Bogone, a seasonally inhabited Alpine pasture hamlet, holds ancient traces in its stone, where archaeology, mystery, and Alpine spirituality converge.
Site overview
The small hamlet of Bogone was inhabited mainly in spring and autumn, serving as a stopping point during the Alpine pasture season.
The hamlet is abundant in historical remnants. Evidence shows human presence dating back to the Neolithic era, including the enigmatic cup-marked boulder of Bogone, often mistakenly called the “druidic altar”. This boulder features large circular hollows connected by grooves carved into the rock, radiating from a prominent stone stump atop the outcrop. Additional cup marks of different sizes are scattered throughout the town and in nearby valleys.
From a large stone stump atop the boulder, small channels carved into the rock extend outward to fill several large circular hollows. Like other cup-marked boulders found throughout the western Alps, some scholars consider this stone a pre-Christian sanctuary.
How to visit the site
The large, flat-topped boulder is situated just a few dozen metres below the houses in Bogone, a village located a few kilometres north of Balme's centre. From the main road on Via Capoluogo, visitors can park near Villa Maria and walk along the mule path that runs beside the villa. After crossing a bridge and walking for a few minutes, the signposted altar can be reached.
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