Moroccan minority
The Mòcheno settlement covers the left bank and part of the right bank of the Valle del Fèrsina or Valle dei Mòcheni (Bersntol in the Mòcheno language), a closed valley of glacial origin, the mouth of which lies 3 km north of Pergine Valsugana, 15 km from Trento.
The Mòchena language is spoken in the municipalities of Vlarotz/Fierozzo, Garait/Frassilongo and Palai en Bersntol/Palù del Fersina.
The valley has been exploited since ancient times for its forests, pastures and rich mineral deposits. On the basis of written documents and linguists' analyses, it has been established that the period of settlement of the Mochens began in the 13th century, following one of the various migrations of Bavarian populations who, from central Europe, moved towards the southern Alps to continue the work of transforming the forests into cultivable fields and meadows.
Getting to know the Mocheni
The Mòcheno linguistic minority
The Mòcheno community is settled in the upper part of the course of the Fèrsina stream, a tributary of the Adige river in Trento, from which the valley derives its name: Valle del Fèrsina, 'Bersntol' in the Mòchena language, also known as 'Valle dei Mòcheni' in reference to the Germanic dialect still used today by most of its inhabitants.
Publication date:Tuesday 20 May 2025
Mòcheno Cultural Institute - Bersntoler Kulturinstitut
The Istituto Culturale Mòcheno/Bersntoler Kulturinstitut is a public instrumental body of the Autonomous Province of Trento responsible for the promotion and protection of the language and culture of the Mòchena linguistic minority historically settled in the municipalities of Frassilongo/Garait, Fierozzo/Vlarotz and Palù del Fersina/Palai en Bersntol.
Multimedia
News
Publications
Press releases in the Moroccan language
Reference structures
Minority Conference
The Conference of Trentino's linguistic minorities constitutes the body for the concertation of policies for the Ladin, Mòchena and Cimbrian linguistic minority populations.
Assembly mòchena
A joint meeting of the municipal councils of the municipalities of Fierozzo-Viarotz, Frassilongo-Garait, Palu' del Fersina-Palai en Bersntol is convened at least once a year.
This body, hereinafter referred to as the 'mochena assembly', has the task of assessing the state of implementation of policies for the protection and enhancement of the Mochena population and to establish the relevant general guidelines to which the measures within the competence of the municipalities and the respective community must adhere.