Description
From the origins to 1594
The first historical evidence of the existence of a center called "Bricarasio”, dates back to 1159, and relates to the name of ” Guglielmus Bricarasio" who served as a witness in a donation to the Staffarda Abbey, prepared by the lords of Luserna. You can still find traces of earlier settlements, both in prehistoric times (rock carvings on the slopes of Mount Vandalino) and in Roman times (in form of coins and bricks).
The old heart of the town lies in secluded position near the present village of San Michele, the presence of tolls, the inconvenience of communication and dissemination of trade through the streets of Val Pellice meant for the town to be founded in 1324, near the hill Castle, the county seat of the new town, the modern Bricherasio.
The center, which since 1243 had sworn allegiance to the Savoy Achaea of Pinerolo, developed thanks to the conquest of the municipality in 1291 and allowances, privileges and exemptions granted by Prince Philip of Achaea. In 1360 the defeat of James Achaea in the war against Amadeus of Savoy led to a change of rule for Bricherasio, which was granted in fief to a family the Cochrane family originally from Monferrato,
Under their benevolent control Bricherasio experienced a quiet but substantial trade and economic development, which found its moment of leading the preparation in 1467 of municipal statutes containing the legal customs and privileges received by the municipality over the centuries.
The 16 Th century closed the era of great prosperity and opened a moment of crisis: Spanish and French fighting on Italian soil to gain hegemony in Europe several times devastated the lands of Bricherasio until a French contingent arrived to besiege and forced to surrender the first time the fortress in 1537.
The fact remains, however, that arms indelibly in the history of Bricherasio is the Great Siege of 1594.
Le traduzioni delle schede sono state effettuate dalla dott.ssa Elisa Gili
From 1594 nowadays
The wars that ravaged Europe in the 17 th century led to their deaths also Bricherasio, the castle was taken and lost several times and the land was returned to the Savoy in 1630 only in deplorable conditions: the mills were destroyed, the plague claiming victims, the 80% of the area of the country was ruined, seven-tenths of the country devastated. As a direct consequence of such a disaster Bricherasio was rebuilt and changed its topography.
To political disputes were joined by religious conflict between Catholics and Waldenses, which caused death and destruction, a massacre, which claimed the lives of 80 people, was perpetrated by the mob French colonel Sailly in 1690, and finally with the conclusion of the War of the Spanish Succession in 1714 it closed for the time Bricherasio darker. During the eighteenth century revived agriculture, rebuilt and embellished the country, economic activities were reinvigorated.
The French Revolution made its effects felt even in the lower Val Pellice and Bricherasio in 1797 were driven the Cacherano and proclaimed loyalty to the Republican Provisional Government of Piedmont. The Restoration of 1814 saw the return of Cacherano, participation joyful news to the uprisings of 1848 and the
celebrations dedicated to Garibaldi's expedition witnessed the passion of Bricherasio for the events of the Risorgimento.
The Siege
The ascent to the throne of Savoy the Duke Carlo Emanuele I meant for Piedmont a period of wars with France. In particular, the conquest of the Marquis of Saluzzo and the attempt to expand in Provence came at a price.
An army under the command of the Duke of Lesdiguières entered in 1592 in the Chisone, occupied Perosa Argentina and settled in Bricherasio, rebuilding and strengthening with six bastions and as many guns the fortress destroyed 57 years ago.
After ups and downs and a failed military siege, September 18, 1594 appeared under the walls of Bricherasio a ducal army consisting of about 10,000 troops in Lombardy, Piedmont, Swiss and Spanish and laid siege to the strong fortress defended by 800 soldiers exhausted by disease and hunger.
The Duke himself led operations by setting up a powerful battery that came in the last moments to count 18 pieces.
Despite the preponderance of forces Savoy and the difference in means the French defended themselves like lions and held out for a month to obtain the surrender on October 23 with the honors of war. The uphill battle, sung by poets and celebrated incision court painter of Savoy Caracca, cost heavy losses among the civilian population, reduced to only 349 survivors, and caused extensive destruction throughout the country, as recorded by the chronicles of the time.
The town developed thanks to the work of famous people such as Generals Edoardo and Filippo Brignone Giretti: schools were improved, the hospital has been arranged and the kindergarten organized. Iindustries grew : silk, spirits and chocolate had significant weight in local economy, while the development of the railway lines that favoured communications in the rest of Piedmont.
The Fascist period saw a hardening of public life and during the resistance assisted with both heroic episodes both cruel massacres. These include that the township Badariotti, November 18, 1944 in which German and Italian troops of the Republic of Salò exterminated during an action of an entire raid innocent famiglia.Il economic boom with the development of the construction industry, the transformation of ' hospital, nursing home and the construction of the school in the capital helped make Bricherasio a modern and equipped with all the services, which continues to grow even today.
The first historical evidence of the existence of a center called "Bricarasio”, dates back to 1159, and relates to the name of ” Guglielmus Bricarasio" who served as a witness in a donation to the Staffarda Abbey, prepared by the lords of Luserna. You can still find traces of earlier settlements, both in prehistoric times (rock carvings on the slopes of Mount Vandalino) and in Roman times (in form of coins and bricks).
The old heart of the town lies in secluded position near the present village of San Michele, the presence of tolls, the inconvenience of communication and dissemination of trade through the streets of Val Pellice meant for the town to be founded in 1324, near the hill Castle, the county seat of the new town, the modern Bricherasio.
The center, which since 1243 had sworn allegiance to the Savoy Achaea of Pinerolo, developed thanks to the conquest of the municipality in 1291 and allowances, privileges and exemptions granted by Prince Philip of Achaea. In 1360 the defeat of James Achaea in the war against Amadeus of Savoy led to a change of rule for Bricherasio, which was granted in fief to a family the Cochrane family originally from Monferrato,
Under their benevolent control Bricherasio experienced a quiet but substantial trade and economic development, which found its moment of leading the preparation in 1467 of municipal statutes containing the legal customs and privileges received by the municipality over the centuries.
The 16 Th century closed the era of great prosperity and opened a moment of crisis: Spanish and French fighting on Italian soil to gain hegemony in Europe several times devastated the lands of Bricherasio until a French contingent arrived to besiege and forced to surrender the first time the fortress in 1537.
The fact remains, however, that arms indelibly in the history of Bricherasio is the Great Siege of 1594.
Le traduzioni delle schede sono state effettuate dalla dott.ssa Elisa Gili
From 1594 nowadays
The wars that ravaged Europe in the 17 th century led to their deaths also Bricherasio, the castle was taken and lost several times and the land was returned to the Savoy in 1630 only in deplorable conditions: the mills were destroyed, the plague claiming victims, the 80% of the area of the country was ruined, seven-tenths of the country devastated. As a direct consequence of such a disaster Bricherasio was rebuilt and changed its topography.
To political disputes were joined by religious conflict between Catholics and Waldenses, which caused death and destruction, a massacre, which claimed the lives of 80 people, was perpetrated by the mob French colonel Sailly in 1690, and finally with the conclusion of the War of the Spanish Succession in 1714 it closed for the time Bricherasio darker. During the eighteenth century revived agriculture, rebuilt and embellished the country, economic activities were reinvigorated.
The French Revolution made its effects felt even in the lower Val Pellice and Bricherasio in 1797 were driven the Cacherano and proclaimed loyalty to the Republican Provisional Government of Piedmont. The Restoration of 1814 saw the return of Cacherano, participation joyful news to the uprisings of 1848 and the
celebrations dedicated to Garibaldi's expedition witnessed the passion of Bricherasio for the events of the Risorgimento.
The Siege
The ascent to the throne of Savoy the Duke Carlo Emanuele I meant for Piedmont a period of wars with France. In particular, the conquest of the Marquis of Saluzzo and the attempt to expand in Provence came at a price.
An army under the command of the Duke of Lesdiguières entered in 1592 in the Chisone, occupied Perosa Argentina and settled in Bricherasio, rebuilding and strengthening with six bastions and as many guns the fortress destroyed 57 years ago.
After ups and downs and a failed military siege, September 18, 1594 appeared under the walls of Bricherasio a ducal army consisting of about 10,000 troops in Lombardy, Piedmont, Swiss and Spanish and laid siege to the strong fortress defended by 800 soldiers exhausted by disease and hunger.
The Duke himself led operations by setting up a powerful battery that came in the last moments to count 18 pieces.
Despite the preponderance of forces Savoy and the difference in means the French defended themselves like lions and held out for a month to obtain the surrender on October 23 with the honors of war. The uphill battle, sung by poets and celebrated incision court painter of Savoy Caracca, cost heavy losses among the civilian population, reduced to only 349 survivors, and caused extensive destruction throughout the country, as recorded by the chronicles of the time.
The town developed thanks to the work of famous people such as Generals Edoardo and Filippo Brignone Giretti: schools were improved, the hospital has been arranged and the kindergarten organized. Iindustries grew : silk, spirits and chocolate had significant weight in local economy, while the development of the railway lines that favoured communications in the rest of Piedmont.
The Fascist period saw a hardening of public life and during the resistance assisted with both heroic episodes both cruel massacres. These include that the township Badariotti, November 18, 1944 in which German and Italian troops of the Republic of Salò exterminated during an action of an entire raid innocent famiglia.Il economic boom with the development of the construction industry, the transformation of ' hospital, nursing home and the construction of the school in the capital helped make Bricherasio a modern and equipped with all the services, which continues to grow even today.