LUSÉRN THE ANCIENT SOUL OF THE ALPE CIMBRA

There is a place on the Alpe Cimbra where the silence of the forests speaks an ancient language. It is Luserna (Lusérn), a small village in Trentino, perched at 1,333 meters, surrounded by gentle peaks, meadows, and trails that seem drawn by the hand of time. Lusérn is one of Italy’s “Most Beautiful Villages,” a recognition honoring its authenticity, unspoiled landscape, and deep cultural heritage. People don’t come here just to see – they come to listen, to feel, to remember.
Lusérn preserves one of Europe’s rarest linguistic heritages: the Cimbrian language. The locals call it Zimbar, and it is more than a dialect – it’s a key to an ancient world. Derived from Middle High German, Cimbrian arrived here in the 12th century with German settlers who brought with them stories, customs, and words that time has not erased. Today, it is spoken by a small community but still lives on in everyday life: in bilingual signs, folk songs, and the tales of elders who still use words rich in echoes and roots.
Walking through Lusérn feels like stepping into a book of legends: every corner tells a story, every sound holds a memory. With luck, you might hear a child reciting an old rhyme in Cimbrian, or a grandfather speaking to his grandchild in words that evoke forests, snow, and fire. The Cimbrian language is also the star of the Luserna Museum, the cultural heart of the village. Here, history, ethnography, nature, and linguistics intertwine through immersive exhibits, sound archives, displays, and educational activities that keep the memory alive. It’s a place where visitors reconnect with their roots, discover the meaning of identity, and rediscover the value of language as a human heritage.
But Lusérn is also about skilled hands and patient hearts. Bobbin lace-making is one of its most cherished traditions – delicate threads slowly woven into patterns of light and air. Each lace tells a story, a gesture passed down, a time when making was care, and beauty came from slowness.

For those who want to see the mountains through the eyes of the heart, there are themed trails that lead from the village into forests and pastures. The most famous is the Path of Imagination, where wooden sculptures inspired by Cimbrian legends accompany the walk – gnomes, witches, forest spirits that populate a magical landscape. Alongside it is the From Stories to History Trail, which guides visitors through a journey where nature and historical memory intertwine – where the lives of the community and the events of the First World War blend with the everyday life of the past. These are trails not only walked with the feet but with the heart.
Another place where the past speaks with a living voice is the Haus von Prükk, a house-museum that recreates the atmosphere of early 20th-century Cimbrian rural life. Quiet rooms, everyday objects, tools, wooden beds, and faded photos tell the story of a simple and resilient life deeply connected to the land and seasons. Entering this house is like crossing an invisible threshold – stepping into another time.
Then there is Fort Werk Lusérn, known as the “Padre aeterno”, nestled in the rocks like a stone sentinel. Built by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it played a major role in the First World War. Today, walking through its tunnels, looking out from its loopholes, and gazing across the valleys it guards is a moving experience – one that invites reflection.
Lusérn is a place of the soul, where the past never truly fades, but becomes voice, gesture, and gaze. It is a small world suspended between tradition and future, where every detail speaks of a proud, quiet, and resilient identity. Those who come here are never mere visitors – they are guests, witnesses, seekers of authenticity.


Article from: Borghi Magazine