Arboretum Borna di Laou

Borna di Laou is a six-hectare arboretum on the hillside above Verrès, planted with conifers and other tree species in 1951 by the State Forestry Corps.

Why it matters

The arboretum records a forestry experiment on dry, rocky ground at the mouth of Val d'Ayas. Several introduced species adapted to the area's mild local climate, making the site a document of both botanical cultivation and the region's environmental conditions. The name Borna di Laou preserves a local association with a wolf's den.

What to notice

The planted conifers include maritime and stone pines, Atlas cedar and Caucasian fir, alongside native trees such as downy oak, dogwood and hawthorn. The mix of introduced and local species reflects the arboretum's experimental origins. Its hillside position also opens views across Verrès and the lower valley.

Context and history

The Corpo forestale dello Stato planted the site in 1951 on terrain considered poor and arid. Some introduced species did not persist, while others grew and regenerated. The patois toponym refers to a wolf's den, said in local memory to have remained in the area into the nineteenth century. The municipality later maintained the site as a botanical and naturalistic area.