Crissolo: Monviso, Nature and Local Tradition

Crissolo combines alpine trails, natural areas, winter sports and local culture into a diverse destination. If you would like to plan your stay around different interests, the area around the town offers both challenging mountain experiences and engaging history and distinctive regional traditions.

Natural Area around Monviso

Pian del Re is home to the official source of the Po River. There you will find a special nature reserve at 2,020 metres above sea level, extending over approximately 465 hectares around the river’s sources. The Pian del Re visitor centre is housed in a former barracks and provides information, through numerous explanatory panels, about the flora and fauna on the slopes of Monviso.

The Grotta di Rio Martino above the Crissolo settlement in the Valle Po is also a noteworthy destination for nature enthusiasts. The cave is a nature reserve of high ecological value, as it is home to rare and highly specialised fauna. Access is restricted to reserved visits and is only possible when accompanied by a qualified nature guide.

Hiking and Active Days

The Giro del Monviso is the main attraction for multi-day mountain tours. Depending on the hikers’ fitness levels, the classic circular hike takes two to five days; the classic route can begin in the Valle Po at Pian del Re. On the ascent to Monviso, the trail leads from Pian del Re to the Rifugio Quintino Sella mountain hut at an altitude of 2,640 metres in approximately two and a half hours.

Shorter activities or outings with a different sporting focus are also part of what the town offers. Mountain bike trails start in Crissolo and are very popular with mountain bikers. An outdoor ice rink is located in the town centre. The Monviso Adventure Park also offers a high ropes course with Tibetan bridges, zip lines over the Po and a flyboard.

History and Local Culture

The Santuario di San Chiaffredo was built between 1440 and 1441 on the foundations of an older chapel. Inside, the sanctuary houses around 1,000 votive paintings. Another historical highlight is the Buco di Viso: the tunnel was built between 1475 and 1480 as the first Alpine tunnel.

The Bussolin represents a local tradition in Crissolo. Since 2016, the Bussolin has once again been part of the annual events programme in Crissolo, complementing the area’s natural and mountain experiences with a cultural connection to the town.

Winter in Crissolo

Crissolo’s ski area has one chairlift and two drag lifts. It runs from the town centre at 1,333 metres up to an altitude of 2,400 metres and includes approximately 15 kilometres of pistes. This means the options range from the outdoor ice rink in the centre to winter sports facilities at higher altitudes.

More destinations for your trip to Italy: Scaletta Uzzone, Sorano, Cavaliggi, Scarnafigi, Savigliano, Cossano Belbo, Sinio, Piazza

To the overarching travel overview: Cuneo.