Barge: Historic Streets, Castles and Monte Bracco

Barge’s historic centre reveals the character of the town particularly clearly: explore it via picturesque, secluded streets lined with preserved 15th-century houses. The preserved 15th-century houses shape the streets of Barge’s historic centre.

Historic Traces Between Church and Water

The parish church of San Giovanni Battista in Barge has a quartzite floor created by former stonemasons from Barge. In Barge, quartzite therefore appears both as flooring in the parish church and as quarried material on Monte Bracco. The streets from the old portico near the parish church lead to the banks of the Rio Chiappera. From there, the landscape is particularly picturesque during the warmer months. A walk thus combines architectural details with a waterside landscape.

Castles and Ruins on the Rocky Spur

Castello Inferiore stands on a prominent rocky spur at the confluence of the Infernotto and Chiappera streams. It is distinguished by its tall tower, one of the clearly recognisable features of the complex.

Only a few ruins of Castello Superiore remain, including, in particular, a water cistern. A picturesque path reaches these ruins in about 15 minutes. The estimate of about 15 minutes refers to the route to the ruins and serves as a brief timeframe for planning.

Monte Bracco and the History of Bargiolina

The La Trappa di Monte Bracco monastery was inhabited by several monastic orders during different periods. Its history therefore spans several eras and different religious communities.

The quartzite known in Barge as Bargiolina also reaches far back into the past. Its extraction dates back to the time of the first settlements on Monte Bracco, around the year 1200. The first reliable evidence of its use dates from around 1374 and concerns routes from Barge to the quarries on Monte Bracco.

Routes with Different Characteristics

A hiking trail leads to Pian San Michele, which lies at an altitude of 680 metres and is considered a viewpoint over the Monviso range. For the hike to Pian San Michele, the altitude of 680 metres is a specific figure for planning the route.

The Mombracco MTB Ring Trail is a 15-kilometre circular route with approximately 700 metres of elevation gain, beginning and ending in Barge. On this cycling loop, the approximately 700 metres of elevation gain complement the route length with a second specific figure for planning the tour. The approximate elevation gain is therefore just as relevant as the length when planning this cycling loop.

Local Specialities Throughout the Year

The Golosità del Monviso event usually takes place at the end of July and focuses on local food, food craftsmanship, traditional dishes and regional specialities.

For more travel ideas, you can also visit Ceva, Santo Stefano Belbo, Sambuco, Arietti, Ceresole Alba, Torresina, Entracque and Cherasco.

To the main travel overview: Cuneo.