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Groscavallo
Dominated by the Levanne mountain range in the northern part of the province of Turin and on the border with France, Groscavallo is the highest municipality in the Val Grande di Lanzo. It is a scattered commune of just two hundred inhabitants, lying on the left side of the Stura stream. Its economy is mostly based on tourism, both winter, given its proximity to the ski slopes, and summer. A curiosity about its name: it would come not from the term 'horse,' but from "Graus Vald," 'green valley.'
Attractions in Groscavallo
Highlights
Route without particular difficulties that climbs the entire Val Grande di Lanzo through the Sentiero Natura, reaching the Sanctuary of Our Lady ...
Loop hike between ancient mid-mountain villages, on the sunny side, among chestnut and beech woods, once cultivated and pasture lands.
Departure from the valley floor, you climb through woods and alpine pastures to reach the balcony trail: a very panoramic route, as it develops ...
Panoramic and sunny route that reaches an area of alpine lakes of glacial origin crossing meadows still in use.
Long wild valley, without permanent dwellings or roads, rich in pastures, vertical walls in the lower part and wide panoramas in the higher part.
From the Vailet Alps the trail continues westward, rising to the right until it reaches the base of a rocky bastion, skirts it and passes it on ...
The stage concludes the itinerary at Forno Alpi Graie, a location where other interesting routes converge.
Discover the region
Groscavallo: in the shadow of the Levanne
The quietness of Groscavallo constitutes one of its major charms, attracting tourists since the late 19th century. This alpine resort, in fact, consists of a handful of ten small villages lying among the forests of the Val Grande di Lanzo. The simple beauty of these places is reflected in its main historical and architectural attractions, which are all related to spirituality.
Photo: F Ceragioli, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Franco56, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
In Pialpette, which is also the municipal seat, is the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, built in the 17th century on the site of a medieval chapel, but rebuilt in the mid-19th century. Its neoclassical, composed facade is decorated with a sundial, while inside is a fresco depicting "Mary Magdalene at the feet of Jesus Nazarene," from 1867.
In the hamlet of Forno Alpi Graie, on the other hand, isolated by 444 steps at an altitude of 1340 meters, stands the imposing Shrine of Our Lady of Loreto. The original chapel was built 1631, two years after an apparition of Our Lady that occurred right here, but it was enlarged several times, to assume its present appearance in 1843.
Finally, in the hamlet of Rivotti, not far from the small village, is the Rivotti Chapel, which offers a wonderful view of the valley. It is a simple and cozy building, but very old; in fact, the earliest records of it date from before 1590. Precisely because of its size and panoramic location, it has a spiritual and relaxing atmosphere.
However, one cannot talk about Groscavallo's attractions without mentioning the famous Toma'd Lans, the tasty cheese that is produced in the municipality's alpine pastures and attracts many gourmets up here.
Photo: Hairless Heart, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
The surroundings of Groscavallo, among the Lanzo Valleys
The Lanzo Valleys are a paradise in every season. In addition to outdoor trails, there are numerous goodies for those who like to explore mountain landscapes. First of all, a few kilometers from Groscavallo, specifically in Chialamberto, there are the Rio Missirola waterfalls. These are three waterfalls: the Source Waterfall, thirty meters high, the Stalactitic Cave Waterfall, forty meters high, and the Revelation Waterfall, sixty meters high. The route that connects them is a pleasant hike, especially in summer, which winds on a path through the forest.
To explore the Lanzo Valleys in their entirety, one can take theAlta Via delle Valli di Lanzo, a high-mountain trail that unravels along the three valleys on the border between Italy and France. Of the ten stages, five pass through the municipality of Groscavallo.
About twenty minutes' drive away, however, is the town of Cantoira, known for two main attractions:
- the Sanctuary of Santa Cristina, perched at an altitude of 1350 meters on a scenic cliff, visible from the village and all the surrounding peaks, and built several times between the 15th and 19th centuries;
- the hamlet of Vrù, a little-known picturesque village, characterized by narrow streets, many small fountains, and decorations with flowers and antique objects, which give it a magical and timeless atmosphere; outside the village, there are also Francesco Berta's large sculptural works reproducing the Tower of Pisa and the Mole Antonelliana. The same artist, in the village, has also created a wonderful mechanical nativity scene.
Not far away, there is also another quaint village: Ala di Stura, also called the "village of sundials and frescoes." This name is owed to the fact that many of the ancient buildings in the village and its hamlets have their facades decorated precisely with marvelous frescoes (such as those in the 15th-century Customs Tower) and as many as seventy-six sundials, of different features and eras. Just outside the center of Ala di Stura, moreover, is the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, cloaked in the quiet of coniferous forests.
Outdoor in Groscavallo: the best hikes
Photo: Franco56, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
As we said, the Groscavallo area lends itself well to many hikes, of varying difficulty and length, but always very pleasant. One example is theFrassa loop from Chialamberto, which, starting from the village church, climbs the mountain through hamlets, chestnut and beech forests, passing also alongside the Biollé climbing crags and skirting the Stura stream. Or the loop trail Sentiero Balcone Val Grande, starting from Pialpetta, which follows a dirt road that winds through historic alpine pastures.
Also very scenic is the trail that leads to the discovery of Gran Lago di Unghiasse and Lago della Fertà, which explores the northeastern part of the municipality, starting from the hamlet of Alboni. This is a difficult route that connects several mountain pastures and allows you to admire the two different lakes.
Finally, we point out a difficult route that takes place in the wild Sea Valley. Among alpine pastures dotted with stone buildings, the trail climbs up to Bivacco Soardi Fassero and, climbing a steep slope that bears the name Scala di Napoleone, to Bivacco Gias Nuovo, where you can often encounter ibex.
Staged walks through Groscavallo
Cycling in the Val Grande di Lanzo
On the other hand, if you are fond of mountain biking, we suggest the wonderful Val Grande Nature Trail. This is an itinerary with no particular difficulty that goes up the entire Val Grande di Lanzo, starting from Ceres and arriving at the Sanctuary of Nostra Signora di Loreto, in Forno Alpi Graie. The tour runs along the Stura stream, along dirt roads that unravel through forests, meadow areas and pastures, but at the end allow you to admire the rock walls of the Vallone di Sea, famous among lovers of traditional climbing, but also scenic and of great beauty.
Trip planning
Destinations in Groscavallo
Localization
