Oulx between History, Nature and Living Tradition

Oulx combines a historic town centre with nature and cultural experiences that appeal to different travel interests.

Art and History in the Town Centre

Oulx’s historic town centre is home to an open-air museum featuring a significant series of works connected with Piedmontese figurative culture. Another highlight is the parish church of Santa Maria Assunta. It stands on a hill at the edge of the Borgo Vecchio. The church houses a monumental triptych high altarpiece made of painted and gilded wood, created by Jacques Jesse of Embrun between 1670 and 1676.

The fountains also tell the story of the town’s long history. On Piazza Garambois in the Borgo Inferiore stands a fountain dating from 1531. Its square basin and column with four outlets give it a clearly recognisable architectural form. Another fountain can be found on Via Des Ambrois beneath a high portico. It has a column with five outlets and a square basin bearing the year 1504. This is the oldest identifiable date found on a fountain in the upper valley.

Places and Paths around Des Ambrois

The Des Ambrois Path opened in 2011, comprises ten stops and passes through places that shaped the life of Minister Des Ambrois, Oulx’s most famous citizen. In this way, the path combines historical themes with the exploration of different parts of the town. The Torre Delfinale is also part of the town’s history. It was built between 1350 and 1370 and probably served a residential rather than a military purpose.

Festivals, Crafts and Regional Products

The Fiera Franca originated in 1494 and is held in Oulx every year during the final days of summer, beginning on 15 September. It brings together communities from the Dauphiné, the Dora Valley, the Pragelatese area and the Briançonnais. At the stalls, you can taste and buy regional products from the valleys. The communal bread oven, restored in 2001, is still used during various festive occasions, including 20 January for the feast of Saint Sebastian, patron saint of the Viérë.

Nature and Other Interests

The Stagno di Oulx nature reserve is also a Natura 2000 site, designated IT1110022. If you are looking for a more active pursuit, Lago Verde is equipped for trout sport fishing and offers the possibility of renting equipment. Jardin d’la Tour is a public park and adds its own distinctive feature to the town and landscape experiences.

Getting There and Choosing Your Accommodation

You can reach Oulx via the A32 Torino–Fréjus motorway, taking the Oulx exit, or via the SS 24 del Monginevro state road. For travel by train, Oulx station is an international stop on the Torino–Bardonecchia railway line; TGV trains to France also stop there.

When choosing your hotel, you can therefore focus on different aspects: historic art in the town centre, paths and local history, regional festivals, nature or the documented travel options. Oulx can thus be considered a destination with several clearly distinct interests, without requiring you to limit yourself to just one type of stay.

Discover More Destinations

If you would like to continue planning your trip beyond Oulx, you can find more destinations here: Garibaldi, San Pietro Val Lemina, Pont Canavese, San Mauro Torinese, Balme, Pianezza, San Benigno Canavese and Caselle Torinese.

For the higher-level travel overview: Turin.