Italy just around the corner
Visit Turin and Susa
Museums, Roman remains, squares and marketsMake the most of your stay in Haute Maurienne Vanoise visit the town of Susa, on the other side of Val Cenis (accessible via the Mont-Cenis road). There, you can explore Roman ruins, including the magnificent Arch of Augustus, as well as Susa Cathedral and the market (on Tuesday mornings).
Don’t hesitate to venture a little further: Turin, the capital of Piedmont, is well worth a day’s visit. With its superb museums (the Cinema Museum, the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, and more), its squares, arcades, and churches…
The Turin market is also a must-see, with hundreds of stalls selling clothing and accessories, as well as fruits and vegetables, Italian specialties, and organic products. The market is held every morning and runs all day on Saturdays.
A little history
High-altitude valley in the Kingdom of Piedmont-SardiniaThe Haute Maurienne region became part of France in 1860. A strong friendship endures, cemented by sister-city relationships with our Italian neighbors (Val Cenis-Bramans and Giaglione, Modane and Bardonecchia).
In the summer, for example, the Mont Cenis plateau takes on its Italian character again (the plateau was part of Italy until World War II): you’ll find both French vacationers and residents of Turin there, all seeking a cool escape.
These ancestral ties are also reflected in gatherings at the summits of our mountain passes and peaks, such as the pilgrimage to Rochemelon on August 5 or the Mont Cenis Alpine Pasture Festival, which brings together residents from both sides of the mountain every two years.
Soft mobility
on foot, by bikeFor the more sporty, don't hesitate to take one of the many hiking trails once used by shepherds and other peddlers to reach our Piedmontese neighbors.
From Valfréjus: on foot
From Valfréjus, for example, you can take the GR5 and then cross over to Bardonecchia via the Col de la Roue. The Col de la Vallée Etroite is another way to reach Italy from Valfréjus. A wild area steeped in history (bunkers are a reminder of the tensions and battles of the 2nd World War).
From Val Cenis: hiking or biking?
From Val Cenis, follow in the footsteps of Hannibal, who is said to have passed through the Col Clappier, above Bramans, over 2,000 years ago. A stunning route featuring unspoiled alpine pastures, high-altitude lakes, and an overnight stay at a refuge (unmanned bivouac) on the Italian border before descending to the Italian town of Giaglione.
Also from Val Cenis, you can reach Italy by bike: the climb to the is a must for all cyclists. The descent to Susa is longer and more technical: save your energy for the climb back up if you’re doing a round trip.
From Bessans and Bonneval sur Arc: high mountain trails
Finally, in the Bessans and Bonneval-sur-Arc area, numerous historic trails connect the Haute Maurienne Vanoise Italy. One example is the long hike through the Ribon Valley (every year a pilgrimage takes this route to reach the summit of Rochemelon, at an altitude of 3,538 m, where the people of Bessans meet their Italian neighbors from Susa). Or the Tour de la Bessanaise , a multi-day trek with overnight stays in mountain huts. These are high-mountain routes reserved for experienced hikers. It was also through these areas that shepherds once passed with their flocks. And, more discreetly, the smugglers who tried to evade customs officials to avoid taxes on tobacco or other goods they bought more cheaply in Italy and then sold in France…
Access to Italy
Whether by car, bus, or train, Italy is really close by and very easy to reach from the Haute Maurienne Vanoise
All year round via the Fréjus (Modane) road and rail tunnels
Fancy a quick taste of Italian architectural and culinary sophistication?
Take the 13.6-kilometer Fréjus Road Tunnel (toll road) between Modane and Bardonecchia. Once you exit the tunnel… you’re in Italy!
In less than an hour and a half, you’ll arrive in the capital of Piedmont: Turin.
From Modane, you can also take the Modane-Bardonecchia shuttle or a train to Bardonecchia, then on to Turin.
Summer via the Mont Cenis pass (Val Cenis)
However, when the Mont Cenis Pass is open (from mid-May to mid-November), we recommend taking the D1006 and starting from Val Cenis-Lanslebourg (France).
Cross the Mont-Cenis Plateau and follow the route once taken by Napoleon to reach our neighbors in Piedmont, all the way to Susa (Italy).
The road between Mont Cenis and Susa is quite winding, but in less than an hour (41 km), you’ll find yourself in Italy.
Indulge in gelato, pizza, and la dolce vita. In Haute Maurienne Vanoise, Italy has never felt so close!