{"id":36899,"date":"2025-10-20T17:03:14","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T15:03:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/niet-gecategoriseerd\/the-alps-near-cuneo-on-the-via-del-sale\/"},"modified":"2026-06-25T16:23:48","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T14:23:48","slug":"the-alps-near-cuneo-on-the-via-del-sale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/en\/piedmont\/the-alps-near-cuneo-on-the-via-del-sale\/","title":{"rendered":"The Alps near Cuneo on the Via del Sale"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Cycling in the Cuneo Alps and the Alta Via del Sale<\/h1>\n\n

I went cycling in this rugged and surprisingly peaceful region of Piedmont, where mountain passes give way to fragrant valleys. It turned out to be an ideal destination if you enjoy hiking or mountain biking; though an e-mountain bike is certainly no luxury. <\/p>\n\n

Read all the tips here for this centuries-old salt route, along which mules once carried their loads of \u201cwhite gold\u201d from the Ligurian coast to the interior. Today, it is one of the most beautiful routes for experiencing the transition from the Alps to the Mediterranean. <\/p>\n\n

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In the southwest of Piedmont, where the Alps slope down toward the Mediterranean Sea, lies a region that has yet to be discovered by foreign tourists. The Cuneo Alps form a link between the mountains and the plains, between Italy and France, and between tradition and new forms of mountain tourism. <\/p>\n\n

Here, in a single day, you can travel from the lively city of Cuneo<\/strong> to quiet mountain passes and abandoned fortresses. It\u2019s a region that invites you to take your time. <\/p>\n\n

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The Alta Via del Sale: Cycling Along an Ancient Caravan Route<\/h2>\n\n

There are countless hiking and biking trails in the region; we chose one: the old salt road, the Via del Sale. For centuries, mules traveled this route carrying loads of salt from the Ligurian coast to the Po Valley. This trade route brought not only salt but also flavors: salted fish and anchovies were traded across the mountain passes and found their way into local recipes that are still prepared today. <\/p>\n\n

From the town of Cuneo\u2014more on that later\u2014we drove toward the Alps early in the morning, following the road that winds gently upward through the green Valle Vermenagna. After a brief stop in Vernante, with its colorful Pinocchio murals, we reached Limone Piemonte, the mountain village at the foot of the Riserva Bianca ski resort. <\/p>\n\n

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In Limone Piemonte, you\u2019ll find a wide selection of comfortable accommodations\u2014a perfect base for hiking or biking trips. We drove a few more kilometers uphill to the parking lot at Rifugio La Marmotta, the starting point of our mountain bike ride along the legendary Alta Via del Sale<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n

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