“Green and grim is the alpine pasture, clear and fresh is the morning
and through the fir trees golden sunlight tremors …
rushing down into the valley of Niel”
Giosuè Carducci
A typical alpine village hidden among steep slopes and immersed in uncontaminated nature, rich in woodland and the courses of clear mountain waterfalls. The panorama which Gaby offers inspired the poet Giosuè Carducci, who during one of his habitual holidays in the valley described its beauty in the poem “The Hostess of Gaby”.
Among the natural wonders of this place are the Niel waterfalls, which are particularly evocative because of their four consecutive jumps. Heading towards Issime, you will come across the Shrine of Notre-Dame-de-Grace at Voury, enclosed by walls which are decorated with frescoes depicting Christ’s journey to the cross.
Typical of the zone are the Rascard, buildings of French-Provençale origin, constructed by notching together stripped pine, fir and larch timber.
Action Gaby
Itineraries and hikes which start from or pass through Gaby
From the easy and traditional Gaby to Niel route, along which you will come across the “stadel” of Walser (rural buildings typical of Walser, which at Gaby are called “granir”), to the High Route Niel to Crenna du Leui. Or there is the route from Tzendelabo to Colle della Vecchia (‘the old woman’s pass’): along the muletrack, also known as a stage of the “Blue Alpine Road” (an international path which crosses the alpine range from East to West). On the side of the town of Biella, just a little below the pass, the basin of Lake Della Vecchia is located, steeped in legend.
And many other routes are available, waiting to be discovered.