Valle Maira: A Tranquil Piedmont Hiking Getaway

After 5 km of walking you arrive in San Martino di Stroppo composed of two different villages, Inferiore and Superiore, both are very charming and picturesque. Over the years many abandoned and ruined houses have been taken over and renovated maintaining the original characteristics and here stands the cultural center, a historic stopover born from a vision of a German couple who helped launch Occitan itineraries internationally.

You then reach the Colle di San Giovanni, an extremely fascinating place. Near the larch wood there is the circular chapel of the same name. This place is very scenic. You make a small detour to Fremo Cuncuná, a tongue of rock suspended in the void that is very famous because it recalls the great sheer fjords of Norway. The name means “crouched woman”: if she is observed from Elva’s Vallone (Orrido), she looks like a crouched lady.

Finally you reach your destination. The parish church of Elva is a small Sistine Chapel. Inside it houses a cycle of frescoes by the Flemish painter Hans Clemer. It is always open, but if it is closed, the Locanda Occitana has the keys and makes them available to interested parties.

Elva is the second highest municipality in the province of Cuneo, at an altitude of 1,637 metres. It is a picturesque village immersed in a fairytale setting. The Caviè Museum, the hair collectors, and the parish church with the frescoes by Clemer are not to be missed. All this next to the Locanda di Elva which awaits you for a night in this place so steeped in history.

A first part on paved road but in a wide and panoramic environment that becomes magnificent after the village of Chiosso, one of those villages where time has stopped. From here you descend on paths through coniferous woods and splendid panoramas.

We then go up to Colle San Michele where one of the symbols of Valle Maira appears in all its beauty: Monte Chersogno. From here a gentle and pleasant descent will take you to Borgata Allemandi where you can breathe and feel the Occitan traditions: the Al Chersogno farmhouse, in addition to being in a wonderful place, produces honey, vegetables and potatoes of ancient varieties.

Ring itinerary for an extremely panoramic trip through fir woods and undoubtedly numerous brooms, a plant that is encountered along the entire route with a characteristic yellow colour. The route crosses the Vallone di San Michele, an independent municipality until 1928 and subsequently joined to Prazzo.

“Lou viol dal Genistè” begins in the Allemandi hamlet. In this stretch, which extends up to Colle Ruvera, it is possible to see a beautiful panorama over the entire Maira valley, while walking among broom, lavender and Scots pine. Once at the Colle there is the “Granjo ‘d Mundin ‘d Roc”, that is a structure with an oven built into the rock.

We then continue towards Borgata San Vittore, where it is possible to admire a well and a chapel close to the rock in an extremely panoramic point. From here, take the road back to Allemandi.
(Morning after: departure day in case by a transfer to Camoglieres ).