Ostana :: Borghi Travel

Ostana

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The name
The name Ostana (Oustano in Langue d’oc) probably derives from Augustana, referring to the month of August in Langue d’oc “Oust”.
If this is the case the origin of the name dates back to the Early Middle Ages and is linked with the transhumance in fact Ostana in the past was probably just for summer pasture.

History
working in progress

THE PEACE WON AMONG “MALGAS” AND MOUNTAIN PASTURES
Ostana is a small village made up of hamlets situated on the sunny side of the Po Valley with a great view of the Monviso.
The Po river, in its lowest part, crosses this territory.
Even though it is necessary a four hour walk to visit all the hamlets, this is the easiest way to see this Alpine corner of Occitania, during the winter it is a good idea to have snow sticks. The architecture is based on a spontaneous mix of stone and wood with the typical tiled “lose” roofs. Ostana is beautiful and functional but it is very sad to see that all the houses, bakers , dry-walls, paved roads, chapels and votive pillars have been left in abandon.
This mountain was heavily populated in the past and the fields were cultivated with big stone slabs limiting them.
Beginning at La Villo (the Occitan word for Villa), home of the Town Hall,walk a hundred metres to the Municipal road which takes you to Champanho (Ciampagna). Set amongst maples, ash-trees and dry-walls, the road is pink during the summer thanks to the sweet-williams. After the houses of Marquét (Marchetti) there is a beech-wood, with a view of the Monviso mountain. After Champanho, crossing two streams, nature flourishes: there are papilionacae (of which a branch was put on a stable lintel to create an arch of good fortune), birches and in the undergrowth raspberries and blueberries.
Carrying along the road you will come across more abbandoned hamlets before getting to the hamlets of La Ruà (Bernardi) and Miribrart (Sant’Antonio), the latter is possibly the most interesting, with its houses, leaning one against the other, and le mèire, seasonal altitude settlements, with pastures set between valleys and cliffs.
On the walls of the houses in Miribart it is possible to find a large stone (pèiro dal milezim) with the date of building carved on it: some of them date back to the beginning of the XIX Century, despite the fact that we know that the village is much older than this (Today, Miribart is being restored, the project is to create a widespread hotel including all the untenanted houses and an eco- museum about Alpine Architecture).
If you go back to La Villo you will find San Bernardo, in its church there is a beautiful medieval fresco; but if you go to Samicoulàou (San Nicolau), you will see some barme, these are refuges under the rock that were used to shelter the cattle from bad weather or as a larder for milk. We are now on the second itinerary of the mèire (three hours walk) which at the Pion da Charm (1635 metres) crosses the third itinerary which follows the cattle tracks through the mountain pastures. The view is wonderful and at Punta Sellassa (2036 metres) it is possible to admire the whole Alpine Range: Monviso, Monterosa and the Cervino Mountains surrounded by blue violets and pink alpine cloves . This is the most difficult walk (about six hours trekking).
It is possible to find tranquillity in the summer alpine pastures where the mountain is at work, speaking its language: over the vanquished world.

Local products
The typical product is Toma d’alpeggio cheese thanks to the four “Malgari”summer alpine pastures.

Local dishes
working in progress