Via Valle delle Cartiere - Toscolano Maderno (BS)
The route of the Valle delle Cartiere is located on the Brescia side of Lake Garda, precisely in Toscolano Maderno: it is one of the most important industrial archeology sites in Northern Italy, immersed in a very suggestive natural environment.
The site was redeveloped following the excavations carried out between 2002 and 2006 by the University of Padua which brought to light the remains of some old paper mills located in Gatto, Maina Superiore and Maina di Mezzo.
The Valle delle Cartiere is a real open-air museum, already famous in the fourteenth century for the production of paper, which took place by exploiting the strength of the Toscolano torrent.
Entering the valley, the first place you will come across will be Garde, where there are the remains of a paper mill surrounded by vegetation and, once you have passed the second tunnel, you will arrive at Quattroruote.
Continuing along the path you arrive at the Center of Excellence of Maina Inferiore, where you can find the Paper Museum: an interesting museum tour will illustrate the paper production process and printing techniques from the Middle Ages up to the twentieth century.
You can then continue across the Maina Superiore bridge, where the fishing reserve is located, and then we arrive at Gatto, where it is possible to admire the ravine and the old hydroelectric power plant.
Along the way you will find interesting panels that will tell you the history of the valley and its paper mills.
At this point, take a dirt road to the hamlet of Gaino and, to end the route, turn right first in via Giotto and then in via Donatello. Continue along the olive groves to return to the parking lot.
This beautiful walk along the Valle delle Cartiere is a path of about 9 km (2,5/3 hours at normal pace) suitable for everyone, recommended during the summer and also on torrid summer days for the "freshness" of the valley.
We suggest that you park your car near the old bridge of Toscolano Maderno, and then continue following the signs for the Valle delle Cartiere.
Alternatively, during the summer, there is a small train that will take you from the village of Toscolano Maderno to the Paper Museum and the Valle delle Cartiere in a few minutes.
