7 Routes to explore the Langhe, for 7 days of leisure Routes in the Langhe
Discover our amazing hills and their natural biodiversity. Langhe as a unit and also as distinct areas with different beauties to enjoy: from wine to hazelnuts, from green fields to woods, from high castles to stone houses, from romantic roads to ancient salt routes.
Langhe are a set of shades, there’s something for everyone’s taste!
Braidese, the cradle of Slow Food
This route is not much of a drive, but one hell of an experience. It introduces you to the birth-grounds of Slow Food. This is the right way to start the exploration of the Langhe, as everything that Slow Food stands for: respect for nature, culture, tradition, is core to what the Langhe is about.
No wonder why Slow Food is born here. The Piemontese are passionate about their land, the wine and food they produce. They are the proud keepers of taste and tradition. The route starts in Bra, the birth-town of the founder of Slow Food, Carlo Petrini. After that you can travel to Pollenzo, the current epi-centre of the Slow Food movement, with the Slow Food University and Wine Bank, all located in the impressive former Savoy palaces. You will end the day in mesmerising Cherasco, which never fails to enchant me because of the wonderful details that you see in nearly everything, from doors, to door handles and drain-pipes.
The Albese, La Dolce Vita
Some of the best-known treasures of the Langhe are found in and around the chic town of Alba with its lively shopping streets and terraces. The suggested route takes you to the truffle University of Roddi and the castle of Verduno, the UNESCO world heritage castle of Grinzane Cavour and the over the top picturesque village of Diano d’Alba.
The route guarantees breath-taking vineyard views and several viewpoints along the way. What better way to enjoy it than to stop at one of the restaurants with a terrace overlooking this beautiful landscape? Our tip would be to arrive in Diano d’Alba around sunset. It is one of the highest viewpoints of the region. It offers amazing views of the entire route driven among the rolling hills, and with a little luck you will be able to see the Alps in the distance.
The Barolo, glamorous and majestic
This route will take you to the beautiful villages of Barolo, La Morra, Serralunga d’Alba, Roddino, Monforte d’Alba and Novello. It is the richest area, and only becoming more beautiful over the years, as castles, towers and churches are renovated, and people move in that proudly renovate and decorate their houses and villages.
It’s a glamorous landscape, and you will probably feel like a king or queen as you are passing the beautiful castles and glamorous wine estates. They crown the hilltops and liven up the hill-sides, which look like neatly combed and shaven pieces of art. Many will argue that the landscape is at its prettiest in autumn, when the vineyards’ rich palette of colours range from green to yellow, orange and red, to almost purple. The mist that fills the valleys around this time, adds to the aura of mystique and splendour.
The Barbaresco, gentle hills and quiet villages
You may wonder why you should leave the Barolo area to see more vineyards in the Barbaresco. You will find the answer if you follow today’s route via Barbaresco, Treiso, Mango and Neive. On your way you will be amazed with the unspoilt natural landscape and elegant sleepy villages. You can stop anywhere and just listen to the wind rustling through the trees, the sound of birds flying by, a distant dog barking, and a church bell ringing.
The feeling of nature, space and silence is overwhelming here. Whereas the Barolo perhaps gives a feeling of prestige and grandeur, the Barbaresco gives a feeling of melancholy and modest elegance. It is for this outstanding beauty that the Barbaresco was also made part of the UNESCO World Heritage area. The hills roll softly and gently and its towns are small, sweet and homely.
Langhe Cebane and Monregalesi, endless and charming
The Langhe Cebane are an unexplored gem. They may surprise you so much, that you will want to stay a whole week here next time. The area has an amazing natural beauty with wide and open panoramas as far as the eye can see. We start in the very pretty market town of Dogliani, from where we drive via Clavesana, on the edge of the river Tanaro
We continue to the beautiful Langhe Monregalesi with the town of Mondovì and the amazing pilgrimage Basilica of Vicoforte. On the way back you will pass through the fairytale-like landscape around the tiny towns of Rocca Cigliè and Surie. This is a great place to look for a truly rural “agriturismo” (typical Italian bed & breakfast with rooms and local restaurant). A more local and authentic experience will be hard to find.
The Balcony of the Langhe: hill top views and wild beauty
This route takes you to “the balcony of the Langhe”. It is named this way because the hills’ crests in this area are around 700 metres in elevation, with the most beautiful panoramic views in all directions. In the West you see the “Basse Langhe” with its gentle hills and hilltop castles. To the South you look towards the Mediterranean Alps and to the East you see the rough nature of the valleys.
On clear days you will see all this beauty with, in the background, the whole Alpine range. You start in Bossolasco, the town of the roses, after which you continue to the cosy Murazzano with its impressive silhouette against the backdrop of the Alps. Then the route takes you to Sale San Giovanni: if you visit it in June or July you can see the lavender bloom here. You end the day in the Mediaeval towns of Saliceto and Monesiglio in the Bormida valley.
Southern Langhe, across ancient salt routes and into the valleys
This route takes you along ancient salt routes and into the Belbo, Bormida and Uzzone valleys. The area is lush and green and full of beautiful places to enjoy nature and centuries old architecture. These valleys host not many inhabitants, therefore you can easily imagine how this trip will be: endless woods and nature with the occasional village to visit. This is the area to go to in search of heavenly peace and quiet. You share the landscape only with birds and flowers, and the soft rustling of the wind through the trees.
The route is of great panoramic beauty, taking you from meandering streams in the bottom of the valley, to spectacular views from the hill-tops, such as Prunetto at over 800 metres. You will start in the main town, Cortemilia, famous for its hazelnuts and delicious cakes. After which you will visit the smallest town in the Langhe, Bergolo, curiously hosting one of the Langhe’s biggest events.
The rest of the day you will explore the wonderful villages of Prunetto, Gottasecca, Pezzolo Valle Uzzone and Gorrino. They are literally open air museums of dry-wall building. In their churches, some of the most ancient frescos of the Piemonte can be found. Surprisingly, some of the best kept secrets can be found here. Some excellent restaurants that are now waiting for you to be unearthed.
