Castino between Two Valleys: Churches, Trails and Hazelnut Groves

Castino lies on a ridge between the Bormida Valley and the Belbo Valley. Churches, monasteries, castle and tower ruins, as well as trails for walking and mountain biking, are among the concrete points of reference in Castino and its surroundings. The elevated location provides the geographical setting for the two valley connections.

Churches and Historical Traces

The parish church of Santa Margherita in Castino was renovated after the 1887 earthquake and has a Baroque pulpit. Thus, both a historical event and a specific architectural detail are documented at this church.

There is also a parish church with a double façade in the historic centre of Castino. The castle of Castino and the ruins of the tower bear witness to centuries of historical control over the pass between the Bormida Valley, the Belbo Valley and the Bassa Langa.

In the San Martino area, the Benedictine church of Vergine delle Grazie is designated as a national monument. The former Grazie convent for women, one of the three monasteries of Castino, is now a private farm.

The San Martino monastery in Castino is now used as a livestock farm. Its current use therefore clearly differs from that of the former Grazie convent for women.

Marked Walking Trails

The Sentiero del Partigiano Johnny has its own trail markers and explanatory material providing historical context on site. Anyone planning this trail should take into account not only its route but also the available information about its history.

GTL Stage 14 begins in Castino and follows a stone mule track towards the upper Belbo Valley. The stone mule track is a specifically described feature of this GTL stage.

In the opposite direction, GTL Stage 13 leads from Pavaglione to Castino. Castino is therefore the starting point of Stage 14 and the destination of Stage 13.

The route from Castino to Cravanzana passes through Castino’s built-up town centre. This route also includes hazelnut groves, scenic hills, pastureland and wooded sections. For planning purposes, the town centre is therefore part of the route, as are the various landscape sections. The route combines the town centre and the landscape sections into one continuous course.

Bar to Bar Mountain Bike Route

The Bar to Bar mountain bike route, Stage 3, is 29 kilometres long and begins in San Bovo in Castino. The route length gives the complete cycling tour a clear scope for planning your own time.

Bar to Bar Stage 3 from San Bovo to Niella Belbo passes through landscapes with old salt roads used by merchants, as well as forests and clearings. The old salt roads thus stand alongside forests and clearings as additional landscape elements of the stage.

One section of this stage coincides with the Grande Traversata delle Langhe.

Hazelnut Products from Castino

The Cascina Scavin sales outlet in Castino offers the direct sale of its own hazelnut products. The sales outlet connects the company’s own hazelnut products to a specific location in Castino.

Other places in Piedmont include Cissone, Chianale, Ricca-San Rocco Cherasca, Pocapaglia, Roddino, Breolungi, Clavesana and San Michele di Mondovì.

More about the region: Cuneo.