Centro visitatori del Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso - Laboratorio Parco

Laboratorio Parco, the Gran Paradiso National Park interpretation centre in Cogne, uses models, sound, scents and interactive displays to present the park's water, forests, pastures and wildlife.

Why it matters

The centre interprets ecological processes and human relationships with the protected landscape, making subjects such as water, forest management and wildlife visible through exhibits. Its location in the former mining settlement also connects environmental interpretation with Cogne's industrial past.

What to notice

The displays address water and hydrogeology, forests and pasture, and fauna including the wolf and ibex. Sensory installations use recorded sounds and scents associated with woodland. The varied exhibits present the park as an interconnected landscape rather than a collection of isolated species.

Context and history

The centre is housed in the Village Minier, built for workers at the Cogne magnetite mine. The mountains around Cogne were a royal reserve from 1856; this protection developed into Gran Paradiso National Park after the First World War. The centre is part of the park's educational work and interprets a landscape shaped by both conservation and human use.