Ecomuseum of the Mountain Guides “Antonio Castagneri”

Site overview

The Museum was established in 1990 on the centenary of the tragic death on Mont Blanc of the famous Mountain Guide Antonio Castagneri, known as “Toni dei Tuni.” It was inaugurated with a temporary exhibition dedicated to him, illustrating his role as a pioneer of mountaineering through images and memorabilia.

Antonio Castagneri is a figure who has only recently been rediscovered. In his time, Toni dei Tuni was a legendary character, not only in Italy but throughout Europe. He holds the record for the number of first ascents in the Alps (surpassed only by the Swiss Christian Almer). He was considered a mythical figure, not only for his physical prowess but also for his human qualities—an energetic and phlegmatic man, endowed with extraordinary mountaineering intuition.

In the first room, there are numerous photographs of the guides, as well as those of the Grande Torino football team; until the years of World War II, the team used to come to Balme for their sports retreats. In the hamlet of Cornetti, a plaque is displayed on the wall of the building that hosted the team. The second room is dedicated to the world of skiing.

At the end of the 19th century, highlanders did not ski; the sport was introduced by city dwellers. Specifically, Adolfo Kind, a Swiss industrialist living in Turin, played a key role in this transition.