Discover Castagnole Monferrato: Ruchè and history

Castagnole Monferrato brings together the history of Ruchè, a fortified old town centre, sacred architecture and the hilly landscape surrounding the town. If you want to include culture and scenery in your trip, there are several distinct highlights to explore: the Museo del Ruchè, the Ricetto, buildings from different periods and the Basso Monferrato di Castagnole scenic route.

Ruchè and wine traditions

The Museo del Ruchè presents the history of Ruchè in three museum rooms. Information, exhibits, and multimedia and interactive materials offer a range of ways to explore the subject. This presents it from several perspectives rather than limiting it to a single approach.

Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato is made from grapes of the grape variety of the same name. Together with the museum’s account of the history of Ruchè, this creates a specific theme for the town: the museum rooms are devoted to the history of the wine, while the wine designation refers to the grape variety that shares its name.

The Ricetto and traces of the castle

The Ricetto is the oldest part of Castagnole Monferrato. It stands on a natural promontory and was enclosed by defensive walls. Sections of wall, part of a bastion and a tower incorporated into a private house remain from the former castle. There are also 14th-century arcades made of brick and tuff.

The surviving features vary in form and material: sections of wall and part of a bastion stand alongside the tower incorporated into a private house and the arcades. The former Regina Elena children’s home is also located in the Ricetto. The result is a historic fortified centre with several named architectural remains and historical associations.

Churches, a chapel and frescoes

The parish church of San Martino is a Baroque church with three naves and side chapels. Three paintings by Moncalvo adorn the side chapels. The Chiesa dell’Annunziata offers a different example of sacred architecture: built in the Piedmontese Baroque style, it has a carved portal.

Built in the 17th century, the chapel of San Rocco preserves an expressive wooden statue of the saint. Villa La Mercantile provides another architectural highlight. It includes a 19th-century palazzo with rooms decorated with recently restored frescoes. Taken together, these sites highlight a variety of buildings and artistic details: paintings, a carved portal, a wooden statue and frescoes.

Crutin and their traditional use

Crutin are old underground cellars excavated in tuff or tuff sandstone. Traditionally, they were used to store wine and food. Their depth allows them to maintain a constant temperature and humidity throughout the year. They thus combine a distinctive type of construction with the historic storage of provisions.

Some Crutin in Castagnole Monferrato can be seen at the La Locanda dei Musici Bed & Breakfast and at the Luca Ferraris winery. Check access arrangements before visiting in person.

Hills and scenic route

The Basso Monferrato di Castagnole scenic route follows roads through the gentle hills around Castagnole Monferrato and offers views of Piedmont from a hilltop. Its landscape differs from that of the buildings in the Ricetto: the route’s perspective is shaped by roads and hills, while the old town centre is defined by the remains of its fortifications and individual historic buildings.

Discover more destinations: Montafia, Montechiaro D'asti, Cossombrato, Gorra, Incisa Scapaccino, Castell'alfero, Antignano, Cornalea

For the overview of the wider area: Asti.