- Coordinate the transverse activities of the Geopark system;
- Managing relationships with national UNESCO representatives, with the European Geopark Network organization
– the EGN - and with the other Geoparks of the EGN;
To carry out this role CHAV will employ 2 part-time employees, who will be technical experts on running territorially-based activities and coordinating cross-border initiatives: one for the Italian side and one for the French
side.
The Management Team
The Management team is coordinated by two employees identified by the CHAV, and consists of:
- La Tuno SRL: a Management Company for the Scopriminiera and Scoprialpi Geosites in the municipalities of
Prali and Salza di Pinerolo, with 5 full-time employees: the Director, a Geologist in charge of teaching, a specialist
in reception and relationships with schools, 2 Presenter-Guides and 12 part-time employees who are also Presenter-Guides.
- The body responsible for the management of protected areas of the Cottian Alps: this manages the Geosites of
the territory of the National Parks and protected areas in the Chisone, Susa and Sangone valleys: with 1 territorial
technician and 1 technician for land use and communication, 6 park guards and 7 escort-guides;
- The Società di studi Rorenghi Association: manager of the Ecomuseum of the Loze di Rorà (5 volunteers for guided tours and didactics)
- The Centre Briançonnais de Geologie Alpine: an association for presentations and teaching in schools: 5 people
(2 geologists, 2 experts in teaching and one in communications);
- Le Grand Filon: museum and mine: 1 Director (part-time), 1 guide;
- Museum and silver mine of l’Argentière LB: 1 expert mining archaeologist and 5 part-time guides;
- SGBM of Brianconnais : 2 experts in education and communication;
- Natural Park of Queyras : 2 experts in education and communication.
The tasks of the Management Team are:
- Manage the activities associated with the Geopark in compliance with the guidelines provided by the CHAV;
- Carry out the activities of the Annual Geopark Programme under its jurisdiction ;
- Carry out activities of conservation, protection, research, education, educational, information and communication within its area of competence;
- Provide support for the operation of the Technical Committee;
- Participate in and contribute to the preparation of the Annual Geopark Programme.
The Partners’ Committee
The Partners’ Committee is made up of representatives of all the partners of the Geopark: the Mountain Communities of the Pinerolese and the Susa and Sangone Valleys, Italian Unions of Municipalities, and the French
Communities of Communes of the Brianconnais, the Guillestrois, the Escartons du Queyras, the municipalities of
L’ Argentiere La Bessé and Saint Georges d’ Hurtieres, the management organization of the protected areas of
the Cottian Alps, and the Natural Park of Queyras.
Tasks of the Partners’ Committee:
- Adopting the annual programme of activities of the Geopark ;
- Managing relationships with local stakeholders and supervising the activities at the local level;
- Promotion of relations between the Geopark and municipalities.
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The Technical and Scientific Committee
The Committee includes experts in various skills and representatives of National or Regional Organizations or institutions relevant to the Geopark.
The members are designated by the following agencies, institutions and organizations:
The Committee’s task is to provide support and scientific knowledge to the Geopark and its partners.
4. Application contact person (name, position, tel./fax, e-mail)
Silvia Richiardone – coordinatrice per il versante italiano della CHAV
c/o Comunità Montana del Pinerolese
Via Roma, 22 – 10063 PEROSA ARGENTINA (TO)
Tel. +39 0121 80 25 26 – Fax +39 0121 80 25 40
e-mail: [email protected]
Sonia Audo – coordinatrice per il versante francese della CHAV
c/o Communauté de Communes du Briançonnais
Les Cordeliers -1, rue Aspirant Jan - 05100 BRIANÇON (F)
Tél. +33 (0)4 92 21 35 97 – Fax +33 (0)4 92 20 38 90
Marco Giardino – esperto di geologia
Università degli studi di Torino – Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra
Via Valperga Caluso, 35 - 10125 TORINO
Tel. +39 011 670 5160 - Fax +39 011 670 5317
e-mail: [email protected]
Raymond Cirio – esperto di didattica e divulgazione scientifica
CBGA – Centre Briançonnais de Géologie Alpine
35, rue Pasteur – 05100 BRIANÇON (F)
Tel. +33 (0)4 92 20 56 55 - cell. +33 (0)6 08 89 49 48
e-mail: [email protected]
Gino Baral – esperto di sviluppo locale
c/o Comunità Montana del Pinerolese
Via Roma, 22 – 10063 PEROSA ARGENTINA (TO)
Tel. +39 0121 80 25 26 – Fax +39 0121 80 25 40
e-mail [email protected]
7
B. Geological Heritage
1. Location of the Proposed Geopark
The Geopark of Cottian Alps represents a crustal-scale section that crosses almost completely the chain (fig. 2).
In this natural cross-section the geological features associated to the tectonic processes which led to the development of the Western Alps can be observed.
Here, in fact, visitors could explore and familiarize with a wide range of rocks deriving from different paleo-geographic settings and with geological structures such as folds, ductile shear zones and brittle faults. Easily accessible
outcrops will also allow people to stand on almost completely preserved portions of crust of the Jurassic Piemont-Ligurian Ocean (Chenaillet Unit) or on portions of sub-continental mantle (Lanzo Ultramafic Complex) progressively exhumed during the Jurassic rifting phases. Visitors could also observe portions of continental crust
poorly affected by the Alpine tectonics, currently exposed in the western sectors of the Geopark, and explore
the effects of metamorphic transformations on the different fragments of continental crust involved in the subduction process, currently exposed in the eastern sector of the Geopark. Recent geotouristic attractions (“ScopriAlpi” and “Geodromes”) allow the general public and schools to appraise visual reconstructions of the
geological structures and phases of the evolution the orogenic chain.
Figure 2: tectono-metamorphic sketch of the central Western Alps.
Outstanding examples of crustal scale deformations are also present within the Geopark because it encompasses
the Crustal Penninic Thrust (Sue and Tricart, 1999), a major fault separating tectonic units involved in the subduction from those escaped to this process. Besides presenting to the public the most complete geological section
across the Western Alps, the Geopark offers visitors a selection of several quarries and mines that historically
were utilized to exploit georesources (minerals and stones) of this territory. Finally, as the Geopark include a wide
range of climatic environments, visitors may observe a wide range of geomorphological processes that have shaped the chain in the Quaternary times.
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2. History of geological studies and knowledge
Starting from the study of de Saussure (1779-1796), the Alps have been the most attractive natural laboratory in
the world for the interpretation of the growth of the mountain ranges. The first studies concerning the Cottian
Alps, in particular, were based on lithostratigraphic conceptions strongly authoctonist, on the basis of interpretations by leading scholars as Hutton (1785) and Elie de Beaumont (1852). This theory was taken up and developed
in the Piedmont Alps from Sismonda (1839, 1866). The most important results of this period (mid-nineteenth
century) regarded the identification of the Ambin and Dora-Maira continental basement with their sedimentary
cover, which were distinguished from the oceanic units of the “Zone of calcschists with the greenstones”. These
interpretations converged in the Geological Map of Italy at 1:100,000 scale (Zaccagna, 1887 Mattirolo, 1897).
Moreover, important paleontological discoveries, which allowed to date the metasediments of the Schistes Lustres
and Piedmont Units (Gastaldi, 1876; Franchi, 1898, 1910, 1911), enabled to revolutionize the ideas on the structure of the Alps.
From the end of the ‘800 new mobilistic theories were provided and in the first decades of the twentieth century
Argand (1909, 1911, 1916) proposed the nappe theory (Fig. 3). Based on this theory, new interpretations are also
provided for the sector of the Cottian Alps.
The structure of the Dora-Maira and Ambin Massif were reinterpreted on the basis nappe theory (review of Dal
Piaz & Dal Piaz, 1984). Michard (1967) proposes that the Dora-Maira is constituted by two overlapped units respectively with "Brianconnais" (Pinerolo semi-window) and "Piedmont" (formed by from the polymetamorphic
basement, from the granitoids and monometamorphic carbonatic cover). An autochthonist model (only folds
and faults) is, instead, still proposed by Franchi (1929), and subsequently by Vialon (1966). A step forward was
made also for the oceanic units with the Hermann (1930) study, a wise application of nappe theories. In particular,
it deals with the mica feldspatic micaschists (rocks of continental affinity, later known as "Charbonnel gneiss")
associated with the calcschists. This Author interpreted these rocks as pretriassic tectonic slivers derived from
the inner sector of the chain (Dent Blanche- Sesia Zone). Nicolas (1966, 1969) proposed an emplacement due to
submarine effusions through extensional fractures; this intepretation is then replaced by a tectonic emplacement.
In the late 1960s, with the advent of the theory of plate tectonics, the tectonic evolution of the Alpine chain is
again questioned. In the Cottian Alps the advent of this new theory, led to the reinterpretation of the tectonic
evolution of the different metamorphic units. Modern studies emphasized the polyphasic and polyciclic character
of the metamorphic evolution both in the continental and oceanic units (Vialon, 1966, Compagnoni & Sandrone,1981; Borghi et al., 1985; Cadoppi and Tallone, 1992).
Even the oceanic units were completely reinterpreted from the palaeogeographic and structural point of view,
on the basis of new models of oceanic rifting and subduction (Pognante (1979, 1980, 1981; Lombardo & Pognante,
1982). These studies allowed to reconstruct a very complex structural setting in the Cottian Alps, characterized
by several units with different paleogeographic metamorphic and structural setting (Pognante, 1980; Cadoppi
and Tallone, 1992; Marthaler et
al., 1986; Fudral et al. 1987). Fudral et al. (1987) distinguished in
the Susa Valley and Vanoise three
types of units within the "Schistes
Lustres".
Figure 3: geological cross-section of the Western Alps (from Argand, 1916)
The most recent studies have focused on the post-collisional evolution of the Alpine chain (Sue et
al., 2007 with references; Perrone
et al. 2013, with references).
These works have shown that several regional fault systems displace the previously juxtaposed
tectonic units and seem to be related to seismic activity that affects the Cottian Alps.
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3. General geological description of the proposed Geopark
In the Geopark of Cottian Alps a complex nappe pile consisting of both continental and oceanic units is currently
exposed, derived the Jurassic Piemont-Liguran ocean (also known as Alpine Tethys) and by the European and the
Adriatic paleo-margins.
The Tethyan oceanic crust formed from middle Jurassic to early Cretaceous times and separated the continental
crust of the European and Adriatic paleomargins. The External zone (so-called "Dauphiné zone" in the area of
the Geopark) was the northwestern part of the European paleomargin, not far from the normally thick continent.
Initially located further southeast, the Briançonnais domain represented a more distal part of the European paleomargin, which behaved as a rift shoulder and emerged during the end of the Jurassic rifting. Some paleogeographic restorations assume that the Briançonnais domain was linked with the eastern part of the Iberian
microplate, to the east of the Provence-Corsica-Sardinia domains. The Prepiedmont (or Piedmont, sensu Lemoine
et al., 1986) domain was the European paleomargin toe, a narrow, strongly subsiding area close to the continentocean boundary. The Piedmont-Ligurian domain (sensu Lemoine et al., 1986) was the Tethyan ocean, from which
are issued the Schistes lustrés and the Helminthoid Flyschs. Most of these rocks are deep water sediments deposited on the oceanic crust and later involved in the accertionary prism, with quite few remnants of oceanic lithosphere (ophiolites), either metamorphosed (i.e. Viso) or not (Chenaillet).
From the West (external sector) to the East (inner sector) tectonic units that progressively reached deeper crustal
levels during the subduction phase can be observed. The Crustal Penninic Thrust (CPT), a major crustal-scale fault
moderately dipping to the east, separates the puzzle of tectonic units, characterized by high pressure/low temperature (HP/LT) metamorphic assemblages, in its hanging wall, from the units almost completely devoid of HP/LT
metamorphic assemblages, in its footwall. Another crustal-scale tectonic discontinuity, the Canavese Line, separates the HP/LT metamorphic units from the South-Alpine units, devoid of HP/LT assemblages, derived from the
Adriatic paleo-margin (Fig. 4). In the Geopark territory both the CL and the South Alpine units are currently buried
beneath the Plio-Quaternary deposits of the western Po Plain.
In the inner sector both oceanic and continental-derived
units are exposed. The HP/LT
continental margin-derived
units include the Prepiemont,
Briançonnais, Ambin and DoraMaira unit. All these unit are
classically ascribed to the
Briançonnais micro-continent,
partially separated from the
European paleo-margin by the
Valais ocean (Trumpy, 1980;
Figure 4: 3D interpretative tectonic section of the Western Alps (modified Stampfli et al., 1998). Some Authors (Hunziker & Martinotti,
from Polino et al., 2002).
1987; Polino et al., 1990), however, proposed an Adriatic pertinence for these units. The Ambin and Briançonnais units are characterized by
blueschists whereas the Dora-Maira Unit is characterized by eclogite metamorphic assemblages. In the external
sector some imbricated units belonging to the European paleo-margin s.s., which include the Pelvoux and Grandes
Rousses crystalline basement, with their related sedimentary cover, the Subbriançonnais and the Helmitoid flysch
units are present. These units are usually characterized by very low-grade to greenschists metamorphic assemblages.
The Alpine tectonometamorphic units of the Geopark of Cottian Alps also show evidences of post-collisional tectonic activity along major structures and faulting along neotectonic systems (e.g. “Colle delle Finestre” geosite).
Similar to other Alpine regions, all of these geostructural and tectonic characters influence not only the Alpine
relief evolution and uplift (Hunziker et al. 1992) but also Quaternary formations and the mountain slope dynamics,
such as those along the Chisone valley (Collo & Giardino, 1997) and at the Susa-Chisone Divide (Giardino & Polino
1997).
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Soft-sediment deformations and brittle faults within Quaternary deposits have been considered evidences of recent activity along discontinuities articulating the alpine relief in neotectonic blocks (Madonna dell’Ecova geosite;
Susa-Cenischia confluence).
Large portions of mountain relief within the Geopark territory are affected by deep-seated gravitational slope
deformation (DSGSD) (“DGPV”, Mortara & Sorzana 1987). These huge gravitational phenomena are characterized
by their large areal extension (multiple km2), and by distinctive complex geometrical, geomorphological and geomechanical settings (Crosta 1996). Over the past four decades, DSGSD have been studied throughout the world
(Jahn 1964; Nemcock 1972; Varnes et al. 1989; Chighira 1992; Crosta 1996), but their original recognition (Zischinsky 1966, 1969) was performed in the Alps and a comprehensive study of their character was conducted
within the Geopark of Cottian Alps territory (Mortara & Sorzana 1987). Double ridges, trenches, antislope scarps,
bulging slopes are distinctive geomorphological features of a DSGSD, as those visible along the Susa Chisone
divide at the Colle dell’Assietta geosite.
A complex network of regional fault systems, sometimes showing evidence of Quaternary activity, displace this
complex nappe pile. Continental Quaternary deposits cover discontinuously all these units and are mostly represented by glacial, fluvial and landslide deposits.
Inner sector
The units exposed in this sector shared a long and complex tectonic and metamorphic evolution, starting from
the closure of the Piemont-Ligurian ocean (upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous). Their tectonic juxtaposition occurred, in general, mostly under HP/LT metamorphic conditions. The continental Dora-Maira (DM), the Ambin (A)
and the Briançonnais units represent the geometrically deepest elements. Above these continental units the
oceanic-derived units are found (Fig. 5).
Dora-Maira Unit
Figure 5:
main subdivision of the
Western Alps (from
Lemoine et al., 2000).
HDU: Helvetic-Dauphonais units, VU: Valaisan
units, B and Br:
Briançonnais units,
OU: Oceanic units,
AU: Adriatic Units, ;
Sb: Subbriançonnais
units, Pie: Prepiedmont
units.
The Dora-Maira is a continental crust unit that is, in general, constituted by two main complexes (Sandrone et
al., 1993 with reference therein): a pre-Carboniferous poly-metamorphic complex and a Permo-Carboniferous
mono-metamorphic complex. At the top of the poly-metamorphic complex, Mesozoic meta-sedimentary successions are present.
The poly-metamorphic complex is composed of micaschists and fine grained gneisses associated to minor marbles
and metabasites. Relics of medium grade metamorphic assemblages in the micaschists and of some bodies of
granodioritic gneisses of Caledonian age (Bussy and Cadoppi, 1996), with relics of high temperature assemblages,
indicates that this complex experienced both the Varisican and Alpine metamorphism. Within the poly-metamorphic complex several talc mineralizations, exploited in the Germanasca valley (ScopriAlpi and Scopriminiera ecomuseums, proposed geosite n. 54; Garida mine in Sangone Valley, proposed geosite n. 31) are also present.
The mono-metamorphic complex (Pinerolo Graphitic Complex) is exposed beneath the poly-metamorphic complex. This complex is composed of graphite-bearing metapelites, graphite schists, fine-grained gneisses, and metaconglomerates. Both the complexes contain several meta-intrusive bodies of granitic (proposed geosite n. 50) to
dioritic composition (proposed geosite n. 30), ascribed to the late-Hercinian magmatism (Bussy and Cadoppi,
1996). These lithotypes are also extensively exploited by several mines located in the Susa, Chisone and Pellice
valleys (proposed geosite n. 4).
11
The Dora-Maira Mesozoic cover are mostly widespread along the tectonic contact with the oceanic units. These
successions consists of meta-dolostones, marbles and calcschists (Foresto-Chianocco-M. Molaras complex; Cadoppi & Tallone, 1992; visible in the proposed geosite n. 39) or of quartzites, marbles and calcschists (Pavaglione
complex, Cadoppi & Tallone, 1992).
The Alpine metamorphic evolution of the Dora-Maira Unit is characterized by an earlier HP/LT event characterized
by eclogite and blueschists facies assemblages, developed during the subduction phase (Cretaceous?), followed
by a greenschists metamorphic overprint, occurred during the continental collision phase (Eocene?).
Ambin Unit
The Ambin unit represents a slice of continental margin, commonly considered as a large antiform. From the
bottom to the top it comprises: (i) a Late Devonian-Early Carbouniferous poly-metamorphic Clarea complex, (ii)
a monometamorphic Ambin complex and (iii) a monometamorphic Permo-Mesozoic cover sequence.
The Clarea Complex consists of micaschists and paragneisses with minor orthoderivates and metabasites. In spite
of the Alpine metamorphic overprint, the Clarea complex still contains structural and metamorphic relics of preAlpine age (Borghi et al., 1997).
The Ambin complex is a monometamorphic that consists of quartz-micaschists, albite-chlorite schists, augengneisses and leucocratic jadeite-bearing orthogneisses, with minor glaucophane schists and metabasites (Pognante et al., 1984). The Ambin complex is commonly interpreted as a Late Palaeozoic volcanic and /or
volcano-clastic cover sequence (Gay, 1970; Callegari et al., 1980; Borghi & Gattiglio, 1997). However, recent geochronological data yield a Cambrian age of emplacement for its leucocratic orthogneisses (Bertrand et al., 2000)
suggesting an older age also for this complex. A tectonic juxtaposition has been, therefore, proposed for these
two complexes (Ganne, 2000).
The Permo-Mesozoic cover lying on the Ambin Complex consists of a detrital sequence (Etache complex; Gay,
1970; proposed geosite n. 56), represented by quartzites and greenish quartz-rich schists (Permian – Lower Triassic). It is followed by Lower Triassic quartzites and by an Upper Cretaceous-Palaeogene (?) thin carbonatic succession of calcschists and marbles containing lenticular bodies of carbonatic breccias (Polino et al., 2002).
The Alpine metamorphic evolution of the Ambin Unit is characterized by an earlier HP/LT event characterized by
blueschists facies assemblages (Cretaceous?), followed by a greenschists metamorphic overprint (Eocene?).
Briançonnais Units
In the French part of the geopark, most of the Briançonnais zone is made of nappes with late Paleozoic and MesoCenozoic sedimentary rocks, which were detached from their Hercynian cristalline basement during the collision.
In the region of Briançon, these thrust sheets are piled up and folded together as a complex nappe anticlinorium
in between the frontal Briançonnais thrust to the west (or "Crustal Penninic thrust"), and the metamorphic
"Schistes lustrés" to the east. These nappes were affected by low grade metamorphism (greenschist facies). Further east, and probably beneath the "Schistes lustrés", are found the basement rocks which suffered both Hercynian and high-pressure Alpine metamorphism, from which the Internal Cristalline Massifs (Dora-Maira, Ambin)
are made. These polymetamorphic basement rocks are also issued from the Briançonnais domain of the European
Tethyan paleomargin, but they were involved more deeply in the continental subduction during the early stages
of collision (Paleogene) than the sedimentary cover nappes which outcrop in the French Briançonnais zone.
In the Briançonnais unit, two large groups of sedimentary rocks can be distinguished. On the one hand, there are
the sandstone, schists and coal layers of the Carboniferous age, which are especially developed in the North
around Briançon, in the valleys of La Guisane and La Clarée, and on the other hand, there are the limestone and
dolostones of Triassic age, associated with the Jurassic limestone and the calcschists and schists of the Cretaceous
and Tertiary ages. North of Briançon, the western limestone massifs (Galibier, massif of Montbrison to the West
of Briançon), the median “syncline” massifs and the eastern limestone massifs (Pécé, Infernet, Grande Maye) can
be distinguished.
Pre-Piedmont units
The Pre-Piedmont units include those Mesozoic metasedimentary successions that have been ascribed to a thinned continental margin. The stratigraphic successions of these units has, in fact, recorded the extensional phases
12
related to the Early Jurassic Tethyan rifting. In general these successions show the passage from carbonatic platform to pelagic conditions, highlighted by carbonate platform dolostones (Norian) followed by phyllites and dolostones (Rethyan-Hettangian), marbles and calcschists containing thick levels of breccias (Lower-Middle Jurassic)
and quartzites (radiolarites?; Oxfordian-Kimmeridgian). These rocks are overlaid by dark phyllites, comparable
to the black shales of the oceanic domain (Aptian-Cenomanian), and by a thick sequence of gritty calcschists, interpreted as an Upper Cretaceous flysch (Polino et al., 1983). Some beautiful examples of fossiliferous dolostones
may be observed on the Chaberton Mount.
The oceanic units (Piemont-Ligurian Ocean)
A whole of stratigraphic successions that represent the relics of the Tethyan ocean (or Alpine Tethys) interposed
betweeen the Adria and the European plate, crop out with continuity along the entire Western Alpine chain.
Units belonging to this ocean are made up of portion of oceanic lithosphere (serpentinites and serpentinized peridototites, meta-gabbros and meta-basalts) with associated sedimentary cover (quartzites, marbles, phyllades,
calcschists).
The onset of sea floor spreading (Middle Jurassic) was followed by deposition of radiolarites and limestones. The
deposition of trench deposits (calcschists), during the Cretaceous, indicates the onset of the convergence that
led to the formation of the Alpine chain (Schmid, 2004).
In the Western Alps these associations are classically grouped in two main type of units, usually characterized by
different lithological associations and metamorphic assemblages: ophiolites-rich and calcschists-rich units (roughly
corresponding to the Zermatt-Saas and Combin units of the Aosta valley; Dal Piaz, 1999).
The ophiolites-rich units are mostly composed of serpentinites, meta-ophicarbonates (“Marmo Verde del Frejus”,
“Marmo Verde di Fugera” e “Marmo Verde di Cesana” geosites) meta-gabbros and meta-basalts with a thin metasedimentary cover, usually consisting of quartzites (“radiolariti rosse di Champlas” geosite), marbles and calcschists. These units, which usually show eclogite metamorphic assemblages partly re-equilibrated under
greenschist facies conditions, are mainly widespread in the innermost sector of the chain (lower Susa, Chisone
and Pellice valleys). Some ophiolites-rich units also outcrops in the Middle Susa and Chisone valleys (Polino et
al., 2002). The Chenaillet Unit, among these units, represents probably the most striking example of a preserved
portion of oceanic crust in the whole Western Alps (“Chenaillet” geosite) and is, therefore, considered as a reference section of the Alpine Tethys (Manatschal et al., 2009; Lemoine et al., 2000). As this unit is only weakly affected by the Alpine deformation and metamorphism (Bertrand et al.,1987) the original oceanic geological and
structural relations between the different ophiolitic rocks are still well-preserved and can be directly observed
on the field. In this area one of the best preserved outcrops of pillow lavas of the Western Alps is also present
(“Chenaillet” geosite).
Another example of well preserved portion of Tethyan oceanic crust is represented by the Lanzo Ultramafic Complex (LC, Fig. 1). The LC corresponds to a 150 km2 body of peridotites distinguished for the exceptional preservation of both mantle and oceanic lithological associations, which include spinel and plagioclase bearing-lherzolites,
dunites and harzburgites. Peridotites usually show a marked tectonitic foliation and lineation defined both by
the alignment of piroxene and spinel minerals. The peridotites are also intruded by several gabbroic and basaltic
dykes (Piccardo et al. 2007 with references). Boudier (1978) subdivides the Lanzo Ultramafic Complex in three
main peridotitic bodies (northern, central and southern) separated by NW-SE serpentinized shear zones. The proposed Geopark area includes only a part of the southern body.
The LC is considered as a portion of sub-continental lithospheric mantle strongly modified by the interaction with
MORB- type astenospheric melts during the earliest phases of the oceanic rifting Piccardo et al. (2004, 2007). In
the proposed Geopark area the Lanzo Complex outcrops in correspondence of the Musinè Mount (“Monte Musinè” geosite).
The calcschists-rich units are made up of calcschists with slices of metabasites and serpentinites. Even if these
units lack of an oceanic basement, the occurrence of ophiolites within their meta-sedimentary successions suggest
an oceanic origin. Calcschists units usually show a strong greenschists facies metamorphic overprint, with blueschists facies metamorphic assemblages only preserved in relics. These units are usually exposed in the middlehigh Susa and Chisone valleys, towards the more external sectors.
13
Some of the calcschists units, mainly composed of terrigeneous and carbonatic metasediments are tentatively
interpreted as trench deposits (Lemoine & Tricart, 1986; Polino et al., 2002).
Within these units, of particular interest are some intercalations composed by leucocratic albite-rich gneisses,
known as Charbonnel gneisses, whose origin is strongly debated (see Pognante, 1980).
In the southwestern part of the geopark outcrop the "Helminthoid flysch" nappes, belonging to the EmbrunaisUbaye nappes stack (BRGM Embrun 1/50000 sheet). They are made of late Cretaceous deep water black shales
(Cenomanian-Turonian ?) and siliciclastic turbidites (Senonian, mostly Campanian-Maastrichtian) which were detached from the remaining oceanic floor of the Tethyan ocean, as testified by similar sediments which are connected with ophiolites in the northern Apennines. These units, which remained in the uppermost part of the
accretionary prism, escaped Alpine metamorphism thanks to their early obduction and transport over the Briançonnais domain first. They were later transported over part of the external zones of the western Alps, where they
overlain the early Tertiary flyschs ("Grès du Champsaur") corresponding to the infill of the Nummulitic flexural
basin. Their basal thrust contact, lying more or less horizontal from the Embrun to Barcelonnette regions, is crosscut by and overprinted in the footwall of the frontal Briançonnais thrust ("Crustal Penninic Thrust") near Guillestre,
as shown by the St Clément fold for example. The Helminthoid Flysch nappes can be regarded as a non-metamorphic equivalent of some late Cretaceous calcschists in the Schistes Lustrés.
External sector
Cristalline of the Écrins – Pelvoux massif
Based on the metamorphic, structural and lithostratigraphic criteria, two areas with at times imprecise limits can
be differentiated:
- the cortical area prolongs the Belledonne and Taillefer series (leptyno-amphibole series, marbles, sandstones
and pelitic-conglomeratic series). These series are not (or not very) migmatitic, and are from the Paleozoic age.
East of the massif as far as the North-West limit of the Briançon sheet, the Combeynot series are, pro parte,
volcanic formations or volcano-clastic acids genetically related to Combeynot granite, possibly from the Permian
age, and possibly with migmatitic core, intensely milonite at Aipin..
- the core, which forms the bulk of the massif, comprises gneiss acids or migmatitised basics, radio-chronological
measurements indicate the existence of Precambrian rocks though neither their age nor their extent can as yet
be specified. This already migmatitic base is intersected by pre-Hercynian granite and then forms part of a general episode of migmatitisation especially intense on the East of the massif, with large outcrops of anatectic
granite and cordierite (granite from the Blanc glacier and the Arsine glacier).
Gneiss and basic or acidic migmatites are found attached to the core formations and the eastern ends of the
Combeynot and Ailefroide granites. Like the gneiss, these granites have often been largely included in the alpine
folding and shearing of Yret–Eychauda, where they are completely mylonised.
Triassic: Basic sandstone and arkoses (or conglomerates) (Mid-Upper Triassic). Dolomites varicoloured schists,
brown sandstone, spilites, reformed or flow basalt (Upper Triassic).
Jurassic: Bedded limestone (Lower Lias). Biodetritic limestone (Lias or Lias - Dogger?). Sandstone and limestone
calcschists (Bajocian?). Black marl (Bathonian-Oxfordian). Clear limestone (Upper Jurassic?).
Cretaceous: Almost unseen on the Geopark area.
Eocene-Oligocene: the Paleogene is constantly represented by three terms.
Nummulitic limestone (Priabonian): between Le Monêtier-les-Bains and Vallouise, it rests directly on the crystalline base everywhere. It comprises from bottom to top:
- limestone conglomerate
- Nummulitic limestone s.s.
Black schists in globigerina (Priabonian). Marl with planktonic foraminifera, comprising a good proportion of
quartz in some places.
“Champsaur sandstones”: flysch sandstone (Priabonian) Alternating layers of brownish sandstone and marl developed on a great thickness, partially truncated by the overlap of Subbriançonnais area. This formation reaches
14
a few hundred metres. It is synorogenic sedimentation in a flexural basin created due to the flexure of the European plate at the beginning of the collision.
Upper Eocene - Lower Oligocene: on top of sandstone, very locally, black schists containing blocks (sandstone, limestone) appear.
4. A brief picture of the geodynamic evolution
The Western Alps are the result of a long and complex geodynamic evolution that began in the Late Cretaceous,
with the closure of the Ligurian -Piedmont Ocean, and is still ongoing. Different tectonic stages have characterized
the history of the Western Alpine chain, which includes:
- intra-continental rifting phase (Triassic - Middle Jurassic)
- Expansion of the Ligurian-Piedmont Ocean (Middle Jurassic - Middle Cretaceous)
- Closure of the Ligurian-Piedmont Ocean with the subduction of oceanic crust beneath the Adriatic plate (Upper
Cretaceous - Eocene)
- Continental Collision phase (Eocene - Oligocene)
- Post-collisional phase (Late Oligocene - Present)
The evidences of these different stages can be recognized within the proposed Geopark, allowing visitors to trace
the evolutionary history of the Alps.
A) Intra-continental rifting phase
The early stages of the extension that led to the opening of the Piedmont-Ligurian Ocean, formed between the
European and the Adria plate, starts from the Upper Triassic (Carnian), simultaneously with the opening of the
Central Atlantic Ocean (Fig. 6). Starting from this period an important modification of the sedimentary environments in the two continental paleo-margins occurs.
The evolution of the intra- continental rifting begins in the Late Triassic, as evidenced by normal faults and by the
onlap unconformity visible on the Norian dolomites of the Briançonnais and Prepiedmont units. This extensional
phase persists and intensifies in the Jurassic, between the Lias and Dogger, to lead to continental breakup at the
end of the Dogger. NE-SW normal faults and NW-SE strike-slip faults, which bounded more or less rotated blocks,
drove this phase. An alternation of basins and structural highs, up to 10-20 km wide, resulted from this extensional
tectonics. In the basins thick successions of deep sea sediments (limestones and marls with ammonites and belemnites) were deposited. At the structural highs, by contrast, deposits of shallow sea show little thicknesses or
even are not present. This alternation of structural highs and lows led to a complex submarine paleogeography.
At the scale of hundreds of kilometers, the European continental margin is characterized by two basins (the Dauphinois and the Piedmont basin).separated by a scarcely subsiding domain (Briançonnais structural high). The
pre-oceanic rifting lasts approximately 60 Ma, being characterized by different stages of rifting separated by intervals of relative tectonic relaxation.
Figure 6: main phases of the evolution
of the Ligurian-Piedmont ocean (from
Lemoine et al., 2000)
15
B) Opening of the Ligurian- Piedmont Ocean (Middle Jurassic - Middle Cretaceous)
The progressive crustal thinning leads to the opening of the Ligurian-Piedmont Ocean starting from the end of
the Dogger (160-170 Ma). From now on, therefore, it is possible to distinguish the paleo-European and the Adriatic
passive margin (Fig. 6, 7). Following the continental breakup and the beginning of the oceanic spreading, starting
from the Middle Jurassic (165 Ma), the paleo-rifted margins are no longer affected by extensional tectonics. In
some areas, however, evidences of both extensional and transpressive tectonics (examples?), are locally observed
along the passive margins in both the Late Jurassic and Cretaceous.
Because of this subsidence, post-rift sediments (marls, calcschists) were deposited in ever increasing depth above
the continental passive margins. In the European paleo-margin normal faults active in this period seems to be
associated with the Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous rifting, which led to the opening of the Gulf of Gascony and
the North Atlantic Ocean, in the western areas, and of the Valais Ocean, in the eastern sectors.
Following the opening of the Valais Ocean within the European margin, which occurred in the Cretaceous (130100 Ma), a continental block of a few hundred kilometres has formed, which included the Briançonnais, SubBriançonnais and Pre-Piedmont units.
The characteristics of the ophiolites arising from both the Ligurian-Piedmont and Valais oceans (exceptionally
preserved in the Chenaillet Unit and in the Lanzo Ultramafic Complex, proposed geosite n .XX and n. 34) include:
(i) the low amount of gabbros and basalts; (ii) the occurrence of ophicarbonates at the interface between serpentinites, gabbros and basalts; (iii) pelagic sediments that directly cover the oceanic basement. These features
indicate that Alpine ophiolites can be assimilated to those of the slow spreading oceans (magma poor succession),
like the Atlantic Ocean.
Radiolarites (Dogger-Malm; 165-145 Ma) and limestones (Malm, 145-155 Ma) are usually found above these
ophiolites. Above these lithotypes often shales with minor limestones (Cretaceous, 140-120 Ma), dark shales
(“Black shales”; Middle Cretaceous, 95-115 Ma) and finally both the schists (ancient marls) and turbidites (flysch)
of upper Cretaceous age are present. Ophiolitic detritism within the deep-sea sediments (clay and limestone;
Lower Cretaceous) seems
to testify localized tectonic
activity, associated with
the development of faults,
in some areas of the Ligurian-Piedmont Ocean. Albite-gneisses and
micaschists (Charbonnel
gneisses “Auct.”) found within the calcschists are interpreted
both
as
olistoliths, slices of continental crust extremely
transposed (Pognante,
1980) or, possibly, as extensional allochthonous
(Pellettier and Muntener,
2006).
Figure 7:
schematic cross-sections
showing the tectonic
evolution of the
Western Alps
(from Lemoine et al.
2000)
16
C) Closure of the Piedmont-Ligurian Ocean with subduction of oceanic crust beneath the Adriatic crust
(Upper Cretaceous-Eocene)
Starting from the Late Cretaceous the Adriatic plate, due to the opening of the South Atlantic Ocean, begins to
move northwards. This caused the convergence that induced the lithospheric rupture in the transition zone between the original passive Adriatic margin and Piedmont-Ligurian Ocean and subduction of the latter. As a result
of these new geodynamic conditions, the Adriatic palaeo-margin became an active margin and an accretionary
wedge formed. In figure 7 is shown an attempt to reconstruct the various stages that led to the formation of the
Alps.
The first part of the Alpine tectonic history mostly affected the inner sectors of the chain and included the subduction of oceanic crust below the Adriatic paleo-margin. While the chain is developed on the Cretaceous active
margin of the upper plate, extended sequences of Cretaceous-Paleocene flysch (Helminthoides Flysch) were deposited in the oceanic trench and in the forearc basins.
At deep crustal levels, the subduction phase caused the development of Cretaceous high-pressure and low-temperature metamorphism (eclogite and blueschist facies), widespread in most of the Alpine ophiolites and in the
continental units both with European (Dora- Maira Unit, Ambin Unit, Briançonnais Units) and Adriatic (SesiaLanzo Zone) affinity.
In the European paleo-margin the syn-rift normal faults that were favourably oriented were reactivated as compressional/transcurrent faults, or have been displaced from the Alpine structures. In the more external sectors
of chain (Ardèche, Cévennes in France), instead, the syn-rift faults and the rotated blocks are almost completely
preserved.
D) Continental collision (Eocene-Oligocene)
Once the oceanic crust Ligurian-Piedmont Ocean has been completely subducted, in the Paleocene, the European
and the Adriatic paleo-margin collided. At that time, in the Cottian Alps, the Briançonnais block was not separated
from the European paleo-margin as the Valais ocean terminated, probably, further north, in the Aosta Valley area.
The continental collision generated the thickening and the widening of the orogenic belt, aggregating the stack
of layers generated in conditions of high pressure and low temperature portions of the ever more extensive European passive margin.
In this phase the units belonging to the European paleo-margin (Dora-Maira, Ambin, and Briançonnais units with
their sedimentary cover) are subducted to increasing depth, undergoing large deformations in ductile conditions.
These deformations are attested by ductile shear zones and folds developed at all scales (geosite n . 25 and 43
Rocca Bianca and Meitre folds), associated with the development of foliations characterized by high-pressure
and low-temperature assemblages. The tectonic contact between the oceanic units and the Dora-Maira Unit,
clearly visible in the lower Val Sangonetto (italian side of the Geopark), represents an excellent example of tectonic
coupling associated to this stage.
The subduction of European continental crust caused a sharp slowdown in the convergence process. The negative
thermal anomaly caused by the subduction of oceanic crust is progressively reduced, allowing the restoration of
normal conditions and the establishment of high temperature gradients. This caused the development of the
greenschist/amphibolite facies regional metamorphism (Eocene-Early Oligocene), still associated with ductile deformation processes, which overprint the high pressure-low temperature assemblages.
In the outer sectors of the chain, instead, this tectonic phase caused the detachment of the sedimentary cover
from their basement, which was being underthrusted beneath the front of the chain under very low-grade metamorphic conditions.
E) Post-collisional phase (Oligocene-Current)
The post-Oligocene tectonics of the Cottian Alps is related to the deformation of the nappe stack developed in
the previous phases. In the Miocene, in fact, due to the persistence of the convergence between the Adriatic and
European plates, the Crustal Penninic Thrust (CPT in Figure 1; “Penninic Thrust” geosite) developed as the most
important structure on a regional scale, overriding Briançonnais units over the European paleo-margin. These
deformations can be considered approximately coeval with the propagation of the South-Alpine transpressive
17
fronts (Late Oligocene - Miocene) in the Western Po Plain. In the Miocene, especially in the Briançonnais units,
some back-thrusts associated to back-folds further deform the pre-existing structures (Fig. 7). A complex network
of both transcurrent and normal faults displaces and dissects all these structures. This complex kinematics seems
to be caused by the coexistence of different geodynamic mechanisms: the counterclockwise rotation of the Adria
plate, starting from the upper Oligocene, and the body gravitational forces, prevalent in the highly elevated part
of the chain, These forces would have respectively induced transcurrent and normal movements along the major
fault systems (Perrone et al. , 2013, with references). The occurrence of Quaternary alluvial deposits displaced
by normal faults (faults of the “Seghino village” geosite) suggest that this regime has been protracted until the
Quaternary times (Cadoppi et al., 2007) and would be still ongoing, as attested by the seismological data (Perrone
et al. , 2013, with references; Sue et al., 2007). The most recent phases of the Alpine history (Pleistocene - Current)
are related to the uplifting of the chain and to the consequent remodeling performed by several exogenous agents
such as the Pleistocene glaciers (“Anfiteatri morenici di Galambra, Palè e Rivoli-Avigliana” geosites) and later, in
the Holocene times, by stream and rivers (“Gorge di San Gervasio”geosites).
5. Geomorphological setting, morphogenetic processes and climatic conditions
From a geomorphological point of view, the Geopark area is located at the core of the arch-shaped Western Alps.
Here the mountain chain shows an asymmetric transversal cross-profile: the internal (Italian) side is shorter and
steeper than the external (French) one.
In the Italian sector, the front range shows a very important step from foothills and plains (Rivoli-Avigliana Morainic
Amphitheatre geosite, elevation 300-500 m asl) to the mountains tops (e.g. Musinè Mount geosite m asl, 1150;
Rocciamelone, elevation 3538 m asl). Major valley systems (Susa, Chisone) reach the Western Po plain after deep
bedrock incision and their slopes often overcomes 3000 m of relief. Some authors indicate the incision of the
major alpine valleys can be dated back to the Messinian (Bini et al., 1978) or pre-Pliocene (Staub, 1934). A regressive continental sequence of Middle Pliocene to Lower Pleistocene age (“Villafranchiano” Auct.) lies on top
of marine deposits of Pliocene age which filled the terminal parts of the valleys (Carraro, 1996).
Of all of the morphodynamic agents that have influenced the regional geomorphology, the glaciers are the most
important, especially by means of the Pleistocene glacial advance phases. The valleys configuration still preserves,
at various observation scales, the direct traces of glacial modelling (Carraro & Giardino 2004) both as erosional
and as depositional landforms. Glaciation also influences indirectly the actual slope dynamics because of the
pressure released by decaying glaciers (Panizza 1974).
Since the alpine valleys of the Cottian Geopark were repeatedly occupied by wide glaciers during the Quaternary
age, the repeated glacial pulsations modelled the valleys, resulting in the present regional setting. Each single
glacial event was characterised both by a) a unique glacial mass extending from the basin heads to the lower valleys leaving well distinguished tongues (regional glaciation) and b) local glaciers, confined to the higher peaks,
sometimes even without contact to other glaciers (local glaciation).
Looking for geological and geomorphological traces of Pleistocene glaciations, on the Cottian Alps valley slopes,
altitudinal sequences of landform and deposits can be recognized: 1) higher altitude deposits related to regional
glaciation are strongly reworked and remodelled to the point that they lost all of their original morphological expression and are conserved as 'loose skeletal till' (isolated boulders randomly distributed within a certain area,
such as those of the Maddalena unit, SouthEast of the Pertus geosite). 2) On the contrary, deposits of the lower
altitude units are well preserved and sometimes still possess their original morphological expression, even if
slightly modified by post-glacial remodelling, such as morainic ramparts. Where dating of those features was possible, it turned out that relatively well-conserved higher altitude deposits refer to the LGM (Last Glacial Maximum);
the strongly remodelled deposits, preserved at highest altitudes, are older. The number of terms making up the
lowest 'altitude belt' of landforms and deposits a re from a younger succession o f glacial deposits which varies
from basin to basin, and can be referred to the last glacial withdrawal phases ('cataglacial sequence', such as
those at the base of the Susa valley slope, Foresto-Chianocco geosites).
In the Rivoli Avigliana morainic amphitheatre located at the mouth of the Susa Valley, we also find a succession
made up of a number of units, and the outmost terminal moraine visible in the field does not necessarily corres-
18
pond to the Maximum Glacial Expansion (MGE); lodgement till has been found near Rivalta and Bruino, about 2
km beyond the outermost Middle Pleistocene moraines. This fact is related to the erosion and burying of the
outer moraines by glaciofluvial activity.
The erosional activity of watercourses affected all the Geopark of Cottian Alps territory through the progressive
deepening of glaciated side valleys, and the erosion of glacial landforms and deposits (e.g. Gran Gorgia geosite).
Important fluvial deposits and landforms are widespread along the valley bottoms, as are imposing mixed alluvial
and debris flow fans, products of recurrent meteorological events (e.g. the last major one of the Western Alps,
occurring on 13–16 October 2000).
Gravity has played a fundamental role in the geomorphic evolution of the Aosta Valley and has jointly operated
with a variety of other exogenic processes in shaping the landscape. A diversity of gravitational phenomena can
be recognized on mountain slopes of the Geopark, a unique selection can be differentiated by size and type,
useful fo didactic purposes: from simple shallow landslides (mainly soil slips) to large slope instability phenomena
(mainly rock falls (e.g. Cassas Landslide, shown as a didactic laboratory at the interpretative centre of the Alpi
Cozie Geopark) and DSGSDs; (Giardino et al. 2004). Locally, Holocene gravitational and fluvial/torrential processes
deeply modified glacial landforms and deposits, causing widespread instability phenomena (Soldati et al., 2006).
Climatic conditions of the Western Alps have a great influence on distribution and intensity of weathering phenomena within the Geopark area, differentially affecting soluble and non-soluble rocks. The present-day climatic
setting is conditioned by moderate to low oceanic/marine moisture supply; 900 mm of mean annual precipitation
indicates a dryer environment with respect to Northern and Eastern Alpine regions. Xeric conditions are concentrated along major valleys and intermontane basins (down to 700 mm/year in the upper Susa Valley). Average
low intensity precipitation is indicated by mean values not exceeding 20 mm/day in the Susa Valley, whose “sublittoral” pluviometric regime shows a summer primary minimum, a fall primary maximum and a spring secondary
maximum. This is in contrast with “pre-Alpine” pluviometric regime of surrounding part of the Western Alps showing a winter primary minimum, a spring primary maximum and a fall secondary maximum (Biancotti and Bovo,
1998).
6. Listing and description of geological sites within the proposed Geopark
The survey of the Geopark in the Cottian Alps revealed 114 geological sites, divided by scientific interest:
- 62 geomorphological sites (25 in Italy and 37 in France),
- 38 geological sites (19 in Italy and 19 in France),
- 14 concerning the geo-resources (7 in Italy and 7 in France).
In addition to these geosites, there are other sites of geotourist or educational interest:
- 9 panoramic views or vantage points,
- 5 "geodròmes" and
- 11 museums and exhibition sites.
These geological sites were selected following a search based on the analysis of different sources of information
credited and scientifically recognised such as the results of cross-border projects (INTERREG I - Promoting the
mining heritage - Interreg IIIA "Mountains born from the sea"), databases produced by universities that operate
on the territory within a convention or research projects ("Geosites in the province of Turin" and so on), reports
written by institutions that operate in the area in their various functions (consortia of mountain municipalities,
parks, eco-museums) and original research of the land carried out as part of the project of this Geopark.
During the search, the geological sites were initially catalogued according to the guidelines of each country of
origin (in France: Vademecum pour l’inventaire du patrimoine géologique National”; in Italy: "Scheda di censimento e valutazione del patrimonio geologico piemontese" (census and evaluation of the geological heritage of
Piedmont) drafted by the Regional Museum of Natural Sciences of Turin according to the ISPRA guidelines for
the inventory of geological sites in Italy). Subsequently, the results were compared and researchers selected the
sites to be included in the Geopark based on some fundamental criteria: scientific value, educational standard,
landscape characteristics, historical and cultural value, recreational and sporting interest and accessibility.
19
!
!
!
!
! preliminary comparative evaluations were then joined by a further selection made on a regional basis,
These
! on the degree of interest that give rise to the different sites in the various local communities in the Geobased
!
park.
!
! below are all the Geopark geological sites; Annex A lists a more detailed description of the more important
Listed
ones! (from a scientific and tourist point of view). For further descriptions and the complete iconography, please
!
refer! to the Geopark website (www.geoparc-alpescottiennes.eu).
!
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In order to provide opportunities to experience the Alpi Cozie Geopark in a more organic way, we have installed
a few geo-itineraries which combine geological information with points of cultural and environmental interest in
the landscape. These itineraries can be followed on foot, or by using public transport (bus and train), or by car,
thereby covering most of our tourists’ requirements. Further information about these itineraries can be found
on the geo-tourist map that is provided and, above all, on the Geopark project internet site (www.geoparc-alpescottiennes.eu).
7. Details on the interest of these sites in terms of their international, national, regional or local
value (for example scientific, educational, aesthetic)
The Alpi Cozie Geopark is a site of particular scientific interest, because it features a high level of geo-diversity
which scientists are studying with a view to establishing the plate tectonics and the evolution of the Alpine system.
Nevertheless, we are able to offer a great many visitors the opportunity to visit sites of high scientific interest on
this very theme. What’s more, we offer the opportunity to learn about the relationship between humans and
geology by looking at a great many examples of the exploitation of these geo-resources. To demonstrate the
scientific value of our Geopark, only one geosite in every five attains national or international status (out of a
22
total of 4 international and 24 national sites). International status is awarded to the most significant sites for establishing the geology of the Alps. For instance, if we can appreciate the evidence contained in the outcrops for
the study of the litospheric mantel in Massiccio Ultrabasico di Lanzo (the Monte Musinè Geosite), the distinctive
magmatic rocks from the upwelling of the mid-Oceanic ridge of the Ligurian-Piedmontese Ocean (La Falaise du
Collet Vert Geosite, in the Massif du Chenaillet), the subduction of the Alpine ocean floor (Queyras and Bric Bouchet), and the traces of pleistocene glacial formation on which the nineteenth century geologists Martins (French)
and Gastaldi (Italian) based their theory about the glaciology of the Western Alps (moraines and irregular masses
of the moraine amphitheatres of Rivoli and Avigliana).
Since then, the importance of this Geopark has been highlighted by the development and spread of interest in
geology, and by education about the environment. One geosite in five is regularly used by schools and universities
as part of their courses. We need only mention the Scoprimiera-Scoprialpi Geosite in Val Gernamasca, which is
visited by hundreds of schoolchildren every year, to learn about the history of mining and how it was based on
the exploitation of geo-resources that were typical of a specific lithological and developmental situation, and
how to establish the evolution of the entire Alpine system from it. Every year, the Chenaillet massif and the geological sites in the valleys of the Durance and Queyras are studied by thousands of schoolchildren, who establish
the history of Alps on site (from the Carboniferous period to the continental collision between the European and
African plates). The majority of French students of geology will also go on field trips to the Briançonnais region.
The importance of geo-tourism is demonstrated by the presence of many extremely popular sites along the itinerary. For instance, the trans-frontier site of Colletto Verdo, along the Via Geoalpina route, is a goal for summer
and winter expeditions. Or Bric Bouchet, along the international circular route of the same name which offers
ofiolitic landscapes and high altitude formations.
To finish, the Geopark territory, which has been settled for millennia, and has been the scene of military encounters and wars, as well as a place where the local population could exchange their produce and knowledge, also
features a great many geosites of considerable historical, cultural and religious interest. Here are some of the
most fascinating ones:
- The glacial Le Verrou in Briançon (France) and the fluvial-glacial terraces in Mont-Dauphin, are both Unesco
World Heritage sites on account of their splendid fortified citadels.
- The Church of San Michele in Italy, a grand Benedictine abbey which dominates the valley of Susa from the
heights of Monte Pirchiriano and is a symbol of the Piedmont region.
However, there are many more sites that are equally interesting:
- Geology provides the basis on which structures of high architectonic interest are situated, for instance, the
citadel of Susa, with its Roman and medieval remnants.
- Other examples relate to military history: the Plateau of Assietta was the site of a battle between Sardinian and
French armies on 19 July 1747.
23
C. Geoconservation
1. Current or potential pressure on the proposed Geopark
The Cottian Alps are potentially threatened by the conflict between the following factor: a growing population,
tourism, mining and an important natural heritage. The proposed Geopark has good justification for becoming a
member of the EGN, and intends to highlight and reinforce the management of the following potential pressures
affecting the area:
Urbanisation: the Cottian Alps area is in a phase of moderately increasing urbanisation linked to the progressive
transfer of population from large urban centres to outlying areas, including Alpine valleys. However, the biggest
impact, both on the landscape and on geological sites, concerns work on the implementation of a high-speed
rail line between Turin and Lyon, which will, for several years, deface the landscape of the Lower Susa Valley– the
most important and well-known of Italian valleys. While this will cause a major impact both in terms of the environment and the landscape, the line could, in the following years, become an important means of reaching the
area.
Tourism: a large proportion of the local economy (80% in the high valleys) comes from tourism, especially that
related to winter sports, hiking, water sports such as rafting or windsurfing, cycling activities (both on- and offroad), golf, adventure parks, museums, eco-museums and natural parks, as well as gastronomic tourism (restaurants, agritourism) and accommodation (mountain hostels, hotels). The progressive increase in visitors could then
cause further pressure on the area.
Mining and quarrying: the presence of numerous active quarries and mines of various sizes across almost the
entire area, which extract different types of rocks (gneiss, metagranites, talc, marble and river deposits, etc., (see
also paragraph 2) represent a potential danger to the local geological and geomorphological sites.
2. Current status in terms of protection of geological sites within the proposed Geopark
The area is environmental protected in various forms at international, national, regional, provincial levels. This
protection also extends to geological heritage and comprises a significant number of geological sites.
For the italian part:
The Ente di gestione delle aree protette delle Alpi Cozie (the "Authority for the management of protected
areas of the Cottian Alps") manages an area of 21,576.49 ha, distributed across Susa, Chisone and Sangone valleys
and includes 7 protected areas identified as SCIs and SPAs within the Natura 2000 network, of which 4 are national
parks: the Gran Bosco di Salbertrand, the Avigliana Lakes, the Orsiera Rocciavrè and Val Troncea, two special reserves – the Chianocco and Foresto gorges, and the Rocciamelone SCI. These protected areas belonging to the
Alpine biogeographical region, and have extremely varied environmental characteristics for their geographic location, a varied orientation down the valleys and a considerable altitudinal range. They vary from the wetland
environments of the Avigliana Lakes natural park at an altitude of 300 m above sea level and just 20 km from
Turin, to the over 3000-metre-high peaks surrounding the perimeter of the Val Troncea, and up to 3600 m above
sea level at the peak of Rocciamelone, which overlooks the Chianocco and Foresto reserves and is characterised
by a typical Mediterranean environment.
The authority uses its own staff in fulfilling its functions. Its staff have the same legal and economic status of regional staff.
The authority is headed by its director, Laura Castagneri, who has managerial authority. In addition to the director,
the authority has the following employees: 5 administrative staff; 3 technical staff; 6 monitoring staff and 26 rangers; 5 administrative trainers; 3 technical trainers; 3 administrative agents; 3 professional technicians.
24
The Provincial parks, managed by the Servizio Aree Protette della Provincia di Torino (Turin's provincial protected
areas service), which undertakes monitoring and development using its own staff: Conca Cialancia natural park
in the town of Perrero (973 ha), the natural park of Monte San Giorgio (388 ha), Monte Tre Denti and Freidour
(822) in the municipalities of Cumiana and Frossasco.
The Ecomuseo delle Miniere e della Val Germanasca which looks after the conservation of the Scopriminiera and
ScopriAlpi geological sites in the municipalities of Prali and Salza di Pinerolo.
List of Sites of Community Interest within the territory of the Geopark
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Fonte Dati: Regione Piemonte - Direzione Ambiente - Settore pianificazione e gestione delle Aree naturali protette
For the French part:
National Nature Reserves: Pics de Combeynot (Monêtier-les-Bains, Villar d’Arêne) e Ristolas Mont Viso
Regional Nature Reserve: Combes – Partias (Puy-Saint-André)
Sites Natura 2000: Vallée de la Clarée, Combeynot – Lautaret – Ecrins, Durance, Haut-Guil, Mont Viso Val Préveyre,
Plateau d’Emparis – Goléon, Rochebrune – Izoard – Cerveyrette, Steppique durancien et queyrassin, Bois des
Ayes, Vallée du Haut-Guil, Fournel, Mont Thabor, Massif de la Lauzière, Perron des Encombres. Zone humide des
Hurtières
25
3. Data on the management and maintenance of these sites
The geological sites identified and reported are owned by different entities: municipalities, mountain communities, communautées de communes, natural parks and private bodies. The geological sites appraised for the organisation of visits and educational activities are maintained and run by the following entities:
The Ente di Gestione Parco Naturale Regionale Alpi Cozie will look after the maintenance of and activities at geological sites within the area of Chisone, Susa and Sangone.
The Ecomuseo delle miniere e della Val Germanasca will look after the maintenance of and activities at geological
sites within its area (Val Germanasca).
The Società di studi Rorenghi will look after the maintenance of and activities at the Ecomuseo delle lose geological
site within the municipality of Rorà (voluntary body).
The Pinerolo section of the Club Alpino Italiano – CAI – will look after the maintenance of and activities at the
Rocca Sbarua geological site within the municipality of Frossasco (voluntary body).
The Val Pellice section of the CAI will look after the maintenance of and activities at the Conca del Pra geological
site in the municipality of Bobbio Pellice (voluntary body).
Those entities (municipalities, associations of municipalities, communautés des comunes) who own geological
sites or who manage the infrastructure will ensure their maintenance.
On the French side, site maintenance is the responsibility of the municipalities, who make use of technical and
economic support from the communautés de commune, regions and departments.
Activities are carried out by municipalities, the natural parks (Ecrins, Vanoise, Queyras) or by local associations.
The organisational and management procedures for the Geopark as described in Section A.3, will encourage both
the monitoring of activities, and also the supervision of the management and maintenance of the geological sites,
both in terms of participation in constructing the annual plans for activities and measures to be implemented,
and also the management and maintenance of and activities at the geological sites.
4. Listing and description of non-geological sites
and how they are integrated into the proposed Geopark
Sites demo - ethno - anthropological
On the Italian side, cultural and intangible heritage is organised across 2 area-based cultural networks: "Pinerolo
and the valleys: the paths of freedom between art and culture" - www.pinerolovalli-artecultura.it and "Susa Valley:
Treasures of Art and Alpine Culture" www.vallesusa-tesori.it, in which the entities and people working in the cultural and tourism sectors combine their efforts on a shared path towards the promotion of history, culture, art,
traditions, folklore, crafts, food and drink, in order to strengthen local identity and enhance social and economic
benefits.
Pinerolese
The Pinerolese area, including the valleys of Chisone, Germanasca, Pellice, Noce, Lemina and Val Sangone offer
the visitor a varied cultural and environmental heritage of great interest: archaeological sites and rich landscapes,
villages and ethnographic sites, ancient and contemporary art, religious and military architecture, historical Waldensian sites, museums and eco-museums to recount material culture and the community's relationship with its
land.
Much of this area was also bolstered by four centuries of shared history (1343-1713) in the form of the Republic
of the Escartons, a democracy founded on the basis of the area's independence and on fundamental human
rights, and on the citizens' individual and collective freedom.
26
Of the area's resources, special emphasis is placed on the "beacon assets" – monuments and museums which by
themselves are able to attract large numbers of visitors, and which thus form the centrepiece of a tourism industry
aiming to promote the entire network of the assets throughout the area. These beacon assets have been defined
as: the Fenestrelle Fort: a monumental symbol of the Province of Turin of great historical and monumental importance, built between 1727 and 1850 and winding for three kilometres with a total altitude drop of 635 metres,
located on the exposed side of the Chisone valley near the town of the same name; the eco-historical museum
network of the Waldensian valleys, spread between the valleys of Pellice, Chisone and Germanasca; the Ecomuseo
delle miniere e della Val Germanasca with Scopriminiera and Scoprialpi in Prali; the Ecomuseo Feltrificio Crumière
in Villar Pellice; the fortress and the abbey of St. Maria di Cavour; the Miradolo castle in San Secondo di Pinerolo;
the Museo del Gusto in Frossasco and the historical museum of cavalry in Pinerolo and the Ecomuseo Colombano
Romean di Salbertrand.
The network includes over 50 museums and ecomuseums, more than 25 national parks, sites of natural interest
and protected areas, 16 sites of material culture – ranging from ancient mills and air-raid shelters to mountain
villages that have been preserved almost with their characteristics virtually intact, 20 castles and fortifications,
as well as art galleries that play host to artists from around the world and al fresco works of contemporary art.
Susa Valley
Treasures of Art and Alpine Culture describes a unique area which, together with the two passes of Moncenisio
and Monginevro, was an important region for connections to Europe: it has been witness to fundamental historical
events and the guardian of an immense historical and artistic heritage within an immensely picturesque setting.
One's reading of the past allows for the identification of four tiles of its cultural mosaic – a real store of historical
and artistic heritage: fortifications, sacred art, material culture and archaeology intersect along multiple cultural,
natural and sporting paths within our Valley. They are the archaeological sites of Susa, ranging from the Museo
Diocesano Di Arte Sacra (diocesan museum of sacred art) and the diocesan museum network to the Dinamitificio
Nobel in Avigliana, the abbeys of Novalesa, Saint Michael's Abbey, Exilles Fort and Bramafam: this the entrance
gate to the local cultural heritage – and to getting to know the Susa Valley itself. www.vallesusa-tesori.it
The most significant sites in the Susa Valley:
RIVOLI CASTLE. Rivoli Castle was built was built on the ruins of an eleventh-century medieval castle. The initial
project was by Juvarra for Vittorio Amedeo II of Savoy. It was opened to the public in 1984, with the inauguration
of the Museo d’Arte Contemporanea del Castello di Rivoli, which has 38 rooms, and each year hosts major events
and exhibitions. Its collection has been expanded over the years, making it now one of the most popular museums
in Europe. In 1997 it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site as a residence of the House of Savoy.
SUSA – ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES and CONTESSA ADELAIDE CASTLE. Susa, a city of Celtic origin, acquired a very
important role as focal point on the Via delle Gallie following the Roman conquest. There are numerous – and significant – monuments which bear witness to this: firstly, the Arch of Augustus, built in the 8th century BC to
ratify the pact of alliance concluded between Cottius, the local ruler, and the Roman Empire.
NOVALESA – ABBEY OF Sts PETER AND ANDREW. Novalesa Abbey was founded in 726 AD by the Merovingian patrician Abbo, who selected it as an advanced outpost of the Franks towards Italy and was one of the beacons of
European culture in the Carolingian era. Since 2009, the complex has also housed the archaeological museum,
which contains excavation material from archaeological surveys conducted between 1978 and 2008.
SAINT AMBROSE OF TURIN – SAINT MICHAEL'S ABBEY. A symbolic monument of the Piedmont region: the abbey
of St Michael of Chiusa was founded between 983 and 987 AD. The monastery was one of the most important
Benedictine abbeys in Europe, situated on St Michael's path between Mont St Michel and San Michele Gargano.
ROSTA/BUTTIGLIERA ALTA - PRECEPTORY OF ST ANTHONY OF RANVERSO. The Preceptory of St. Anthony of Ranverso, built at the end of the twelfth century as a settlement for Antonian monks, is one of the most important
pieces of medieval architecture in Piedmont.
SUSA – SUSA - MUSEO DIOCESANO DI ARTE SACRA and DIOCESAN MUSEUM NETWORK. The Museo Diocesano
di Arte Sacra (diocesan museum of sacred art) is the headquarters and reference point for Susa's diocesan museum network.
27
BARDONECCHIA – BRAMAFAM FORT. The fort was built between 1874 and 1889 on the ruins of a medieval fortress
to protect the mouth of the Frejus tunnel against possible attacks by the French. Following renovation work, it
has been open to the public since 2004. Inside you can visit the museum, which displays more than 120 Royal
Army uniforms, as well as weapons, equipment and original technology.
EXILLES – FORT. While the origins of Exilles Fort are still uncertain, it is known that it already existed in around
1155. In 1339, the fort was already a complex structure, and was amended several times in the following centuries.
The restoration of the complex sponsored by the Piedmont Region started in 1978 and led to its opening to the
public in 2000.
THE VIA FRANCIGENA. The cross-border area occupied by the Geopark is crossed by a historical-cultural path of
European significance: the Via Francigena – trodden by centuries of pilgrims who came to Rome, as well as merchants, armies, etc. In the vicinity of the Via, two projects to develop tourism, culture and the environment are
underway: the "Via Francigena in the Susa Valley" and the "Via Alta". The latter project connects the Italian branch
of the Via Francigena to the French branch of the Camino de Santiago, via the Col du Montgenevre.
Grand Briançonnais
The Association of the Pays du Grand Briançonnais, which includes the entire area from Briançonnais to Queyras,
was founded in 2006 with the aim of defining precise objectives and actions for the development of the area.
The Association coordinates the activities, projects and work on a territorial scale, and acts as a representative
with the higher-level institutions - Department, Region and State. The Association’s role is therefore to enliven,
coordinate and stimulate local initiatives as part of the overall planning of the area. It is a mountainous area,
among the highest in Europe, with an average altitude of more than 1,800 m, in a strategic position on the border
with Italy, with Savoie and the Alpes de Haute-Provence.
This area has an architectural heritage of great historical and artistic interest, from military architecture to religious
heritage, and from traditional architecture to material culture. Among the places of interest of Grand Briançonnais,
the city of Briançon is of particular significance, being the highest city in Europe (1326 m) and recognised as "Ville
d'Art et d’Histoire", as well as the village of Saint-Véran in Queyras, which is the highest village in Europe (2040m),
while there are more than 100 sites which have been classified as “Monuments Historiques”. The most significant
architectural cultural places of interest, however, are the forts of Briançon and the fortified town of Mont-Dauphin,
both of which belong to the Vauban network that has been recognised by UNESCO.
The forts of Briançon are a unique example of mountain fortifications, which allows us to understand the genius
of Vauban, a military engineer of Louis XIV. The fort network is formed by the upper town of Briançon with its
walls, the Fort des Salettes, the Fort des Trois Têtes, the Fort Dauphin and the Fort du Randouillet, forming an exceptional fortified landscape. By virtue of their authenticity, their condition, their representativeness and the development policy adopted, the fortifications of Briançon were recognised as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in
2008.
Maurienne
The rich heritage of Maurienne and the choice of quality development enabled the Maurienne valley to be recognised as "Pays d'Art et d'Histoire" in 1991. People inhabited and travelled though the Upper Savoy valleys in all
periods of history. Moreover, the Upper Savoy valleys share a common alpine culture and were part of the States
of Savoy until 1860, the year Savoy was annexed to France.
The recognition of "Pays d'Art et d'Histoire" was awarded by the Ministry of Culture to FACIM (the Foundation
for International Cultural Action in Mountains) that enlivens the area by having set up a network of over 180 sites
and offers a variety of themed itineraries, including:
- “Chemins du Baroque”, religious heritage itineraries. Baroque art was widely known in the valleys, thanks to
the various works of extension and improvement of existing buildings through pictorial decorations and sculptures. In the ancient church of Lanslebourg, the '"Espace Baroque Maurienne" can also be found.
- “Pierres-fortes de Savoie”, heritage of fortifications itineraries. Maurienne has a rich and diverse heritage of fortifications, reflecting a troubled history that lasted more than a millennium and has left tracks on the whole
area of Maurienne. The Barrière de l'Esseillon, the Fort du Télégraphe and the Fort du Saint Gobain are among
the most representative forts.
28
- “Terre des Alpes”, rural heritage itineraries. These are itineraries that include high-altitude vineyards, alpine
gardens, mountain pastures, which represent a rural heritage that is alive, a fort, and very different materials
and types of construction.
- “Archipels d'altitude”, architecture of winter sports itineraries.
- “Voyages autour de la table”, food and wine heritage itineraries.
Finally, Maurienne brings together twenty museum spaces of very different topics: from the geological site of
the Grand Filon to the Opinel museum, as well as fortifications, history and traditions, archaeology, baroque art,
the Espace Alu (history of aluminium production), the Mont-Cenis Pyramid and the Maison de la Vanoise…
(Annex No. 7 - Ethno - demo - anthropological sites)
Important sites for wildlife and natural environment
On the Italian side, the most important sites are the National Parks and those sites which are the responsibility
of the Board of Management for Protected Areas in the Cottian Alps (a partner of Geoparco):
ORSIERA ROCCIAVRE’ NATURAL PARK SIC IT1110006 ORSIERA ROCCIAVRÈ
General features: The site covers a large mountain area which includes part of the high Sangone Valley and part
of the ridge that separates the Susa and Chisone Valleys. The central core, composed of ophiolite metamorphic
rock, is a massif which incorporates the two most important peaks: Mount Orsiera (2890 m) and Mount Rocciavrè
(2778 m). The many lakes in the area are of glacial origin, for example: Lake Ciardonnet (2560 m) and Lake La
Manica (2365 m).
NATURAL PARK OF THE AVIGLIANA LAKES - SIC T1110007 AVIGLIANA LAKES
General features: The Avigliana Lakes are situated in the lower Susa Valley, close to the Turin plain. These are typical lake basins of glacial origin, created as a result of depressions left after the retreat of the glacial layer which
covered the Susa valley during the Pleistocene Age.
The morainic hills of Avigliana surround the two lakes and the adjacent Mareschi Wetland: the area of greatest
natural interest.
Evidence of the erosive activity and glacial movement can be found in the presence of “erratic boulders” in the
morainic area between Rivoli and Avigliana.
NATURAL PARK OF THE GREAT FOREST OF SALBERTRAND - SIC IT1110010 GREAT FOREST OF SALBERTRAND
General features: The Great Forest of Salbertrand is one of the best local examples of forests of mountain and
subalpine conifers. Near the bottom of the Susa Valley, there are concentrations of broad-leafed woodland, with
the presence of maples, lime trees, ash, beech and chestnut.
NATURAL PARK OF THE TRONCEA VALLEY - SIC IT1110080 TRONCEA VALLEY
General features: The Troncea Valley is situated between the Chisone and Germanasca Valleys. It has a typically
Alpine landscape whose structure is related to the action of glaciers, superimposed by a morphogenetic process
of gravitative erosion, still continuing today and creating a variety of different forms in relation to the substratum.
Thus, the typically rocky elevations, crags and ledges are interspersed with layers of debris, gentler slopes and
valley bottoms covered in alluvial deposits.
NATURAL RESERVE OF THE CHIANOCCO AND FORESTO GORGES SIC IT1110030 OASIS OF THE XEROTHERMIC
GORGES OF CHIANOCCO AND FORESTO
General features: The “Xerothermic Oases” occupy part of the left side of the central part of the Susa Valley and
include the Gorges of Chianocco and Foresto. The geomorphology of the area is characterised by limestone cliffs
incised with narrow gorges, known as “orridi”, created by the erosive action on the thick limestone layers of small
streams running off the Dora Riparia. Another important geomorphological feature consists of the extensive morainic deposits, left by glaciers at the end of the last Ice Age.
29
SIC IT1110039 MOUNT ROCCIAMELONE
General features: The site includes the south-east slope of Mount Rocciamelone: a mountainous massif characterised by its craggy slopes culminating in the unmistakeable peak with its jagged profile. At 3538 metres, this is
one of the highest peaks in the Graie Alps, situated on the divide which separates the Susa and Lanzo Valleys.
The lithology of the area is varied: in general it is dominated by calcareous schist, with outcrops of green stones
and small gneiss in the low section, while, at the point where the site joins the Xerothermic Oasis of the Chianocco
and Foresto Gorges, there is a presence of dolomites and limestone. The particular appearance of this mountain
massif is due to the action of powerful glacial masses in the Quaternary Period, which significantly shaped the
landscape.
Environments and species of greatest interest in the Parks
These protected areas form part of the biogeographic Alpine region, in which the geomorphological conditions
and different alignments of slopes determine the presence of many quite diverse types of environment. One can
move from wet zones to dry, warm habitats which host steppic and Mediterranean plants (rare in the Alps) at
heights of over 3600 metres.
Such a very varied territory contains a real treasure-trove of natural diversity, hosting some 2000 of the 11000
plant species to be found throughout Europe. The woodlands contain plentiful examples of larch and cembra
pine, and the beech-woods and stands of barbed pine and spruce pine are considered priority habitats.
These typically Alpine environments are the kingdom of marmots and eagles, ibex and chamois, deer and wolves,
but also of a variety of minor species such as amphibians, butterflies and dragonflies, many of which are protected
by the Habitat Directive. There is also a rich and varied bird population, composed both of typically Alpine species
and of species related to aquatic habitats and the prairies of the steppes. Some of these are quite rare, and are
listed in Annex 1 of the European Commission’s Birds Directive, as being in need of special protection.
On the French side, the main natural sites are included within the boundaries of the Vanoise and Ecrins National
Parks, and the Queyras National Regional Park, and are listed at Point C.1.
The VANOISE NATIONAL PARK affects the northern part of the Maurienne covering an area of 88,585 ha. Formed
in 1963, it was the first French national park. An area of great natural and environmental value for its unique
combination of geology, biological diversity and human activities.
The ECRINS NATIONAL PARK is an area of high mountains and includes the Romanche and Guisane valleys. In
this park there are 40 rare species and 35 endemic species of flora of over 1800 m. The fauna includes 200 species
of which 80 are protected at European level.
The QUEYRAS NATURAL REGIONAL PARK is entirely enclosed in the Geopark and its partners and has recently
been recognised by UNESCO with the “Man and Biosphere” denomination.
5. Connections between the non-geological sites in the area and the geological heritage
The cultural and natural legacies of the two sides of the Alps are strongly interconnected with those of the nearest
transalpine territories of Briançon and the Maurienne. The historic sub-division of the territories within two separate state entities, which straddle the Alps and include these particular transalpine areas within their borders,
has enabled such links to grow stronger and more permanent over time. With the programme of transfrontier
cooperation, various projects have been carried out since the early 1990s onwards, involving both the Natural
Parks and Cultural Heritage and reinforcing relationships between the two systems. As shown at Point E, with the
creation of the transfrontier PIT “High Valleys: mountain-made systems”, and in particular with the creation of
the projects “Dai beni faro alla valorizzazione del sistema dei beni ambientali e culturali delle Alte Valli e Turismo
nel Geoparco delle Alpi Cozie” (From beacon legacies for the promotion of the system of environmental and cultural heritage of the high valleys and tourism in the Cozie Alps Geopark) under the direction of CHAV, relations
have improved between the bodies managing the various assetss. Therefore, as outlined in the objectives of the
PIT, the future governance of the Geopark should help define and encourage interconnections between the Geopark and the various cultural and environmental legacies.
30
D. Economic Activity & Business Plan
(including detailed financial information)
1. Economic activity in the proposed Geopark
There are various institutions involved in the social and economic development of the territory, since the context
of the Geopark involves two different countries, with different territorial organisations operating in each of them.
More specifically, the organisations involved in deciding social development policies for the mountain areas included in the Geopark are the “Comunità Montane” (future “Unioni Montane di Comuni”) for the Italian part,
and the “Communautèes de Communes e i Pays” for the French part: bodies which are members of CHAV. In
order to coordinate the transfrontier approach to local development, CHAV established an Operational Plan for
the period 2007 – 2013, which is useful to refer to in that it summarises the various studies and territorial programmes.
A stable population but an increase in the ageing community
In the period between the two last censuses (France 1990-1999 – Italy 1991-2001), the population in the ItalianFrench region remain essentially stable, growing on average by just 2%. This trend is mainly attributable to the
Italian side, which has witnessed a decrease in population both among the young (from 0 to 14 years) and among
the active (from 15 to 64 years). This is in contrast to France, where the opposite situation applies. On both sides
of the Alps, there has been a sharp increase in the population aged 65 and over: greater in Italy than in France in
percentage terms. It will certainly be necessary to confront this trend by means of carefully directed policies and
services to support families and older people.
Youth unemployment and gender disparity
The increase in youth unemployment and occupational inequality between men and women risks becoming a
very serious problem in the future, especially in view of the general ageing tendency among the population. It
will be necessary to support the employment of women and young people in the area, providing access to better
occupational opportunities on both sides of the border.
Structural weakness in agriculture and high quality local products
The level of employment in the agricultural sector has decreased in the last decade both in France and in Italy.
The agricultural sector is in the process of changing towards production methods more orientated to the market,
but there is still a huge presence of micro-businesses despite their sharp decrease.
It will be necessary to maintain the productive function of agriculture by lending support to “sectors of excellence”.
These are able to compete with the large distributors on the grounds of their special location of origin; a factor
which can also be used to develop the tourist trade. It is also important that the local agricultural concerns are
involved in the management of the territory, as they play an important part in protecting an environment where
the cultural traditions of terracing the slopes, and of cleaning and cutting the woodland and pastures, limit the
effects of geological imbalance and the risk of forest fires.
Crisis of traditional industry and change towards more innovative sectors
From the industrial standpoint, we are witnessing a general trend towards a crisis in production and the consequent need to renew the infrastructure and consolidate the capital of the region. The industrial sector in the
mountain regions is still in a state of transition, and it will be vital to find alternative opportunities for its renewal,
following the reduction of heavy industry in the Alpine valleys. Therefore, there is an essential role for those sectors related to new technologies and their dissemination; to renewable energy, and to the production of sports
equipment (closely associated with the tourist industry). It will be equally important to focus on restoring the internal balance of the territory, by providing a wide range of services and creating and activating “industrial zones”:
fully equipped and provided with dedicated, sustainable services. To this end, it will be vital to include the provision of high speed internet connections, to compensate for the weaker aspects of these outlying areas. This will
31
help combat the general preference for locating in the larger urban centres, which has led to the increase in depopulation and abandonment.
A rich artistic and cultural heritage to promote
The rich and varied cultural and architectural heritage, especially in the outlying areas, has only been partially
exploited. This legacy can constitute an important instrument in terms of Alpine culture, leading to the introduction of positive conservation measures to protect these assets that are basic to the identity of the area, and those
values which form the basis for tourism development and new job opportunities.
Crisis in the traditional tourist model
With regard to tourism, although there has been a general increase in the number of tourist facilities in the transfrontier region, the number of visitors has been in decline, notably as a result of the crisis in traditional tourism
(the well-known ski resorts). Nevertheless, there is a trend in favour of developing new attractions, which could
help diversify the offering to visitors, and also prolong the tourist season; to the benefit of the whole transfrontier
system of tourism.
The new sectors which are showing rapid and interesting development are as follows:
- “Green” attractions, which exploit the presence of a large number of protected areas within the transfrontier
zone (Natural Parks and now the Geopark) and offer a type of tourism focused on exploring and observing the
territory;
- “Blue” attractions, related to inland water systems;
- “White” attractions, bolstered by the common denominator in the transfrontier region of having hosted the
Winter Olympics in recent times (Albertville, France in 1992 and Turin, Italy in 2006);
- “Cultural” attractions, which offer special historical and architectural appeal not to be found in other contexts,
and which require the creation of an organised, integrated system of tourist promotion.
The push towards integration
With regard to transfrontier cooperation: the agreement for the establishment of an Italian-French Euro-region,
signed in July 2006, the existence of the CAFI, and the constitution of the CHAV Association, are the most important signs of a desire in the area to consolidate relationships between the two sides and to promote agreement
between the management policies within the territory. In the future, therefore, we will probably see much greater
social and economic cohesion in the transfrontier area.
2. Business Plan (including detailed financial information)
Financing special measures
The desire to be recognised as a member of the EGN is also due to the amount of financial resources allocated
by the territory to enhance geological heritage over the past 3 years (2011 - 2012 - 2013 ), which amounts to approximately € 3,600,000 for the entire territory, € 2,420,000 of which in Italy and € 1,180,000 in France. The activities were co-financed as part of ALCOTRA, an EU Programme: 40% by the EU, 40% by the States/Regions and
20% by beneficiaries (Comunità Montane [mountain communities], Communautes de Communes and Unione di
Comuni [Community of Municipalities]) .
Financing of the special measures envisaged in the next 3 years
The main actions planned in the period 2014-2016 consist of the construction of the "Maison de la geologie di
Briancon" with an investment of € 3,000,000, co-financed by the State, PACA Region, Hautes Alpes Department
and the EU, and in upgrading the educational offering of Scopriminiera and Scoprialpi in Val Germanasca for an
amount of approximately € 400,000, co-financed by the State and local authorities.
Financing of the special measures envisaged in the next 3 years
The main actions planned in the period 2014-2016 consist of the construction of the "Maison de la geologie di
Briancon" with an investment of € 3,000,000, co-financed by the State, PACA Region, Hautes Alpes Department
32
and the EU, and in upgrading the educational offering of Scopriminiera and Scoprialpi in Val Germanasca for an
amount of approximately € 400,000, co-financed by the State and local authorities.
Financing of the annual ordinary administration of the future Geopark
The overhead costs of coordinating the Geopark system, listed below, amount to approximately € 40,000 per
year.
Salary of 2 part-time coordinators € 20,000
EGN annual membership fee € 1,000
Fee for the EGN experts who will be sent to evaluate the application within 6 months of submission € 3,000.
Every 4 years, the same fees are incurred to allow verification of the requirements for maintaining membership
of the network - Cost per year approximately € 1,000.
Participation in EGN annual activities (2 meetings of the members held at one of the member Geoparks) - Cost
per year for travel and accommodation: approximately € 3,000.
The organisation of meetings (2 per year) is paid, in turn, by the host Geopark - Cost € 10,000 to € 12,000. Given
the number of members, the event only occurs once every 10-12 years, so the annual cost allocated is € 1,000.
Entertainment, promotional and communication activities: € 10,000.
Cost of the management team supported by the individual partners for activities concerning geo-heritage, geoeducation and geo-tourism and the maintenance of the organisations that they manage (staff, services, maintenance, etc.).
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33
3. Existing and planned facilities for the proposed Geopark
(geo-education, geo-tourism, tourism infrastructure etc)
Ecomuseum of the mines and Val Germanasca – ScopriMiniera and ScopriAlpi
www.ecomuseominiere.it
ScopriAlpi and Scopriminiera can be found at about 70 km south-west of Turin, in the municipalities of Prali and
Salza di Pinerolo: These are two tour routes in the former talc mines of Val Germanasca. On both routes, La Tuno
S.r.l. organises educational activities for all types of schools (geo-education) and guided sightseeing tours (geotourism). It is a European class of site for its kind.
SCOPRIMINIERA - the 1.5 km tour of the Paola mine offers visitors an extraordinary journey back in time and the
opportunity to discover all about the miner’s life and the various mining techniques. It has been open to visitors
since 1998 and has an average of 20,000 visitors per year, 60% of which take part in the educational activities
(geo-education).
SCOPRIALPI - staged inside the Gianna mine, which stretches for more than 3 km, thanks to a major tectonic
contact separating layers of rock belonging to the African and European palaeo-continents, it allows visitors to
experience a real “scientific expedition” to discover signs of the Alpine orogeny that are still evident. Created by
the ALCOTRA programme, P.I.T. was opened to the public in October 2013. The Marketing Plan estimates 15,000
visitors per year, mainly for geo-education purposes.
Managing body of the protected areas of the Alpi Cozie [Hautes Alpes]
www.parchialpicozie.it
The dissemination and environmental education activities, organised by the protected areas, make the results of
the day-to-day work performed in the management of the parks available publicly, providing untouched environments, taking care of the vast network of trails used to visit the territory, setting up museums and visitor centres,
preparing publications and documentaries, organising guided tours and lectures to disseminate the knowledge
of nature and stimulate environmental awareness.
Through educational projects aimed at promoting knowledge of the territory, its natural and historical aspects,
and a method of inquiry based on observation, direct contact, deductive reasoning, the use and enhancement
of the five senses, schools and associations are offered selected topics that take into account the age and schooling
of pupils, in order to ensure a gradual, yet not repetitive, approach to the issues involved.
Activities for the public aim to spread life-long learning, which endeavours to radically change the everyday behaviour of individuals, so that the parks may become an example of beauty that can be enjoyed by everyone.
The number of users per year for activities in general: 420,000. Educational activities amount to 10,500.
The Loze di Rora ecomuseum
http://societastudirorenghi.wordpress.com/museo-valdese-ed-ecomuseo-della-pietra
The Pietra ecomuseum is made up of two sites. The first site displays interesting historical documents, furniture
and tools for agricultural labour and the mining of the stone that document the economic and social activity in
the community of Rora. The second site is the Cava Tupinet (Tupinet quarry), which shows the working conditions
in the original nineteenth century quarries. Rorenghi, a research studies company, organises guided tours.
Le Grand Filon of Saint Georges d' Hurtières
Located in a magnificent view at the entrance of Maurienne, the Grand Filon is a unique site of its kind in the region (one star in the Michelin Guide for cultural heritage).
These iron mines, already active in the Middle Ages, were among the most important of Savoy for the quality of
the mineral. Today, the unique geological and mining history are valued for cultural and tourism purposes and
you can visit a high-tech museum, the miners’ village, the underground tunnels and the area devoted to metallurgy. The educational activities and sightseeing affects about 10,000 users / year.
34
The Circuit des Ardoisières in Saint Julien Montdenis
The itinerary allows us to understand the geological origin of the slate, the methods of cultivation and transport
and its use.
The Fournel Silver Mines Museum (Argentière-la-Bessée)
The archaeological excavations, which began in 1991, uncovered many relics that are unique in France. These results are presented as part of the permanent museum at the mining museum at Château Saint Jean.
The guides are discovering this intense industrial activity in a preserved and untouched area. A secure 800-metre
underground route over two levels of often ancient galleries (cut by fire in the Middle Ages and powder in more
recent periods) facilitates a good understanding of the organisation of the works.
The museum is open all-year-round (7 days a week in the summer). The mine is open to visitors between 1st
March and 30th November.
For more information please call 04.92.23.02.94
http://www.ville-argentiere.fr/pages/patrimoine_mines.php
[email protected]
Centre Briançonnais de Géologie Alpine
The CBGA was created in 1983. It is intended for schools, universities and the general public. It is mainly active
in Grand Briançonnais but also in Italy (Viso, Val d’Aoste, Dora Maira, etc.) and on other continents for geological
trips.
The CBGA organises workshops, seminars and educational field trips. 23 mountain guides lead over 1,100 days
for over 20,000 pupils and students. For the general public, courses and training is organised throughout the
year, along with conferences and visits to the geological sites between spring and autumn.
The CBGA also publishes geological guides, books and maps and produces educational and promotional films on
the regional geology.
In partnership with the Community of Briançon Municipalities, the CBGA is currently preparing for the opening
(scheduled for late 2014) of the "House of Geology and Geopark", which will include a permanent public reception, a museum and a group shelter.
http://cbga.net
[email protected]
35
4. Analysis of geotourism potential of the proposed Geopark
Geological knowledge regarding the nature and structure of the Western Alps comes from two centuries of scientific investigation carried out on different scales and for different purposes; recent geophysical data show that
the area in question has a complex structure resulting from a continental collision between “palaeo-Africa” and
“palaeo-Europe”, which began about 50 million years ago and is still taking place.
As evidenced by the geological map of the Alte Valli [High Valleys] territory (reproduced below), the Cozie Alps
[Hautes Alpes] occupy an area of the range that provides a complete cross-section of the Alpine structure from
east to west. It is possible to identify the three main families of rocks corresponding to the remains of the ancient
palaeo-European continent, the palaeo-African one and the interposed ocean formed between 200 and 50 million
years ago. Thanks to this feature, the Italian and French geosites become very complementary elements in the
reconstruction of the Alpine orogenic phases. In fact, although their mineralogy has been heavily transformed
and deformed, these rocks allow a reconstruction of the stages regarding the birth and the evolution of the Alps;
since the continental collision has shifted and overlapped the rocks of the ancient continents and interposed
ocean, crossing the Alpi Cozie [Hautes Alpes] from east to west it is possible to identify the accounts of the various
pre-alpine environments and the stages of deformation that led to the current structure of the Alps.
An analysis of the forms of the earth's surface in the Alpi Cozie [Hautes Alpes], it is possible to uncover more information regarding the recent history on how the range was shaped. The development and distribution of the
Alpine valleys testify to the heavy erosion and incision of the Alps that has taken place over the last few million
years; the forms and deposits that can be found in the valleys, on the other hand, testify the repeated advances
to the plains and the retreats of large glaciers during the last million years; these glaciers extensively modified
pre-existing landforms and their withdrawal allowed other geomorphological processes that are slowly obliterating the traces of the past. The geological forms that characterise the landscape and rocks are the markers of the
sequence of events that have sculpted the evolutionary history of the earth and shaped our environment.
In the cross-border region between Briançon, the Maurienne, the valleys of Susa, Sangone, Chisone and Pellice,
there are all the lithologies and the structures with which to reconstruct the entire geological history of the area.
From Monte Pelvo, an ancient plateau of the European continent, to the plains of the river Po, on which alluvial
deposits cover the African palaeo-continent, through the mountains of Briançon and Piedmont, without forgetting
the Massif du Chenaillet and the Monviso: all the protagonists of this story can be found here. Granite, gneiss, limestone, dolomite, alabaster, schist, ophiolites, plaster, etc.
Magnificent scenery and important rocks favour an effective pedagogical dissemination of the local geology, both
in France and in Italy. The exploitation of the rich mining heritage has also contributed to the recognition of the
value of the geological heritage of these territories. Nowadays, the valleys display the entire sequence of Alpine
rocks, from the Mesozoic Ocean and the European and African continents, whose collision led to the formation
of the Alps.
The territory of the Alti Valli [High Valleys], which connects the two sides of the Alps, is a spectacular natural geological cross-section in which it is possible to view all the continental and marine rocks from the last 250 million
years and involved in the rise of the Alps.
The landscape, geological sites, rocks, mineral deposits, the enhancement activities already carried out and the
opportunity to pool these values are important elements in disseminating the effective teaching of the Alps’ geology.
These environmental conditions, the scientific and educational value of these geosites and the need to diversify
(also in terms of seasonality) tourism products and services and improve their sustainability and systemic organisation represent the motivation behind the enhancement of geological values and the organisation of this new
offering in synergy with the environmental and cultural heritage which make up the Alpi Cozie [Hautes Alpes]
Geopark, an innovative and ambitious project of European stature.
36
The main guiding themes (fil rouge) of the Geopark’s scientific project are:
a) the geology of the Alps
Taking his cue from the perfect complementarity of the profiles of the various continents, at the beginning of
twentieth century, Alfred Wegner theorised that they drifted apart from each other. The theory of continental
drift did not elaborate on the issues related to the concepts of internal movement inside the planet. This theory
was taken up once again, more convincingly, in the ’60s and current thinking is based on lithospheric plate tectonics.
The plates are subjected essentially to two types of movement: away from each other, divergence phenomena,
or towards each other, convergence phenomena. All these movements, the history of the planet itself, made
their mark!
Rocks and landscapes are “recorders” of the events that occurred and which have shaped our territory as we
know it today and this has taken place at every level (on all scales)!
Mountain ranges, in particular the Alps, are places that contain ALL of these markers and this is what makes them
scientifically and geologically interesting.
b) the geological resources of the subsoil, which have contributed to the economic and social development of the territory along with the efforts of man
The first mining of metals in the valleys probably dates back to very remote times, of which there are no records,
unfortunately. However, some traces lead to the deduction that gneiss found in Val Susa and Val Sangone, as well
as the more famous “Pietra di Lucerna” [“Stone of Lucerne”], were mined and processed in Roman times (the
historical centre of Susa). During the Middle Ages, there was some mining of iron and silver upstream of Perosa
Argentina (Val Chisone).
Mining, especially of stone, was very intense in the past centuries, especially between 1600 and the beginning
of 1800, aided by the fact that these valleys are the main routes connecting the transalpine regions. Numerous
abandoned quarries, that are still visible, bear witness to this fervent activity. The materials mined were mainly
marbles and meta-dolomites belonging to the Mesozoic cover of the Unità Dora-Maira [Dora-Maira Unit] and
the variety of gneiss and meta-granites belonging to the pre-Triassic base of that same Unit, which were widely
used in many construction sites in Turin at the beginning the eighteenth century. The quarries at the base of the
Dolomitic crag overlooking the municipalities of Foresto and Bussoleno (Val Susa) and those located in the valleys
of Faetto and Prali (Val Germanasca), provided the marble for the Cathedral of Turin and other monumental buildings of the 17th and 18th centuries. In the first half of the nineteenth century, this activity is was drastically reduced due to strong competition from Tuscan, Lombardy and Veneto marbles and the many marble quarries
were gradually abandoned or used only for the production of limestone.
In addition to the marbles and the various types of gneiss, which were known as Villafocchiardo gneiss, Vaie
gneiss, Borgone gneiss or “diorite” of Malanaggio (Porte), depending on the variety mined, there was also intensive mining of layers of quartzite (Villafocchiardo and Col Bione).
With regard to mineralisation, this included the following: arsenides of nickel and cobalt from Val Susa (the left
side), pyrite and chalcopyrite from Bussoleno and Pragelato and graphite from Bassa Val Chisone.
Talc mineralisation in Alta Val Sangone, in Val Chisone, deserves a special mention. It involved variable strength
levels in the marbles and mica schists belonging to the base of the Dora-Maira, in the vicinity of the ophiolitic
contact of Rocciavré. The characteristics and purity of the talc and the geological context in which it is found are
similar to those of the most significant mineralisations located in Val Germanasca, still cultivated to this day by a
company named “Imerys”.
37
Important geological sites:
The geological traces of greatest interest mentioned in the attached list of geosites have been surveyed and catalogued.
Important geological sites that have already been enhanced and can be visited for cultural and educational purposes.
Overall, more than 80,000 guided tours take place per year in the Italian and French sites listed below.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Giardino delle Rocce [Garden of the Rocks] - CESANA
Percorso delle Gorge di San Gervasio [Pathway of the Gorges of San Gervasio] - CESANA and CLAVIERE
Scopriminiera [Discovermine] tectonic contact inside the mines - PRALI
Miniere del Beth [The Beth mines] – Val Troncea - PRAGELATO
Ecomuseo della Pietra “Le Loze” [The Pietra “Le Loze” ecomuseum] – RORÀ
Siti geologici Val Sangonetto [Val Sangonetto geological sites] – VAL SANGONE
Massif du Chenaillet – MONTGENEVRE
Chaberton/Chalvet: MONTGENEVRE
Combarine, PUY ST. PIERRE
Musee de la Mine - BRIANÇON
Gorge de la Durance – SAINT MARTIN DE QUEYRIERES
Mines d’ argent du Fournel - L’ARGENTIERE-LA-BESSEE
Gran Filon – ST. GEORGES D’HURTIERES
5. Overview and policies for the sustainable development
Geo-tourism and economy and geo-education
Geo-tourism, which is already well developed in this area, is part of a context whereby tourism represents over
70% of the economy for a significant part of the area (especially the French valleys and the high Italian valleys),
with the remaining activities nevertheless linked to tourism. As already mentioned, geo-tourism is aimed diversifying, deseasonalising and delocalising tourist visits and increasing the attention paid to the environmental heritage and raising awareness of sustainability among tourists. It is a new product that is based on the specificities
of the area: the geographical values, which will be suitably valued and organised in the cross-border park to tell
various audiences about and present the origins of the Alps and the influence of geology on human life, initiating
forms of social, environmental, educational and sustainable tourism. The task of communicating this strategy and
putting it into practice falls to the future geopark. Therefore, with launch of the geopark activities, the geo-tourism
and geo-education initiatives already in progress will undergo an increase and redevelopment due to the benefits
brought about by the PIT project: the governance put into place will improve relations and networking between
the various partners, as will the itineraries that will physically put them in the network and the communication
products: websites, geo-site maps and flyers will heighten visibility on the two (F) and (I) markets, the formation
produced will help improve the quality of the accompaniments. Maintaining a high standard in terms of the range
of services and the visitor experience framework (infrastructures, facilities, environment), in a environmentally
and culturally sustainable manner, is one of the preconditions for being part of EGN, but it is also indispensible
for meeting users’ expectations. Therefore, particular attention will be given to the monitoring and assessment
of structures and services and their compatibility with sustainability, a task that will be carried out by all the geopark partners, and by CHAV in particular. Under these conditions, the number and satisfaction of users will increase, bringing added value to the area that is not just economic and social but also environmental.
By launching the activities planned under the PIT project and with the application of the principals that characterise EGN’s actions, the intention is to:
- increase the competitiveness of the tourist system with an innovative and growing product – geo-tourism – specific to the areas and not replicable elsewhere (unique selling proposition);
- make tourism more sustainable with a educational and entertaining product (eductainment) which, in addition
to having a low environmental impact, organises and regulates the flow of visitors with guided tours, including
in sensitive and/or protected areas;
38
- contribute to balanced management of the area (reinforcing the principle of territorial cohesion), in that the
project enhances marginal areas not affected by the mass flows, which are now concentrated in the more structured (winter) locations/stations;
- reinforce local identity through the promotion of “unique” and non-replicable resources;
- increase the visibility and attractiveness of the area, ensuring the adoption and application of principles and
practices oriented towards sustainability (periodically monitored and controlled by the E.G.N. network) and inducing local actors (public and private) to adopt virtuous behaviours that enhance environmental and economic
sustainability of the tourist system;
- organise the geopark in synergy with the local natural and cultural systems strengthened by the PIT Projects:
“Dai beni faro alla valorizzazione dei beni culturali ed ambientali” and “Prodotti e sapori” (the creation of systems
organised and integrated under the governance of CHAV), facilitating and improving relations between the operators in the sector, a strategic prerequisite for the development of integrated tourist products;
- develop social and educational tourism (50% of the current users of the visitable geo-sites are schools);
- organise and announcing integrated and marketable tourist offers;
- respond positively to some signs of crisis in the traditional tourism of the valleys, in particular deseasonalising
the offer, redeveloping and diversifying summer tourism, opening up areas little used for tourism, addressing
currently growing sections of the public interesting in sustainable and responsible tourism offers;
- promote an increase in employment opportunities, particularly in terms of the youth.
Geo-heritage
Alpine tourism was formed in the Western Alps in around the eighteenth century with the first scientific expeditions and mountaineering ascents to the peaks. Only at the end of the following century and in the period after
WWI did it begin to transform into mass tourism. In the Cottian Alps this change was accompanied by the construction of numerous infrastructures that made it possible to “bring the city to the mountain”. However, this transformation was not totally free from negative consequences: the urban consumerist model, the “everything at
once” attitude following the Second World War, eroded centuries of culture, traditions and typical produce in
just a few years. There are many such examples in the valleys of the Western Alps, which totally lost their identity
with each becoming as homogenous as the other. The flourishing of Alpine sporting activities created in the Western Alps also affected the biodiversity and geo-diversity of the places. Only in recent decades has Alpine tourism
started to undergo a transformation. People are no longer looking for all at once, but rather they are exploring
new places that are less known and less visited, seeking out typical produce and rediscovering local traditions.
This new transformation seems particularly lively in the CHAV trans-border areas. The revival of Alpine traditions
is, in fact, greater in those places where trade has resumed with the lowlands and with the other side of the Alps,
confirming that these exchanges of products and communications are the basis for a thriving and active mountain
society. The idea for the geopark in the Cottian Alps fits into this context: returning to mountain traditions and
respecting them through awareness and education. Enhancing the value of the Alpine geo-sites means trying to
build tourism from below, where knowledge of the territory is fundamental to be able to preserve geo-diversity
and understand the natural risks.
To ensure the conservation of the most fragile heritage on a number of geo-sites it was preferred not to intervene
directly but to preserve the natural aspect (Saracen Grottoes, Orridi di Chianocco and Foresto) by including virtual
panels on the project website with the possibility of downloading sheets describing the phenomena that created
these places.
6. Policies for, and examples of, community empowerment
(involvement and consultation) in the proposed Geopark
The the involvement of local communities has been fostered by the relationships formed over 20 years of regional
cooperation, organised with the establishment of CHAV and implemented with three-year communication and
coordination activities by PIT, especially with new communications tools such as newsletters sent regularly to all
the tourist offices and cultural organisations, websites and the organisation of meetings and events. The activities
carried out by organisations (Ecomuseum of Mines – La Tuno, The Board of Management for Protected Areas in
the Cottian Alps, Loze Ecomuseum, il Centre Brianconnais de Geologie Alpine, SGMB, La mine du Fournel, Le
grand filon, il Parco Naturale del Queyras, the branches of the Alpine Club, operating partners of the geopark
39
(the management), with 80,000 users a year, of which 50% carry out educational activities with schools (geoeducation), all accompanied and entertained by trained guides, now carry out an important role in awareness
raising and the involvement of local collectives (community empowerment).
The practices already in place and described above will be considerably increased with the activities of the geopark
(networking between partners, new website, newsletters) and even more so with the application of stringent indications – rules – set by the EGN. This will lead to an increase in awareness in the shaking up of the role of the
geopark to generate social and environmental values.
7. Policies for, and examples of, public and stakeholder awareness in the proposed Geopark
As already highlighted in point 5, the 80,000 current users of geo-tourism and geo-education activities, while will
increase with the geopark’s activities, are privileged public groups that will benefit from the communication and
direct sensitisation by the guides – entertainers who work to improve awareness of the role of the geopark.
The general public will also gain from the communication activities, which will mainly take place through the new
geopark website, with online contact (email), direct relationships with schools including the presentation of educational programmes (activities already carried out by the operational partners).
The best way to raise awareness among private actors – stakeholders – consists of involving them in the programming of visitor experience activities, but, above all, awareness will be raised is the geopark has the ability to increase tourist flows and the resulting economic impact, of which they will be the main beneficiaries.
In addition to this, the geopark will have the task of:
- organising open days for inhabitants at the museums, eco-museums and documentation centres and visits to
the geo-sites;
- planning meetings with local actors to assess the value of the geopark activities together and devise future programmes with them;
- carrying out internal – local communication to inform people of the geopark’s activities;
- organising special days and events at the geopark to increase visibility and fame;
- carry out activities with schools and universities.
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E. Interest and arguments
for joining the EGN/GGN
Willingness and interest in joining the EGN, is based on the geological resources in the territory, on valorisation
and exploitation initiatives at existing geosites, launched with European exchange initiatives in 1992, which was
followed by a growing interest and numerous interventions aimed at educational, cultural leisure and tourism at
geosites, particularly for mining operations. With the establishment in 2009 of Transboundary Integrated Plan –
TIP – entitled The high valleys: the interest in the EGN is reconfirmed and the plan should include structural and
organisational conditions to apply.
In 2010 the plan was co-financed by the EU programme ALCOTRA, totalling approximately $ 9,500,000. The plan
is aimed at the enhancement of the system of environmental, cultural heritage, tourism and production of high
valleys, to improve the quality of life and the environment, with the goal of creating a sustainable company.
The TIP is available in 5 designs that tend to improve the quality of life and the environment through a process
of development, which encourages the actions and relations between local actors, in which individual projects
contribute to the achievement of the general objective in the following ways:
1. By Lighthouse heritage valorisation of environmental and cultural heritage of the high valleys (3.3)
This project contributes to the idea that force, optimizes the investments made in the past on environmental and
cultural heritage, fosters the creation of territorial cultural systems, increases social and economic repercussions
on the entire cross-border territory, enhances the cultural and tourist offer, increases the visibility, the attractiveness and competitiveness of the territory.
2. Tourism in the Geopark of Cottian Alps
The actions, which lead to the creation of transboundary geopark, are oriented to the optimisation of geological
sites in accordance with the criteria laid down by the European Geoparks Network
The Geopark project tends to foster integration and synergies with the rest of the territorial heritage, facilitates
the establishment of territorial systems (partnerships) and the involvement of local actors, promotes innovative
initiatives in the protection and enhancement of local resources to generate socio-economic benefits
3. Enhancement of forest resources
The project aims to preserve, enhance and manage forest resources that help characterize the landscape and
environment of high valleys through activities, studies and exchanges of good practices for the proper management of public and private forests, its economic development, the protection of biodiversity and the development
of sectoral policies.
4. Flavours and products, a support to the sustainability of rural mountains in the high valleys
This project is meant to increase the value of the products of mountain farming, in particular those related to
traditional and local knowledge.
5. Education village for sustainability in high valleys
The creation of a sustainable company promising to ensure a future for new generations cannot preclude educational activity in experiences on both sides of the border are compared and and promote joint work on these issues.
6. Coordination and communication plan to facilitate the participation of local administrations, facilitate re-
lations between the different players, to monitor the progress of project phases, evaluate the results achieved
and to communicate the activities of the TIP to local authorities.
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The value enhancing process foreseen in the goal of TIP and consequent actions, directed to the environmental
and social sustainability, was implemented in the years 2011, 2012 and 2013 with the participation, involvement
and awareness of the inhabitants and the guests (project: education Village), protecting and valuing environmental
and cultural wealth and knowledge (Geopark, By cultural heritage faro/systems, forest resources, Products and
knowledge) by creating products that are compatible with the environment and promoting activities aimed at
maintaining the landscape (agriculture and forestry) as "expressive identity territory whose character derives
from the action of natural human factors and their interrelationships" (European Landscape Convention, which
was adopted in Florence in 2000).
Already in the TIP presentation area, which stems from a strong bottom-up process participated by, account was
taken of the synergies between the various projects and the convergence of objectives: governance activities, all
conducted by the same booth (General Council-Assembly of CHAV), animation and coordination ensured during
the implementation of the plan, the integration of the various actions envisaged in the projects. This organizational
mode increases the benefits for the environment and local society from the products resulting from the actions
of the project, assess the results and environmental and social impacts, all essential elements and non-severable
in a sustainable development process.
Between the years 2010 and 2013 with the project "tourism in the Geopark of Cottian Alps", completed in late
October 2013, with a total expenditure of more than 3 million euro, were surveyed and over 100 % reported
geosites, if they are given sixty to ensure conservation, educational and tourist enjoyment in teaching safety and
interpretation. Were identified cross-border itineraries of visit, media products for promotion and communication,
including the internet site in 3 languages (http://geoparco-alpicozie.eu - http://geoparc-alpescottiennes.eu http://cottianalps-geoparc.eu), carried out training activities for tourist operators, defined the management and
governance of the future geopark and prepared the documentation to submit the dossier of candidature for joining European Geopark network Network-EGN.
The actions are aimed at:
preserving and enhancing sites of geological interest, from a scientific and educational point of view, for responsible enjoyment by enabling common strategies and creating a cross-border systems in synergy with the rest of
the environmental and cultural heritage of the territory, organized in geopark, in accordance with the criteria defined by the European Geoparks Network.
Specifically:
- Learn more about the current state of the geological heritage of the high valleys by pooling, sharing and harmonization of systems of classification of sites of geological interest.
- maintain and enhance the diversity of this heritage;
- protect sensitive sites from acquaintances and irresponsible fruition (plunder of minerals and the disfigurement
of the landscape);
- improving the use of sites already exploited by promoting accessibility and implementing activities and services,
educational and cultural interpretation;
- make available some sites which are of geological interest consistent with specific themes driving the Geopark
project;
- increasing knowledge, with educational activities and scientific learning and environmental education, curricular
support (already now the public schools constitutes the majority of viewers);
- establish a system of joint management of the network of sites that is integrated into the system of cultural and
environmental heritage (natural parks – ecomuseums) referred to "Lighthouse Heritage" project of the PIT;
- make economic and social values (employment, increase in revenues in the commercial and tourist activities)
to local communities by organizing the use and integrated conscious of geosites.
With the above-mentioned actions with EGN candidacy as a means to diversify the tourist offer of the high valleys
creating a new product that is based on the specificity of the territory: the geological values, that appropriately
valued and organized into cross-border geopark will be used to describe and present different audiences the
origin of the Alps and the influence of geology on the lives of the men, activating forms of social tourismEducational, environmental, and sustainable.
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The application of the main principles that the Act of EGN refers to:
- Increase the competitiveness of the tourist system of high valleys, improving the market positioning, diversifying
and destagionalizzando current supply with an innovative product and growing – geoturismo-territory-specific
and non-reproducible elsewhere (unique selling proposition);
- Making tourism more sustainable with entertainment and education (eductainment) which, besides being a
low environmental impact, organises and regulates the flow of visitors with guided tours, even in sensitive areas
and/or protected;
- To contribute to the balanced management of the territory (reinforcing the principle of territorial cohesion) as
the project develops marginal areas not affected by mass flows, now concentrated in location/stations (in winter)
more structured;
- Increasing the visibility and attractiveness of the area, ensuring the adoption and application of sustainability
oriented principles and practices (monitored and regularly controlled by EGN) and inducing local actors (public
and private) to adopt virtuous behaviors which increase the economic and environmental sustainability of the
tourism system;
- Organize the geopark in synergy with the local cultural and natural systems.
Broad support
The nominations for " Geopark " of the territory of the Cozie Alps is strongly desired and felt by all its community,
at all levels. The partners involved include public bodies ( Mountain Communities, Communautes de Communes
, Pays , Syndicat , municipalities), scientific institutions (University of Turin, University of Grenoble, University of
Chambéry , Centre Briançonnais de Geologie Alpine) , natural parks ( national, regional and provincial ) and geoturistic entities ( Ecomuseums ) .
All entities involved in the C.H.A.V. have supported and actively participated in the application demonstrating a
total involvement of the territory in exploiting its geological heritage and interest to become members of the
GGN.
The strengthening of the “Geoconservation”
Becoming a member of the European and Global Network of the UNESCO Geoparks would allow us to deepen
understanding, enhance the value of our geological heritage and therefore to promote its growth and its conservation by the local population. The status of Geopark would also enhance to the local population the awareness
of the value of their international geological heritage and encourage the development of activities aimed at the
preservation of this heritage and educational activities aimed at understanding and in-depth knowledge of the
territory.
The interaction with other Geoparks
Since the Cozie Alps represent a nearly complete and unique section of the Western Alps, they could complement
and reinforce the view of the Geoparks that belong to the UNESCO GGN network. This possible Geopark may
also interact and complement with other Geoparks in the chain, in particular with that of the adjacent Val Sesia
-Val Grande, where there are units derived from the Adriatic palaeo- margin. Combining the visit of the two Geoparks tourists could, thus, pass completely through the entire structure of the Western Alps and observe the different geomorphological contexts that characterize them. This would also permit participation in joint projects
and encourage more trade with neighbouring territories and with other Geoparks in the world.
The pride of recognition of Geopark
The inclusion of the Cozie Alps in the list of Geoparks in the GGN-UNESCO Network would be a great encouragement and recognition of the efforts made for many years by the government present in the territory to try to
promote geotourism in this area
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