Itineraries14 January 2015

Suggested itinerary: the Occitan Pathways in the Maira Valley

These routes have seen traders and travellers, preachers and soldiers, troubadours and pilgrims pass along them over the decades

Rocca la Meja mountain

The valley of Valle Maira offers the opportunity of an unique experience of the nature. Its area extends from the narrow valley floor, characterized by gorges and narrow passages, to the green pastures and the top of the Cottian Alps (Alpi Cozie).

Here is the description of the Occitan Pathways, one of the many fascinating hiking itineraries offered in the valley.

'It is a ring shaped route marked with yellow notches and wooden roadsigns, so that you can visit all of the Maira Valley on foot, by mountain bike or on horseback in 15 stages, staying in typical local inns and stopping off places.
Leaving Villar San Costanzo the path forks off in Macra and then reaches the towns and alpine villages positioned on both orographic sides leading to the “three thousand metres high mountains” of the valley.
These routes have seen traders and travellers, preachers and soldiers, troubadours and pilgrims pass along them over the decades. Today the hiker can look back in time discovering alpine villages, small churches, mountain people’s life and breathtaking landscape in this beautiful, secluded and difficult to reach valley.
It is advisable to book the stopping off places: for information contact the Dronero Tourist Board.'

Degree of difficulty: challenging

I.N.