The Other Mountain: Adventures and Discoveries from the Maritime Alps to the Friulian Dolomites
Upper Susa Valley. Along the Milky Way between Bardonecchia and Sauze d’Oul
The Upper Susa Valley is one of the areas that best exemplifies the transformation of ski resorts into all-season destinations, cementing its status as one of Piedmont’s leading outdoor destinations. Bardonecchia and Sauze d’Oulx, the stars of the Via Lattea in winter, focus in summer on hiking, mountain biking, outdoor sports and a packed calendar of events. Bardonecchia offers over a hundred hiking trails (one of which leads to the wild mountain pasture of Valfredda, at the foot of Mount Jafferau at an altitude of 2,255 metres), bike parks served by ski lifts, adventure parks and a centre easily accessible by train – a solution that allows you to get around without a car thanks to local shuttle buses. A visit to the Forte Bramafam – built between 1885 and 1894 and for years the most important fortification in the Cottian Alps – is highly recommended, the classic International Summer Music Festival, running until 30 July, stands out among the unmissable events. Sauze d’Oulx, on the other hand, retains the character of an alpine village overlooking the valley and is a perfect starting point for excursions through larch forests and alpine lakes. Among the best-known routes are the Strada dell’Assietta – a classic destination for cyclists and walkers during the summer closures to motorised traffic – and the Gran Bosco di Salbertrand Nature Park. For a change of pace, you can stop off in the hamlet of Jouvenceaux to visit the Chapel of St Anthony the Abbot, known since 1498, which houses late 15th-century frescoes. The brand-new attraction this summer is the high-altitude concerts at 2,000 metres in the village of Sportinia, scheduled for 26 July and 2 and 15 August.
