Rochemelon (or Roche Melon), Rocciamelone in Italian, is a mountain on the France-Italy border, 50 km (30 mi) west of Turin. This was the first high mountain in the Alps to be attempted and successfully climbed.
Bonifacius Rotarius (of Asti) made the first ascent of Rochemelon in 1358.
The summit of Rochemelon is the aim of a traditional pilgrimage, every year, on August 5. A 3 m high statue of Virgin Mary was erected there in 1899.
As an oddity, the international border does not exactly follow the watershed in this sector. The summit of Rochemelon is fully Italian, as is the upper first kilometre of glacier de Rochemelon, this area of about 4 square kilometres constitutes the only Italian territory portion of the Rhône river basin.
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Last updated: 10-23-2005 11:45:04
