For many years, the chestnut woods in Monterosso Grana have been an essential resource for the population, as well as the pastures which, in summer, still host the herds that produce the precious milk used for the production of Castelmagno PDO, known as the King of Cheeses.

To fully understand the deep connection between man and nature, visitors can take the Sentiero del Sarvanot, an informative trail stretching about 5 kilometres around Monterosso. It takes its name from the Sarvanot, a naughty little mythological creature that inhabits the woods of the town, according to tradition. About fifty signs placed along the route tell the stories of the places and describe the peculiarities of the trees in the area. Along the way, visitors can stop and rest on wooden benches set in atmospheric spots where they can listen to the voice of nature.

In Monterosso, the local language and culture are preserved and promoted in the hamlet of Santa Lucia. Here, in the 1950s the Coumboscuro cultural association had already sparked the rediscovery of Provencal culture in Italy by developing and promoting the use of the language (also at school) and encouraging the production of new literary and musical works. The town’s Museo Etnografico has one of the most interesting collections in the Alpine valleys. 

Santa Lucia (Sancto Lucio in Provençal) is the venue for numerous cultural events, including, most notably, the Roumiage de Setembre, which takes place in the first week of September each year. It is the most important event dedicated to the Provençal culture and language in Europe, featuring concerts, as well as gastronomic and cultural events. The event is always preceded by the Traversado, that is, the crossing of the Alps by the town’s French neighbours to reach Santa Lucia di Coumboscuro in Valle Grana.