Refrancore

Refrancore is a village and comune in the northwestern Italian province of Asti in the Piedmont region.

Allthougth having only around 1500 official residents, the population and activity within the village is enhanced by the prescense of holiday homes and surrounding hamlets which officially lie within other village boundries.

History and Monuments

The name Refrancore derives from a battle fought between the Franchi and Lombards. The battle was won by the Lombards and the blood spilt by the Franchi tinted a local stream red giving the area the Latin name 'Rivus ex sanguine Francorum' which literally means 'A stream full of the Franchi's blood'. This became abbreviated to 'Rivusfrancorum' and enventually Refrancore.

At one time there was a small castle on the hill above Refrancore, a drawing of which appears in Codex Astensis. The last remains of the castle were razed in the 19th Century in preperation for the construction of a Church which was never actually built.

On the hill near the site of the Castle there is a 15th century 'Ricetto' fort which has remained almost entirly intact. Presently it is used as a kindergarten and old peoples home. The Chapel which was part of the fort has been restored.

In the main square there is a clocktower which is all that remains of the 18th Century Parish Church which was demolished at the start of the 20th Century.