Entracque Explained

Entracque
Official Name:Comune di Entracque
Coordinates:44.25°N 31°W
Region:Piedmont
Province:Cuneo (CN)
Mayor:Roberto Gosso
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:159.9
Population Total:857
Population As Of:31 July 2010
Population Demonym:Entracquesi
Elevation Footnotes:[2]
Elevation M:894
Elevation Min M:792
Elevation Max M:3297
Postal Code:12010
Area Code:0171

Entracque is a small town in the Valle Gesso of the Maritime Alps of north-west Italy, about 20km (10miles) southwest of Cuneo and close to the French border. It is the principal settlement and capoluogo of the comune or municipality of the same name (population 855) in the Piedmontese Province of Cuneo.

At the time of the 2001 census over 90 percent of the then 848 inhabitants of the comune were found in Entracque itself. The remaining 68 were dispersed among 11 hamlets, none of which had more than 13 inhabitants, or lived in isolated dwellings.[2]

Entracque borders the following municipalities: Belvédère (France), La Brigue (France), Limone Piemonte, Roaschia, Saint-Martin-Vésubie (France), Valdieri, and Vernante.

The comune is the site of the Entracque Power Plant, one of the biggest hydroelectric power stations in Italy.

Tourism

Entracque started to be a mountain touristic resort in the late 19th century, when the house of Savoy used the valley as a game reserve. Today Entracque addresses both winter and summer tourism. It has one of the biggest Italian cross ski areas and also has two lifts for alpine skiing.

Natural Park of the Maritime Alps

The village is also part of the Parco Naturale delle Alpi Marittime (Natural Park of the Maritime Alps). It is one of the few pan-European parks (the French side is the National Park of Mercantour).

Monte Argentera, the highest peak in the Maritime Alps, is located in the municipal territory.

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.istat.it/strumenti/definizioni/comuni/elenco_comuni_italiani_30_ottobre_2009.xls List of Italian communes as of 30 October 2009
  2. Istat, ‘Popolazione residente - Cuneo (dettaglio loc. abitate)’, 2001 Census.