Pianfei: Baroque Church, Lakeside Trails and Local Festivals

Pianfei combines sacred art, historic townscapes, trails around Lago di Pianfei and events to create a destination with many facets. Here, you can discover Baroque architecture and local religious traditions, plan walks and bike rides by the lake, or arrange your stay around special occasions such as the Palio dei Rioni and the Sagra del Grano.

Churches and Traces of Local History

The parish church of San Giovanni Battista was completed in 1791 in the Piedmontese Baroque style. Its three naves are decorated with important frescoes. The church also houses an organ with more than 1,000 pipes. It was originally made for the Chiesa di San Francesco Saverio, known as “della Missione,” in Mondovì, based on a design by Andrea Pozzo.

A few steps from the parish church stands the church of the Confraternita di San Michele. Beneath its small bell tower, a sundial bears the year 1688. Numerous notable buildings stand along Pianfei’s central streets, some of them dating back to the 17th century. The townscape also includes numerous old chapels throughout the municipality, as well as many votive pillars dating from periods extending into the 20th century.

During the Christmas season, the church of San Michele houses the mechanical nativity scene “della Crusà.” It is the result of the work of a group of young people, as well as the creativity and dedication of retired helpers. In this way, a community-created work complements the churches and historic details you can discover while exploring Pianfei from a cultural perspective.

Lago di Pianfei and Trails for Different Interests

The route to Lago di Pianfei leads to the wooded hills surrounding the lake. The area around Lago di Pianfei has hiking and cycling trails. A walking path in Pianfei also leads to the Panchina Gigante. This allows you to experience the landscape via different types of trails, while the lake itself and its wooded surroundings shape the natural character of the excursions.

Route 5, Pianfei–Lago di Pianfei, is signposted with square white and green trail markers. For mountain-bike enthusiasts, MTB route 5.1, Pianfei–Margarita, starts at Piazza Vittorio Emanuele. Both names help you identify the planned activity more precisely during preparation, without presenting the trails as a single uniform offering.

Getting to Pianfei

From Cuneo, you can reach Pianfei via Strada Provinciale 564, a distance of 13 kilometres. Pianfei can also be reached by the Cuneo–Mondovì railway line.

Festivals and Seasonal Events

The Palio dei Rioni competitions take place in Pianfei in June. Many athletes come to Pianfei during the Outdoor Free Festival. On 21 June 2026, the Sagra del Grano will be held in Pianfei; the traditional transhumance also accompanies this festival on the same day. The 17th edition of Mangiandando was a food and wine hiking event along the trails around Lago di Pianfei.

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To the higher-level travel overview: Cuneo.