Mazzè: Castle, Churches and Dora Baltea

Mazzè brings together cultural history, cycling and river landscapes as distinct highlights. If you are looking for a hotel in Mazzè, the local sights and routes can help you plan your stay: the castle and church represent historic architecture and craftsmanship, the Percorso N is a cycling route through the town, and the Dora Baltea offers its own river landscape.

Castello di Mazzè and the historic town centre

Castello di Mazzè is a fortified complex with two distinct building phases. The “castello piccolo” dates from the 14th century; the “castello grande” was remodelled in the Neo-Gothic style in the 19th century. Its position on the crest of the moraine hill also shapes the views of the surrounding area: the castle overlooks the Dora Baltea gorge, as well as the Ivrea plain to the north and the Chivasso plain to the south.

The Centro Storico di Mazzè includes the remains of the old Ricetto, 19th-century noble palaces, the parish church and the castle. The Museo della Tortura is housed in old underground rooms in the medieval Castello. Its collection comes mainly from Spain and various European collections. The historic centre thus brings together different themes: the castle’s architectural history, traces of the old Ricetto and a museum with a collection shaped by European influences.

Church, art and views

The Chiesa dei Santi Gervasio e Protasio was built before 1286. Its furnishings include a Gothic-style wooden Stations of the Cross, carved by artists from Val Gardena, and Murano glass chandeliers. The artworks bring together different craft traditions: woodcarving from Val Gardena alongside glasswork from Murano.

The church’s position on the crest of the moraine hill is another distinctive feature of the townscape. From there, the view extends across the Vercelli plain to the dome of San Gaudenzio in Novara, which can be seen on clear days. The hill thus offers different points of interest for planning your trip, from architectural details to far-reaching views across the landscape.

Cycling on the Percorso N

The 48-kilometre Percorso N passes through Mazzè. In the town, the Forra della Dora Baltea is one of the sights along the route. The Percorso N also recommends a detour through the historic centre to the castle on the hilltop. The cycling route thus combines a longer-distance trail with a specific recommended detour into the town centre, which leads to Castello di Mazzè.

Dora Baltea and the nature reserve

The Riserva Naturale del Mulino Vecchio also includes part of the municipality of Mazzè and protects a section of the Dora Baltea and its surrounding area. The reserve’s landscape features wide gravel banks and beaches, riparian vegetation, and stands of poplar and black locust surrounded by fields and meadows. This is quite different from the view from the moraine hill: here, riverbanks, riparian woodland and open agricultural land define the scenery.

For canoe trips, the section of the Dora Baltea between Mazzè and Crescentino, within the protected areas of the Po piemontese, is relevant. It is generally navigable year-round; exceptions may occur in winter during extended dry periods. Check the guidance on navigability for this stretch of river when planning your trip.

Routes through the rural surroundings

The “L'Oro dei ghiacciai” and “La Regina Ypa” routes connect and partially overlap. Together, they form a long, educational walk with explanatory panels along rural tracks. A route to the walk from Mazzè is also described: it follows the provincial road towards the bridge over the Dora di Villareggia, then turns right onto an unpaved road leading to the car park. Local road conditions may change, so check the information before setting out.

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