Alta Via del Sale return to the past

cunese - In the western part of the province of Cuneo, along the Alpine watershed near the Italian-French border between 1800 and 2100 meters above sea level, the Alta Via del Sale route winds, one of the most evocative stretches of the ancient road that connects the localities located on the peaks of the mountains by the sea, they gave a commercial outlet to Piedmontese agricultural and manufacturing products, exchanging them with salt produced in the coastal regions, due to climatic issues that were difficult to find in the northern inland areas.

Given its border position, the road was subsequently used for military transit of men and vehicles during the 19th century wars of independence as evidenced by several remains of fortifications in its vicinity. The route, open in the summer months after the snow melts and in autumn, begins near the Limone Piemonte station and winds for about 30 km up to Monesi di Triora in Liguria. It is a dirt road of variable width that hardly exceeds four meters and crosses unique places, such as the famous Conca delle Carsene, with its rocky landscapes devoid of vegetation, almost lunar, rich in geological phenomena and uncontaminated environments, and the Guardian Marguareis Park of a rich biodiversity. If you are looking for a full immersion in the past, passing through communication routes far from the traffic and noise of the highways, the Alta Via del Sale is the right place.