The Bersntol (, ) is a valley in the
Autonomous Province of Trento
Trentino (), officially the Autonomous Province of Trento (; ; ), is an Autonomous province#Italy, autonomous province of Italy in the Northern Italy, country's far north. Trentino and South Tyrol constitute the Regions of Italy, region of Tren ...
, in north-eastern Italy. The
Fersina river runs through it.
[ It is also known as the ''Valle del Mòcheni'' after its inhabitants, who speak the Upper German Mòcheno language.
]
History
Since the 14th century the valley has been home to a Mòcheno-speaking population of Upper German
Upper German ( ) is a family of High German dialects spoken primarily in the southern German-speaking area ().
History
In the Old High German time, only Alemannic and Bairisch are grouped as Upper German. In the Middle High German time, East F ...
origin,[ and is a ]language island
A language island (a calque of German ''Sprachinsel''; also language enclave, language pocket) is an enclave of a language that is surrounded by one or more different languages. The term was introduced in 1847. Many speakers of these languages als ...
of the Mòcheno language
Mòcheno (; ; ) is an Upper German variety spoken in three towns of the Bersntol (, ), in Trentino, northeastern Italy.
Mòcheno is closely related to Bavarian and is variously classified either as a Southern Bavarian variety or a separate ...
.
The valley is part of the district of Alta Valsugana e Bersntol
Alta Valsugana e Bersntol (German: ''Hoch Suganertal und Fersental''; Mocheno: ''Hoa Valzegu' ont Bersntol'') is one of the sixteen districts of Trentino in the Italian region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. Its administrative seat and major ...
.
Population
The four municipalities
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality' ...
of the valley are Vlarötz
Fierozzo ( Mócheno: ''Vlarotz'') is a ''comune'' (municipality) in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about northeast of Trento. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 456 and an area of .All d ...
, Garait, Palai en Bersntol
Pallai (, ), also spelt Palai, is a small town in the Kilinochchi District, Northern Province, Sri Lanka, Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The town is located under the division of the Pachilaipally Divisional Secretary and is administered by th ...
, and Sant'Orsola Terme
Sant'Orsola Terme ( Mòcheno: ''Oachpergh'') is a ''comune'' (municipality) in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about northeast of Trento. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 933 and an ar ...
. The majority of people declared themselves members of the Mòcheno linguistic group.
The Pezzata Mòchena
The Pezzata Mòchena, known in Mòcheno as the , is an indigenous breed of domestic goat from the Autonomous Province of Trento, in north-eastern Italy. It originates from the Valle dei Mòcheni, also known as the Valle del Fersina and as the ...
breed of domestic goat originates in the valley.[
]
References
External links
Homepage of the Bernstoler Kulturinstitut
Valleys of Trentino
{{TrentinoAltoAdige-geo-stub