Along the roads of champions

The route proceeds from Cuneo towards Caraglio, at the gates of Valle Grana, where you can visit the church of San Giovanni, with a Gothic layout but remodeled from the Baroque period onwards, the Convent of the Capuchins and the remarkable Spinning Mill, built in just two years (1676-78) by the well-known silk entrepreneur Galleani, and today used as a Museum of the Piedmontese Silk Factory and as an exhibition area for modern and contemporary art exhibitions. It climbs gently up to Pradleves, then the route suddenly becomes steep and in the background the high peaks of Punta Tempesta and Cima Test appear. In Castelmagno the valley opens up in all its alpine charm: a spectacle of nature that invites you to unwind from the toil of the daily routine on summer days. Right here, at an altitude of 1800 metres, stands a sanctuary whose origins seem to date back to the cults of pre-Roman populations: dedicated to San Magno, a brave soldier of the legendary Theban Legion, it preserves paintings from the 1400s and 1500s. Castelmagno is not only the name of a locality, but also of the renowned and delicious DOP cheese produced in the high valley pastures. Valle Grana is considered a Provençal linguistic enclave: in fact, the Coumboscuro Center Prouvençal is located in the lateral valley of Sancto Lucio, which for years has been involved in the recovery and preservation of the Provençal language, local folk and musical traditions. In Sancto Lucio there is also an interesting Ethnographic Museum. After passing Colle Fauniera you face a steep descent towards Demonte in Valle Stura, whose historic center is worth a visit. Then continue towards the Madonna del Colletto ascent to descend into Valle Gesso in the Municipality of Valdieri from which you can easily reach many excursion itineraries of the Alpi Marittime Natural Park. Beyond Valdieri you return to the plain crossing the town of Borgo San Dalmazzo where you can visit the Sanctuary of Monserrato, the parish church of San Dalmazzo and the Memorial of the Deportation. From Borgo San Dalmazzo you return towards Cuneo to complete the circuit.