Piedmont: Alpine wilderness, wine landscapes and culture
Accommodation in Piedmont
In Piedmont, protected areas cover 200,000 hectares, or around 8 percent of the region. The national parks include Gran Paradiso, established in 1922, and Val Grande National Park, established in 1992. The latter preserves the largest contiguous wilderness area in the Alps and Italy, and is a destination for nature lovers and trekkers. The different founding years give each protected area its own historical context; together, they make nature a defining theme of a trip to Piedmont.
Alpine Landscapes and Nature Experiences
The Alta Valsesia and Alta Val Strona Nature Park brings together typical high-alpine flora, vast glaciers and extensive coniferous forests. The animal species mentioned there include ibex, chamois, roe deer and eagles. Near Alagna, the glacier trail runs opposite the Monte Rosa Glacier. The route is said to take around two hours; information panels explain the history of the glaciers in this area. The trail thus connects a natural landscape with a specific insight into its development.
La Mandria also offers a variety of experiences: the grounds can be explored on foot, by bicycle, on horseback or by carriage. Farmhouses, protected historic buildings and a medieval ricetto are found among forests, pastures and farmland. Animals that can be spotted there include deer, wild boar, fallow deer, hares and badgers. Those looking to combine a nature experience with different ways of getting around will find options here that differ from the glacier trail.
Culture, History and Pilgrimage Sites
The Walser, an ancient people of Germanic origin from neighboring Switzerland, settled in Macugnaga and upper Valsesia in the 13th century. They had a major influence on the culture and appearance of these areas. In Turin and Piedmont, the Royal Residences have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. They form an accessible cultural, historical, architectural and scenic itinerary. The Sacri Monti, in turn, remain places of Christian pilgrimage, prayer and reflection.
In Turin, the Museo Egizio is dedicated to Egyptian civilization and is considered the world’s oldest museum on this subject. Its journey through time spans more than 4,000 years of history, art and archaeology. The residences, the Sacri Monti and the museum thus offer different ways to explore culture: through architecture and landscape, religious tradition and antiquity.
Wine Landscapes and Regional Specialties
The UNESCO wine landscape of Langhe-Roero and Monferrato comprises five distinct wine-growing areas. Cultivated slopes dotted with hilltop villages, castles, Romanesque churches, farmhouses, Infernot cellars and wine warehouses define its character. The landscape also preserves long-standing traditions of viticulture and winemaking. Infernot are old cellars in Monferrato, dug by hand into tuff rock. They show how closely the wine tradition is tied to the built environment.
Individual places are also associated with specific wines: Nizza Monferrato with Barbera, and Canelli with Asti Spumante. In the Province of Turin, a wine-route circuit takes in 25 DOC wines made from 11 characteristic grape varieties. Tastings are held at numerous wineries and farms, as well as at the two Regional Wine Shops in Roppolo and Caluso. This lets you explore the wine landscapes through both their historic features and regional specialties.
Cycling Routes and Distances
Bar2Bar is an approximately 124-kilometer loop through a large part of the Langhe Roero area. It runs along quiet roads and gravel roads, as well as through forests and over farm tracks. Conditions along the route can vary, so check the trail conditions before setting out. Another cycling route starts in Carema and heads toward Vinzaglio via Ivrea, SanthiĂ and Vercelli; it is about 95 kilometers long. A route of around 446 kilometers starts in Dormelletto in the Novara area, reaches the mountain areas via Biella and Ivrea, and follows the access routes to the Piedmontese valleys. The distances indicate the scale of these tours, while Bar2Bar is also distinguished by its loop format and the specified road surfaces.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Novara, Alessandria, Asti, Biella, Turin, Vercelli, Cuneo.
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