The region of southern Piedmont will please every mountain biker. Countless hills and ridges with their adventurous trails invite you to explore on two studded tires. 60 km further south, the Riviera awaits with its azure sea.
by Henning Heilmann
You can welcome spring earlier than in Switzerland in Limone Piemonte, Italy. And also summer vacation here with the mountain bike is a travel tip, because the countless hills and mountains of the region crisscrossed by trails invite you to mountain biking. Limone Piemonte is located in southern Piedmont near the French border a stone's throw from Cuneo. From here it is not far to the Italian and French Riviera. Its charming location is due to the fact that here the high peaks of the Maritime Alps soon meet the azure Mediterranean Sea. To start at alpine heights of over 2,000 meters, cycle through bizarre mountains, and at the finish, swap your Klikkies for flip-flops and swimming trunks for a relaxing swim in the glorious salt water: A 3-day tour on the salt road from Limone to Ventimiglia makes it possible.
The Old Salt Road, the Via del Sale, is an ancient military road that connects the provinces of Liguria and Piedmont over a distance of 60 km. The spectacular route is famous and popular. It leads by MTB from Limone Piemonte to Monesi, and from there the tour can be continued to the coast at Sanremo or Ventimiglia. The way back is on the unique Tenda railroad, opened in 1928, which provides the connection between Nice and Turin and which winds its way through many helical tunnels from Ventimiglia back to Limone Piemonte. Mountain bikers experience an exciting adventure on the border of Italy and France on one of the most beautiful mountain bike trails from the Alps to the sea.
Starting point
As a starting point for MTB tours on the Old Salt Road, we recommend the mountain hut Chalet Le Marmotte, where our MTB guide Erik Rolando unloads the bikes. So we have already saved the first 800 meters of altitude from Limone Piemonte to the entrance to the Old Salt Road. Altitude meters are still enough to overcome before Monesi or even Ventimiglia are reached.
Full suspension
We will be provided with full-suspension e-bikes with plenty of power by Smart Power from Ormea, a regional bike rental company near Cuneo. Mountain biking here is no walk in the park, even with electricity, because depending on the starting point of the tour, up to 2,000 meters of altitude can be climbed in one day. Professionals may consider starting the tour perhaps before Limone Piemonte and discover the picturesque towns of Valdieri or Entracque. For those for whom the journey is the goal, you can discover excellent Italian restaurants along the way.
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Border ridge
The Via del Sale itself runs for 39 kilometers from Chalet Le Marmotte to a dizzying 2,100 meters above sea level and on to Monesi. The old military road has everything mountain bikers could wish for and is excitingly carved into the rock along the Ligurian border ridge, always on the border with France. Worth seeing are the military forts at the top of the pass. The first spectacular views are also not long in coming at Colle della Boaria. Mountain huts such as the Rifugio Alpino Don Barbera at over 2,000 meters above sea level invite bikers to a delicious stop, and on multi-day tours to spend the night before the next stage. In fact, three days of riding time should be planned for the Via del Sale from Limone to Monesi and the onward journey to Ventimiglia. Eric Rolando, our MTB guide, knows the area perfectly, is prepared for all eventualities and can also repair a broken chain on an e-bike in a flash.
Hut break
If the Via del Sale is ridden on your own, it is recommended to download the GPX data from the homepage of the Tourism Agency of the Province of Cuneo. With this data, both the kilometers and the altitude meters are visible. If you start in the center of Limone Piemonte, you will have to climb more than 1,900 meters to reach the Rifugio Don Barbera. But there is also everything your heart desires, from panino to pasta to polenta, there is everything power.
Sporty
Every June, a mountain bike marathon with over 1,000 participants takes place here. In addition, there is an E-Bike Transalp Festival in July. On the classic route of the Granfondo Via del Sale there are 45 km and over 2,200 meters of altitude to overcome.
Even more sporty, however, are the gravel bikers we meet on the Via del Sale. They face the Turin-Nice Rally with their heavily loaded bikes without an engine, covering 700 kilometers and up to 20,000 meters of altitude. We return to Limone at the Rifugio Don Barbera and, after a rapid descent, enjoy an evening of wine and delicacies in Limone.
Delightful
Mountain bike vacation in Italy should never pass by epicurean delights anyway. Also in Limone Piemonte there are excellent places for the special treats. In the "Taverna degli Orsi" "Il Principe" Andrea cooks the finest dishes. Wine sommelier for 26 years, he always has a fine droplet ready. Once you should try the local specialty Bagna Cauda, where vegetables are dipped in a sauce of olive oil, anchovies and lots of garlic. For the main course perhaps fish, meat or game specialties, and for dessert chocolate cake. The next evening our bike vacation ends with fondue at Ristorante Maito.
Arrival
Limone Piemonte is recommended as a starting point for bike tours on the Via del Sale. This is located about 120 km south of Turin and is accessible both by car and by train. On request
at the hotel is a pick up service
possible from Limone Piemonte train station. The nearest airport is Cuneo (50 km).
Bike guide, bike rental
MTB Guide, Erik Rolando,
Tel. +39-347-3000346
myridebyke.com
Smart power in Ormea
www.smart-power.it
Cuneo Alps Bike Experience
www.cuneoalps.it
Events
Mountain Bike Marathon La Via del Sale (22-23 June 2019)
www.laviadelsale.com
Tours
Route: Limone Piemonte - Chalet Le Marmotte - Rifugio Don Barbera
Route: 30.6 km
Vertical meters: 1'943 m uphill, 842 m downhill
Travel time: 3,5- 4 hours
GPX data: www.cuneoholiday.com
Route: Chalet Le Marmotte - Rifugio Don Barbera - Monesi - Pigna - Dolceacqua - Ventimiglia
Route: 92.2 km
Vertical meters: 3'252 m uphill, 5'083 m downhill
Travel time: 3 days (overnight stay e.g. in Rifugio Don Barbera, Rifugio Gray, Villagio Turistico Mauro Dolceacqua), return by train to Limone Piemonte
GPX data: www.cuneoholiday.com
Food
La Taverna degli Orsi
www.latavernadegliorsi.com
Ristorante Maito
www.ristorantemaito.com
Sleep
Hotel Artisin***
www.hotelartisin.com
Fiocco di Neve relay****
www.fioccodineverelais.com
Rigugio Alpino Don Barbera
www.rifugiodonbarbera.eu
Rifugio Realdo
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/RealdoVive/
Rifugio Gray (1950 m.a.s.l.)
www.caiventimiglia.it/rifugi.html
Contact
Limone Piedmont Tourist Office
Via Roma, 30 - 12015 Limone Piemonte (CN)
Tel. +39 0171.925281
[email protected]
www.limonepiemonte.it
A.T.L. Azienda Turistica
Locale del Cuneese
Via Pascal 7
12100 Cuneo - Italy
Tel. +39.0171.690217
www.cuneoholiday.com/de/
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