The Lime Kilns of Val Canzoi
Location: Val Canzoi - Municipality of Cesiomaggiore (Bl).
Access: from the Road of Val Canzoi. Once you get to Soranzén country hamlet from Feltre or from Cesiomaggiore (SP road Pedemontana n.12) following the indications, continue along the road of Val Canzoi that in the valley bottom offers various car parks and various opportunities to visit the calchère (lime kilns).
Environmental context - Description of the site: perpendicular to Valle del Piave, Val Canzoi is visible from most of the basin of Feltre, and is one of the privileged tourist accesses of the Park; very busy, also in the valley bottom during the summer, it offers an environment particularly rich in naturalistic features (geological and vegetation interest), as well as historical-human features. The valley is deeply dug and shaped by the course of the Torrent Caorame, and is closed in the north by Sass de Mura (2,550m), its natural background. The complex trail network branching off from the valley gives the opportunity to reach the heart of Alpi Feltrine with its nature sanctuaries. Situated within the administrative borders of the Municipality of Cesiomaggiore, it partly lies within the Park perimeter.
Val di Canzoi is characterized by a great concentration of original buildings of proto-industrial origin: they are the characteristic calchère (lime kilns) which, widespread in all the territory of Belluno with more or less elementary structures, were used for the production of lime and were usually built near streams and woods. In Val Canzoi, the quality of the calcareous limestone and the abundance of firewood favored the development of a real lime industry for which the local people used to work for some months during the year.
Building period: unknown.
Architectural features: small kilns for the production of lime. Stone-made circular structures leaning against the slope. Great historical-testimonial value.
