Description
Take the pathway that goes up the Soustra valley. After a long plain where there are mountain huts, the path climbs up very steeply. Once you reach the Losetta Pass, climb towards the left for a 150 m gradient, reaching the top of the Losetta, where you can enjoy a fabulous view of Monviso. On the way down, go towards the Vallanta refuge, passing next to a barracks just under the hill, and then down a path that leads to Castello.
Departure point: Grange del Rio
Arrival point: Castello
Gradient: 1000 m
Time required: uphill only 3 h 30 min; round trip 7 h 30 min
Degree of difficulty:long hike
Links to other routes:
Colle di Vallanta - Bivacco Berardo - Bivacco delle Forciolline - Bivacco Bertoglio, S.Chiaffredo pass, Gallarino pass, Q. Sella refuge - Bagnour Lake and refuge.
Access:
• from Turin: A6 motorway, exit
Marene; go along the SP 662 road towards Savigliano-Saluzzo and then along the Valle Varaita provincial road to Chianale, after Casteldelfino. Pass the old customs point and go up as far as a left hairpin bend next to a few mountain huts named Grange del Rio. It’s a good idea to leave a second car in Castello, because the downhill trek ends there.
• from Cuneo: SP 589 Laghi di Avigliana road to Costigliole Saluzzo; go along the Valle Varaita provincial road to Chianale, after Casteldelfino. Follow like above.
About the Varaita Valley
The road which crosses the area of the Comunità Montana Valle Varaita winds for 60 km along the valley and leads to Colle dell’Agnello (2748 m). In the summertime it allows access to the Queyras French region.
This land, full of tourist attractions, has been able to preserve its cultural patrimony. A good example is the Bahio di Sampeyre, a thou- sand year old ancient festival, which remembers the banishment of the Saracen pillagers from the alpine valleys and is celebrated every 5 years (years ending in 2 and 7) during the Carnival period. It is also the home of wood craftsmen, Rore ceramics and the world famous Piasco harps. Not to mention its gastronomy specia- lities like ravioles (long gnocchi) or tumin (fresh cheese) from Melle.
The alpine villages built with stone and slate roofs, like Chianale and Bellino, are silent evidence of the border history. In the Bellino villages, the passing of time is marked by the meridiane “sundials” on the façades of many buildings together with sculptured stone figures and carved wooden balconies.
Anyone who loves nature will be bewitched by the Alevé wood, the vastest swiss stone pine woodland in Europe (817 hectares), and by several opportunities of hikes offered by the valley where breathtaking panoramas on Monviso and on the “three thousand metres high” Cottian Alps can be enjoyed.
For further information about other itineraries, nature trails, mountaineering programmes, summer and winter excursions please contact:
Comunità Montana Valle Varaita Tourist Board
Piazza della Vittoria, 40
12020 Sampeyre (CN)
tel. +39.0175.977152 - fax +39.0175.977448 www.vallevaraita.cn.it - e-mail: info@vallevaraita.cn.it
International editions: