Sauze D'oulx: Vialattea, hiking trails and local history

Sauze d'Oulx combines skiing with hiking and cycling routes, as well as distinctive historic buildings. When choosing a destination, you can weigh up different priorities: the Vialattea ski area, trails through forests and along ridges, or a glimpse of the old settlement. The specific route details make it easier to compare two hiking options by length, walking time and difficulty.

Skiing in Sauze d'Oulx

Sauze d'Oulx is one of the resorts in the international Vialattea ski area. Numerous ski lifts connect the resorts across the area. Vialattea has 400 km of skiable runs across more than 300 slopes. These figures give an idea of the ski area's scale, while the facilities in Sauze d'Oulx offer more specific guidance.

Vialattea's snowpark is located in Sauze d'Oulx and features jumps, kickers, rails and wall rides. There is also a Baby Fun Park with inflatable structures. It is designed to help young children get started with skiing in a playful way. The two facilities therefore offer different ways to enjoy the sport: a snowpark with a range of features and a dedicated area focused on a playful introduction.

Hiking trails and scenery between two valleys

Hiking and cycling routes in Sauze d'Oulx pass through coniferous forests or along watershed ridges between the Susa and Chisone valleys. A loop trail starts and ends at the tourist office. It passes through the Gran Bosco di Salbertrand Nature Park and follows part of the network of military roads on the watershed ridge between the two valleys. These route connections bring together different landscapes and the history of the trails, though not every outing follows the same route.

For a specific comparison, consider two described trails. A trail from the Stazione Sperimentale Alpina leads to Lago Laune at 2,043 m. It is 1.52 km long, takes about 45 minutes and is classified as easy, grade T. A hiking trail from Gran-Villard-Laghetto to Monfol is 1.9 km long, takes about 40 minutes and is classified as moderate, grade E.

The trail to Monfol is therefore longer, while its estimated walking time of about 40 minutes is slightly shorter than the approximately 45 minutes to Lago Laune. The difficulty ratings also differ: easy, grade T, for the trail to the lake and moderate, grade E, for the trail to Monfol. Taken together, length, approximate duration and difficulty provide a useful comparison, rather than simply comparing distances. Near Lago Laune, you can buy cheese at Malga Alpe Laune.

Church and fountain in the old settlement

The Chiesa Parrocchiale di San Giovanni Battista was built in 1532 in the heart of Sauze d'Oulx's old settlement. Its distinctive features include an impressive wooden choir loft and an 18th-century altarpiece on the high altar. The bell tower is in the Dauphiné Romanesque style. The church can be reached on foot or by car and has no architectural barriers.

The Antica fontana di Sauze d'Oulx, an octagonal fountain dating from the 16th century, stands directly beside the church. It is located in Piazza Assietta. The fountain is also easily accessible to people with reduced mobility. The church and fountain offer different historical points of interest: the architectural and decorative history of a parish church, and a fountain whose octagonal shape and age help define the local setting.

More activities in the area

The Adventure Village in Sauze d'Oulx caters to families and young people of all ages. Together with the Baby Fun Park, it complements the sporting and cultural attractions with further leisure activities, with the two facilities appealing to different audiences and offering different activities. This makes it possible to choose a destination based on specific interests: skiing and the snowpark, an outing on one of the described trails, or a visit to the historic buildings.

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