PALANFRÈ AND BOSCO BANDITO

Palanfrè is a small hamlet of Vernante, located in the Val Grande, a side branch of the Vermenagna Valley, and is a must-visit destination for lovers of nature, sport and unspoilt areas. A visit to the centuries-old beech forest, a nature reserve protected by the Maritime Alps Protected Areas Management Authority, is a must.

Not to be missed

Just as Vernante is the village of Pinocchio, Palanfrè, its small hamlet, is the village of beeches and gnomes. In popular fiction, the beech tree is a magical tree inhabited by enchanted creatures. Here there is a very extensive, centuries-old forest, the Bandito forest.

In order to ensure that the forest protects the village from avalanches, which are particularly frequent in winter, since the 18th century the inhabitants of the hamlet have banned the trees above their houses from being cut down. Hence the name 'banned forest'. Since 1979, the beech forest has become a nature reserve together with the Palanfrè lakes, and is protected by the Maritime Alps Protected Areas Management Authority. Not to be missed is the trail route with panels and signs leading visitors to discover the biodiversity of the beech forest, with specimens over 300 years old.

In the Nature Reserve of the Palanfrè Woods and Lakes, protecting nature has enabled a process of revitalisation of the hamlet that continues to this day. For many years, the hamlet remained uninhabited and the road was even closed during the winter season. The hamlet has been redeveloped over the years with urbanisation works and services, with a new hotel opening.

In the surrounding area, the pasturelands and paths have also been improved. And so the hamlet, which had no residents forty years ago, now houses four families and several farms. These produce milk for the production of several delicious cheeses: palanfrè, saret and isola, as well as robiole, tomini, butter, ricotta and yoghurt.

Thanks to a rather abundant snowfall, the Palanfrè basin is the perfect setting for fun cross-country skiing trips on a specially groomed loop, ski mountaineering or snowshoeing towards Monte Pianard or the Costa della Garbella. In the summer, there are trails for cycling or walking in the direction of Mount Frisson and the lakes of the same name.

CUNEO ALPS: YOUR PERFECT HOLIDAY. VERMENAGNA VALLEY

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