Monfol among hiking trails, nature park and mountain history

Monfol is situated on a rocky promontory and is an important access point to Gran Bosco di Salbertrand Nature Park.

Hiking trails and nature park

From Monfol, the Daniele-Arlaud Hut can be reached on foot or by mountain bike; in winter, it can also be reached on snowshoes. The hut is located along the GTA, the Grande Traversata delle Alpi, and Via Alpina hiking trails between Salbertrand in the Susa Valley and Usseaux in the Chisone Valley. Depending on your planned mode of travel, you can therefore regard a visit to the hut as a hiking destination, a mountain-bike stage or a winter snowshoe tour.

In the wider area around Monfol, Gran Bosco di Salbertrand Nature Park offers 16 marked hiking trails with a total length of around 70 kilometres. The approximate total length provides the right scale for your planning, while the trail markings offer clear orientation within the network of paths.

Within the nature park, the unpaved roads are closed to motorised traffic. They are open to pedestrians, cyclists, skiers and snowshoers. The different modes of travel therefore shape your choice of activities, without you needing to classify the paths as ordinary road connections.

Paths around Monfol

The forest path from Monfol leads into Gran Bosco di Salbertrand Nature Park and onward to the hamlet of Montagne Seu. In addition, the Salbertrand–Monfol route runs from the Gran Bosco Nature Park headquarters along a forest track to the hamlet of Monfol and follows the military road that climbs towards the Assietta. This gives you different route references for orientation: a forest path towards Montagne Seu and a route from the direction of Salbertrand.

The roads around the village also differ considerably. A paved road that is open year-round connects Gran Villard with Monfol. From Monfol, an 800-metre-long unpaved road also leads to the equipped area of Ser Blanc. Surface and length are therefore two specific points that you can consider separately when planning your routes.

Chapel and former use

Monfol was formerly the summer pasture of the Gad hamlet, where livestock grazed during the summer season. This former use is part of the village’s history and adds an agricultural aspect to the themes of paths and landscape.

Two former casemates lie among the houses of Monfol. They once guarded the military road that climbs towards the Assietta. Within the village, you can therefore encounter structural traces directly connected with the former function of this mountain route.

Monfol is also home to a small chapel dedicated to Saint Bartholomew. From the San Bartolomeo Chapel, there are views across the Alta Valle di Susa and towards the branching valleys of Bardonecchia and Cesana. The view connects the specific location with the wider valley area, without requiring an additional excursion.

The feast of Saint Bartholomew is celebrated in Monfol every year around 24 August, depending on the availability of the parish priest from Oulx. The celebration includes the blessing of homemade bread. If you wish to include cultural events in your travel plans, the period around 24 August is the key point of reference.

More places for planning your trip: Prali, Gassino Torinese, Roletto, Bussoleno, Sparone, Rivarolo Canavese, Balme, Airasca

For the higher-level travel overview: Turin.