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 Gorzegno castle

“… I know well Gorzegno, because in youth I used to go there frequently with my father to carry the wine and the chestnuts…”.

With these words Beppe Fenoglio describes this little village (about 330 inhabitants) set in the heart of Langhe, in Valle Bormida.

History

The history of Gorzegno is known since the first medieval age, and then, in the following centuries, it interlaces itself with Del Carretto marquises: their direct proof is the presence of the ruined castle, monument symbol of the centre, well visible from the road who runs along it, and who raises dominating this part of the valley.

The castle had a first executive phase around the XII century, corresponding to the current perimeter of the building and equipped of a tower-door and a residential tower.

In a following phase, the castle was ampliated with more residential places and a main-tower (still visible nowadays).

The last phase is datable around 1580, when the castle took the form of a fortify palace with four squared towers. Those ones imply a destination to a distinctly residential use.

Today it’s difficult to distinguish the old appearance of this fortress: there are just ruins left, with the greenery who seems to have taken possession of the structures, once majestic and impressive.

You can only visit the castle outwardly.

Descriptive sheet in collaboration with: www. langamedievale.com

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