Discover the stone village in Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the regions of Italy with more history, and its villages compete for beauty and charm. Chianale in the province of Cuneo is one of the most beautiful in Italy. This small town is located at an altitude of 1800 meters.
One of its main features is the fact that the village is entirely built of wood and slate. This charming place located on the border with France has a history to discover.
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The history of the village of Chianale
The small village of Chianale in the province of Cuneo is a town of Occitan origin. Its name means canal. The first historical evidence of this place dates back to the tenth century when the invasions and raids by the Saracens were very frequent. In 1125 these territories were assigned to the Marquises of Saluzzo.
In 1210 the area was ceded to France and remained under its influence for over 4 centuries. For almost the entire 1600’s until the revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV in 1685 Chianale was the only town in the valley where freedom of worship was in force. In 1713 the Varaita Valley was ceded to the Savoy.
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Chianale: here’s what to see
The village of Chianale offers many things to see. It is located on the ancient road that led to France and for this reason it is still influenced by the culture of Provence. From Chianale a road starts, which can be travelled by car only in summer, which leads up to 2748 meters to get to the Colle dell’Agnello from where you go down in the French region of Queyras.
The town is divided into two parts by the river Vairata. A stone bridge connects the two areas and flows into the central square of the village where the church of San Antonio stands. This small village is a fabulous place with its houses in stone and wood that make the atmosphere particularly suggestive. The streets of the village are made of stone and lead through the charming buildings.
One of the most interesting is the church of San Lorenzo built between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Continuing along the Chemin Royale you meet the house of Martinet which is what remains of the ancient Calvinist temple. Very interesting is also the Museum of costume and textile crafts that is located in the center of the village in the premises that once housed the Capuchin Mission of Chianale. Finally, in this area of Piedmont there is also the largest pine forest in the Alps.
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What to do in Chianale?
Chianale is a tourist center frequented both in summer and winter. The beautiful alpine landscapes surrounding the town are the ideal place for those who love outdoor sports. During the winter it is possible to practice alpine skiing thanks to the lifts and the 15 kilometers of slopes, from Chianale many ski mountaineering trails start.
During the summer season you can make wonderful walks thanks to the many hiking trails here. These can be done either on foot or by bicycle or on horseback. In addition, the artificial lake also allows you to practice water sports such as windsurfing and canoeing as well as fishing.
Those who want to explore the wonderful woods of Aleve can head to the villages of Castello and Villaretto which are the two privileged points from which the excursions start.
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Chianale: what to eat?
The territory of the village of Chianale offers alpine culinary specialties such as the typical dairy product of the Vairata Valley that is obtained with cow’s milk. Among the traditional dishes there are those made with fresh pasta such as raviloes of Val Varaita.
These have an elongated cylindrical shape and their name is linked to the gesture of rolling fresh pasta on the wooden board, a gesture that gives them the characteristic elongated shape. Another typical product of the territory are the mountain potatoes that have been grown since 1800 along the Alps.
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Chianale: where is it?
Chianale is a town in the Varaita Valley in the province of Cuneo. Its territory is on the border with France. The village is located at the foot of Monviso one of the most important mountains of the Alps. Today 180 people live in this town and it is one of the least inhabited of this area of Piedmont.
To reach the historic village, take the A6 Torino-Savona motorway by car, exit at Marene and then continue along the provincial road towards Colle dell’Agnello. From the Piedmontese capital it takes about two hours by car to get to your destination.
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