The Cumeřciàa Exhibition at the Musée Départemental des Merveilles in Tende

Until the end of October 2025, the Musée Départemental des Merveilles in Tende is hosting the exhibition Cumeřciàa, an intriguing exploration of the alpine economy and commercial life in Haute Roya from the 19th to the 20th century.

For a long time, mountains were considered peripheral lands; however, between the 19th and 20th centuries, the alpine territories experienced widespread economic and social dynamism.

Commercial infrastructure, methods of resource management, the diversification of activities (such as integrated peasant economies), seasonal mobility, and the role of the family structure, all typical features of the alpine economy, present a much richer and more complex picture than is commonly imagined.

An emblematic example is the Upper Roya Valley, which remained Italian until 1947. Its villages, rich in commercial, artisanal, and tourist activities, illustrate how barbers, pharmacists, butchers, grocers, blacksmiths, carpenters, shoemakers, and hoteliers supported a diversified and interconnected local economy within the heart of the community.

The exhibition at the Musée Départemental des Merveilles traces the life of past merchants and artisans through in-depth research into unpublished archival documents, hundreds of original ethnographic objects, and numerous life anecdotes. A true tribute to mountain life, in all its hardships and vitality.

The museum is open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM from June 16 to September 15, except on Tuesdays, January 1st, and May 1st.