Castellar between Castle, Chapel and Valle Bronda

Castellar combines medieval architecture, sacred art and trails through the Valle Bronda. Historic buildings, a festival, and hiking and cycling routes shape Castellar and the Valle Bronda. The castle and parish church are located in the village; the Cappella di San Ponzio lies outside it, and the trails are in the Valle Bronda.

Castle and Sacred Art

The Castello di Castellar was built in the 14th century by the Marquises of Saluzzo and overlooks the village from a hill. Its silhouette is defined by a slender tower and a Ghibelline crenellated crown. Those interested in the history of the ruling dynasties and architecture will find two tangible aspects in this building: its construction period and its distinctive external appearance.

The Cappella di San Ponzio offers a different historical perspective. Its apse dates from the 13th century; the chapel also contains frescoes from 1450 attributed to Pietro da Saluzzo. The rural chapel lies a few hundred metres outside the village of Castellar and only comes into view after a short journey along an unpaved road through orchards. The short route through the orchards forms the transition from the village to the chapel located outside it. Those who wish to view sacred art in connection with the cultural landscape will find a specific place for this here.

In the village, the parish church of the Immaculate Conception of Mary adds to the historical spectrum. It dates from 1725 and features a harmonious Baroque structure. Castellar therefore encompasses different periods of sacred and secular architecture.

Festa degli Spaventapasseri and Local Wines

The Festa degli Spaventapasseri began in 1995 and has been managed by the cultural association “Lo Spaventapasseri” since 2009. During the Festa degli Spaventapasseri, local wine products are sampled at the “Cantina da Pelaverga”. For your travel planning, this combines exploring the village with a specific occasion and regional flavours, without limiting culture to architectural history.

Hiking and Cycling in the Valle Bronda

The Valle Bronda Trekking trail runs through the municipalities of Castellar, Pagno and Brondello. A circular route passes through historic and modern urban areas, across agriculturally used hills and through the forests of the Valle Bronda. If you plan hiking as a complement to cultural sightseeing, the view therefore extends from settled areas to different types of landscape.

The Saluzzo–Castellar cycling loop offers a perspective of its own. It is 12.7 km long and flat. For planning your day, the fixed distance and flat route are clear parameters. In addition to the hiking trails, it offers another way to experience the area along a clearly defined route and at a different pace.

More Destinations

More destinations for planning your trip to Italy: Casa Fornace, Castelletto Stura, San Damiano Macra, Centallo, Cossano Belbo, Bagnasco, Demonte and Bosia.

To the higher-level travel overview: Cuneo.