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Via Principale, 25, 10054 Sauze di Cesana
After passing the town of Cesana, the small but characteristic municipality of Sauze di Cesana develops. Documented since the 11th century as Salise Cesanae and Saude, the historical and political events of this small village are linked to the presence of the Dauphiné, of which it was part, and to the municipality of Cesana, to which it was also administratively linked for a certain period. Just before the village, on an extensive grassy area, stands the Church of S. Restituto martyr, which once served as a shelter for the surrounding hamlets of Rollières and Champlas. Indeed, the complex appears to be fortified with slit windows suitable for repelling external assaults like the 1583 siege by General la Cazette of the French army during battles against the Waldensians. The church is the oldest in the Valle della Ripa, already mentioned in the 12th century, and due to its function as a stronghold, it was subject to continuous reconstruction interventions. Recent restorations have revealed notable 16th-century pictorial elements, and among the furnishings, some 17th-century paintings such as the one of the main altar with SS Restituto and Stefano, or the depiction of S. Restituto, Claudio, and Giusto are noteworthy. Some valuable 17th-century paintings like the Madonna del Rosario and S. Claudio are now kept in the Diocesan Museum in Susa.
Despite a severe fire in 1962 that destroyed part of the town, the traditional architectures of the alpine village of Sauze are well preserved. A recurring element is the fountains, a focal point of daily life where the skill and creativity of local craftsmen were concretely and coherently directed towards the creation of fountains, some of which have monumental aspects. These are present in all the hamlets that dot the territory locally known as Gran Sauze: Rollières, Bessen Alto, Bessen Basso, Serre, and Grangesises, where a modern residential complex revisits the concept of an alpine chalet. It was precisely the discovery of mountaineering and the mountains, and consequently winter sports, that revitalized Sauze di Cesana as a tourist reference point for stays, walks, and excursions on foot or by bicycle. One of the most beautiful secondary valleys of the Susa Valley with varied natural views is the Valle Argentera, rich in pastures and water surrounded by crests and ancient alpine pastures. A changing landscape due to the abundance of water and waterfalls, in winter it is a destination for passionate ice climbers, but certainly in summer it is a destination for pleasant walks even by bicycle. The Valle Argentera, due to its landscape peculiarities and the presence of particular flora and fauna, is a Site of Community Interest.
