Holiday apartment in Cartignano: trails, bridge and village history

Cartignano reveals its character along the Maira through an unusual combination of woodland trails, medieval architectural heritage and living traditions. The Castello dei Berardi, the bridge with its chapel and the small hamlets offer different points of interest for a trip. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment in Cartignano can therefore plan their stay according to their preferred balance of nature, culture and peaceful discoveries.

Between the Maira, the castle and historic buildings

The Castello dei Berardi stands on the right bank of the Maira in a strategic position for observing the valley. It was probably built between 1453 and 1477. Near one of Cartignano’s hamlets are also the ruins of Castello Zoardo. Medieval wall remains enclose a small rectangular building on the rocky slope.

The medieval bridge of Cartignano has a covered entrance area and a central pillar with representations dating from the 19th century. At its centre stands a votive chapel dedicated to Saint Mark. The San Marco Chapel was built around 1835 as a votive offering following a flood of the river. In the past, it was the destination of a procession held every year on 25 April.

The Chiesa di San Lorenzo on Piazza Paschero is also one of the village’s notable buildings. It was built around the 16th century and contains a baptismal font dated 1494, attributed to the Zabreri brothers. In the Borgata Galliana of Cartignano, frescoes from the 16th century have been preserved in several houses. The Cappella di Santa Cristina stands on a raised ridge.

Woodland trails and circular routes along the Maira

The Sentiero dei Caprioli is an easy walk of around three hours through the woods between Cartignano and San Damiano Macra. Its route passes through Cartignano, Galliana, Chiabriera, Celletta, Grange Lombard and Chiaudieres before returning to Cartignano. It thus connects several hamlets and can serve as a clear guide for a relatively leisurely walk.

The Anello del torrente Maira route begins in Paschero di Cartignano and heads towards the Castello dei Berardi and the Maira River. In places, it follows the Sentiero dei Caprioli as far as the San Bernardo Chapel, then returns to Paschero di Cartignano via a stone bridge. Anyone wishing to combine different daily rhythms will find a circular route here that brings together a watercourse, a historic building and a chapel.

The Sui Monti di Cartignano e Saretto route begins at the car park opposite Cartignano Town Hall. It initially follows a road, then a mule track to the Santa Cristina church. It then passes a cave and the ruins of Saretto before continuing to Colle Teje. The return route runs through beech woods towards Cartignano, passing along the castle and the banks of the Maira. Another trail connection is Stage 14 of the Percorsi Occitani, which reaches Cartignano along the Maira stream.

Traditions in the hamlets

The Via dei Morti in Galliana is an unpaved path from Mittante to Galliana. In the past, it connected the hamlets and was used in particular to carry coffins down from the higher hamlets to the church. Chiabriera once had an old fulling mill with a stone wheel for processing hemp. An old mill has also been preserved beside the stream in the Borgata Chiabriera.

In Chiaudieres, the feast of Saint Firmin is celebrated on the second Sunday in July. According to local tradition in Chiaudieres, San Costanzo was transferred from Roi to the Cappella di San Firmino. The tradition of Saint John’s Night in Cartignano includes gathering St John’s wort, rose, lavender, sage and rosemary to prepare Acqua di San Giovanni. According to tradition, the Acqua is believed to bring good luck, health and prosperity.

Cartignano as a base for your holiday apartment

The trails and buildings described above highlight different holiday plans: the woodland routes focus on activity, hamlets and riverbanks, while the bridge, churches, chapels, frescoes and castle ruins add historical and cultural interest. A holiday apartment in Cartignano can therefore be viewed according to your personal interests, without having to plan nature and history separately.

Cartignano has a lit municipal motorhome parking area near the town centre and the Castello dei Berardi, with an electricity connection and facilities for filling and emptying grey water. For regional planning, other towns besides Cartignano may also be of interest.

Other places for your regional planning

Saliceto, Bagnolo Piemonte, Cissone, Ceva, Serralunga D’alba, Acceglio, Elva and Levice

For the higher-level travel overview: Cuneo.