A mountain sanctuary for silent prayer

Reggia di Valcasotto, a castle in the province of Cuneo, was first built as a monastery in the 11th century. For centuries, it was home to the Certosini order until it was disbanded in 1803. After being occupied by Napoleon's troops, the reggia became a royal residence. For a time, it was the summer home of Carlo Alberto, and later Vittorio Emanuele II. Today it belongs to the Regione Piemonte and is open to the public. Visitors can tour the north wing, the royal chapel, the tower bell, and the archeological area with the ruins of the old church and convent, as part of the "Castelli Aperti" circuit in the lower Piemonte.

For Maria Clotilde di Savoia, daughter of Vittorio Emanuele II, this was her favorite summer place. While her father preferred the site for hunting, she sought the silence protected by the woods. Given her deep religiousity, the isolation of the place favored her prayers.

Clotilde's marriage to Gerolamo, the cousin of Napoleon III, was a diplomatic move proposed by the Count of Cavour. Although she initially hesitated, she eventually submitted to the requirements of state. While her husband was described as a libertine and an atheist, Clotilde was known by all as deeply religious, spending much of her time in silent prayer in the castle's chapel. They had three children: Vittorio Napoleone, Luigi, and Maria Letizia.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons