Bussoleno between the Via Francigena, village walls and nature

Bussoleno combines historic sites with a landscape where nature, winegrowing and routes are closely connected. This creates a destination with several perspectives: The ancient village preserves medieval buildings and fortifications, while the Orrido di Foresto and the vineyard landscape add their own distinctive features. The Via Francigena and regional hiking stages also make the town interesting for a trip where culture and physical activity go hand in hand.

Historic houses and the old village

One particularly vivid testimony to the town’s history is Casa Aschieri. The bourgeois and mercantile house dates from the late 14th century and stood along the Via Francigena. Its elevated terrace is supported by stone columns and formerly served as a marketplace. Casa Aschieri thus brings together medieval architectural forms, its location on the Via Francigena and the former marketplace function of the elevated terrace.

The town wall, La Cinta Muraria, encloses the ancient village on the right bank of the Dora Riparia. It was built in the second half of the 14th century. The Porta di Francia, which belongs to Bussoleno’s historic centre, is also part of this historical context. Both structures give the town centre a clearly recognisable medieval character.

Casa Amprimo is also part of the older building fabric. This typical medieval building has a portico on the ground floor supported by masonry columns. In Borgata Richettera, there are also former sites for the production of stone, lime and sand, including a small quarry, a lime kiln and artificial caves.

Mills, museum and vineyard landscape

The Mulino building on Piazza del Mulino houses a museum. Its exhibition is organised around the four elements of water, wood, stone and grain. Another reference to the area’s processing history can be found at Mulino Varesio, which has two millstones for producing flour.

Bussoleno’s vineyard landscape also preserves traces of how the available materials were used. Stone posts made from quarry remnants are used to support the vines. In this way, winegrowing and former raw-material extraction are visibly connected.

The Orrido di Foresto natural area

The Orrido di Foresto is a distinctive natural feature. It was designated a nature reserve in 1998, primarily to protect prickly juniper, scientifically known as Juniperus oxycedrus. The protected area covers 197 hectares and lies within the municipalities of Bussoleno and Susa.

This precise geographical context is important for planning your trip: The Orrido di Foresto is not assigned to just one locality but extends beyond the municipal boundary. Together with the historic buildings and vineyards, it offers a broad range of themes for walks, landscape observation and exploration of cultural history.

Hiking trails and climbing areas

One stage of the regional hiking network for walking heritage leads from Bussoleno railway station to Borgata Argiassera-Richettera. Those interested in the connection between the route and regional history will find a section of this network here.

The same stage includes climbing areas near distinctive rock faces. These are now used for sport climbing. The route therefore encompasses not only a historical or landscape perspective but also involves a specific active use of the rocky landscape.

Orientation along the Via Francigena

The Via Francigena stages on the valley floor are served in most municipalities by railway stations on the SFM3 Torino–Bardonecchia line. The stops include Bussoleno, Bruzolo, Borgone Susa and Condove. For you, this connection can provide practical orientation when planning a journey along the historic route, without turning the individual stages into a single uniform route section.

Discover more destinations

Balangero, Pomaretto, Busano, Candia Canavese, Cinzano, Maglione, Ceresole Reale and Albiano D’ivrea

For the overarching travel overview: Turin.