Page 4 - Guida di Bardonecchia

The Fréjus railway tunnel, which was the first historical tunnel of Moncenisio, was realised by introduction
Al presente Bardonecchia come poche altre località montane coniuga natura, storia,
arte ed antiche tradizioni popolari. Di pregio è la locale lavorazione artistica del legno.
Ed infine impianti e attrezzature sportive, strutture ricettive, il Palazzo delle Feste e
Centro Congressi.
Dario Reteuna

Bardonecchia (1,312m) made up of ‘Borgonuovo’ and ‘Borgovecchio’, lies in a basin where
the valleys of Fréjus, Melezet, Rho and Rochemolles meet. Bardonecchia, is the natural do-
orway to Europe, nearly 90kms from Turin, is an important international crossroads and is
known as the ‘city of the two tunnels’ of Fréjus (highway and railway).
engineer Germano Sommellier to cross the massif of the Alps and join Bardonecchia with the
city of Modane.
Even though the precocious idea (1832) of this tunnel is to be attributed to the local street
employer Médail, the two ministers of King Vittorio Emanuele II, Carlo Paleocapa and Camillo
Benso di Cavour, were the ones who decided to carry out the project in 1857. The colossal work,
more than 13kms in length, which impressed the whole world, was opened in 1871; it made
the crossing of Fréjus possible in half an hour, whereas before it took nearly ten hours via the
Moncenisio Pass. From that point on, leaving from Brindisi via Paris, it was possible to reach
the French port of Calais, by travelling on an uninterrupted railway for more than 1,300 miles!
It was only in 1980 that a highway tunnel was constructed parallel to the historical railway
tunnel.
Particularly equipped for winter tourism (with nearly 100kms of slopes!) Bardonecchia was
already provided with very good sports facilities in the post-war period: ski-jumps, Smith (up
Bardonecchia (1.312m), formée du Borgonuovo et du Borgovecchio, est située dans une introduction
to 70m) and ski-jump school; ice rink with an ice-skating school; FISI ski school; horse-led sle-
dges, sledge and ski rental, alpine guides and bearers; sledge lift from Campo Smith (1,300m)
to the Granges Hippolitres (1,600m); ski lift, chair lift from Granges Hippolitres to the top
of Mount Colomion. Next to the evidence of its most recent history there are still signs of an
ancient civilisation and alpine culture linked for centuries to the Dauphin’s land and to the
Kingdom of France.
Nowadays Bardonecchia, combines nature, history, arts and ancient folk traditions.
The local artistic wooden engraving is valuable. Lifts and sports facilities, hotels, the Palazzo
delle Feste and Congress Hall.

cuvette à la confluence des vallées du Fréjus, de Melezet, du Rho et de Rochemolles. Carrefour
international, (à 90Km de Turin) porte naturelle pour l’Europe, Bardonecchia est donc nomée
la ‘ville des deux tunnels’ du Fréjus. Le flux ininterrompu de trafic représente une clé valide pour
comprendre le succès de sa longue tradition touristique et hôtelière.
La galerie ferroviaire du Fréjus fut réalisée par l’ingénieur Germano Sommeiller a fin de traver-
ser les Alpes et relier Bardonecchia avec Modane. Si la première idée (1832) du tunnel était du
constructeur local de rues Médail, furent les deux ministres du Roi Vittorio Emanuele II, Carlo
Paleocapa et Camillo Benso de Cavour à décider l’exécution (1857). L’oeuvre colossale (au-delà
de 13Km) inaugurée en 1871, permettait dans une demi-heure la traversée, avant il fallait
presque 10 heures. Depuis ce moment, en partant de Brindisi, via Paris il était possible d’at-
teindre le port de Calais, en parcourant un trait ininterrompu de rue ferrée au-delà de 1.300
milles! Seulement en le 1980 à la galerie ferroviaire fut accolé un tunnel autoroutier parallèle
au premier.
Particulièrement équipée pour le tourisme de l’hiver (environ 100km de pistes!), Bardonecchia
était dotée d’installations sportives excellentes déjà dans l’après-guerre: tremplins pour sau-
ts, Smith (jusqu’à 70m) et tremplin école; stade de glace avec école de patinage; école de ski