La Country House La Bursch
La Country House La Bursch was created with the goal of enhancing the local area and promoting ethical tourism, guided by a renewed entrepreneurial spirit and the principles of community. In 2018, Barbara Varese led the conservative restoration of her family’s historic home, combining energy efficiency with an extensive redevelopment of the entire hamlet.At La Bursch, one can breathe the atmosphere of a bygone era within a familiar, charming, and mysterious setting.
Origins
In the ancient Walser dialect of the region, La Bursch means “house,” “shelter,” or “den”—names that evoke the intimate, hidden, and almost secret essence of this place. To truly discover La Bursch, one must go there in person and experience the magic and uniqueness of this hamlet nestled among the Biellese Alps.
The project’s coherence lies in the use of traditional local building techniques, the reuse of antique furnishings, and the reinterpretation of old recipes tied to the territory.
The Territory
The hamlet of La Bursch is located in Oretto, a small village in Campiglia Cervo (province of Biella), surrounded by woods and flanked by the Cervo and Bele streams—just one hour’s drive from Milan and Turin.
We are in the Cervo Valley, a borderland between Switzerland and France, historically a crossroads of cultures and traditions. A solitary, secret, and magical valley that seems suspended in time.
Stretching about twenty kilometers, the Cervo Valley—also known as the Valley of Water—is dotted with small villages and hamlets featuring distinctive stone houses made of sienite, surrounded by beech and chestnut forests.
The Country House
The Country House consists of several small stone dwellings connected to one another, forming a sequence of rooms and hidden corners, each with its own identity and atmosphere, all united by the theme of travel—an authentic scattered village.
The hamlet preserves its original 17th-century layout, and the authenticity of its architecture allows guests to experience a sensory and emotional journey. The voyage begins upon passing through a small door leading to the reception area, designed like an early 20th-century ticket office. From there, guests embark on a unique experience, surrounded by objects and mementos collected by Barbara’s family over four generations of travels around the world.
La Bursch’s philosophy is to welcome guests as part of a large family, pampering them and involving them in the simplicity of everyday life.
The Spaces
Every space in La Bursch evokes a fairytale atmosphere, a special setting where everyone can feel “at home.” It is a place of meeting and discovery: the billiard room, the 1930s Art Déco bar, the room of ancient games, the music room, and the old well tavern.
The ancient barn now houses the Sala delle Farfalle (Butterfly Room) and La Pépinière, flexible spaces designed for special events and conferences.
The experience continues outdoors in the park—a haven of peace and harmony. The scent of beech and chestnut trees, the fragrance of roses winding through the garden, the taste of heirloom fruits from the orchard, and the produce from the vegetable garden offer moments of calm and serenity.
Crowning the park is the Biolake, a natural swimming pond purified solely through aquatic plants, algae, and microorganisms, with no chlorine or chemicals used. This unique feature—the only one of its kind in a hospitality structure in Piedmont—allows guests to enjoy a truly relaxing and sustainable experience, complete with sunbeds, towels, and an outdoor shower.