Holiday Apartment in Exilles: Fortress, Mountain Trails and Village Culture

Exilles combines an exceptionally tangible fortress history with mountain trails, sweeping views and vibrant local traditions. Forte di Exilles defines the village just as much as the Massiccio d’Ambin and the Vallone di Galambra. In Deveys, the Museo della Grappa “Gianfranco Joannas” preserves the tradition of wood-fired distillation. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Exilles will find a destination that brings culture and nature together through different daily rhythms.

Forte di Exilles and Its History

Forte di Exilles already existed as a structured complex by 1155 at the latest and is considered one of Piedmont’s oldest architectural monuments and defence systems. Between 1681 and 1687, the famous and mysterious person known as the “Maschera di Ferro” stayed there. The fortress was opened to the public on 8 July 2000; inside are two museum areas featuring particularly innovative exhibitions.

Guided tours of Forte di Exilles reveal hidden areas and lead through rooms and corridors once used by soldiers and prisoners. At the foot of the fortress, near the entrance, there is a large free car park. From there, the site is convenient and easy to access.

Chapels, Fountains and Grappa in Deveys

The smaller buildings also tell the story of the village’s long history. Pierre Odiard had the Cappella di San Rocco e San Sebastiano built as a private votive chapel in 1660. It is dedicated to Saint Roch and Saint Sebastian the Martyr. It was probably built from stone taken from an older demolished building, as indicated by remains of pre-Christian low reliefs.

In Deveys, the Cappella di San Biagio e San Pietro Apostolo has been securely dated to the second half of the 15th century based on the interior frescoes rediscovered during recent restorations. At the entrance to the village there is also an anthropomorphic fountain dating from 1773. Since 2013, the premises in Deveys have housed the Museo della Grappa “Gianfranco Joannas”, founded to preserve and promote the tradition of wood-fired distillation that remains vibrant in the area. During the first days of December each year, the wood-fired still is made available to the community’s winegrowers so they can produce their own grappa.

Mountain Landscape and Hiking

Many of the mountains of the Massiccio d’Ambin lie within the municipality of Exilles, at the upper end of the Vallone di Galambra. This valley opens on the orographically left side of the slope. In the Vallone di Galambra, near the hamlet of Grande della Valle at an altitude of 1,850 metres, stands the Rifugio Levi Molinari, the most important of three bases in an area of particular natural value.

The short hike to San Colombano follows the old mule track connecting the main village of Exilles with San Colombano. It passes through mixed woodland and rocky outcrops and offers views of Forte di Exilles. Another easy and short tour follows the route to Monte Chabrière at 2,401 metres. It follows the path to Passo Galambra and Bivacco Mario Sigot, then takes a branch leading to the summit cross.

From the summit of Monte Chabrière, the view stretches across the middle valley with Rocciamelone and the upper valley with Chaberton as far as Monte Niblé and the watershed along the border. The Anello di Cima Quattro Denti hike passes the famous “Pertus” of Colombano Romean. Different routes and landscapes make it easier to choose between a short outing, a woodland hike and a mountain tour with panoramic views.

Exilles as a Base for Planning Your Trip

When choosing a holiday apartment in Exilles, you can focus on the desired combination of fortress, chapels, local grappa tradition and hiking. The Sadem 286 bus route connects Exilles with surrounding towns, including Susa and Oulx. This means that, alongside the village’s attractions, transport connections and your planned daily itinerary are also practical considerations when choosing your base.

For further travel planning, you can also view Borgone Susa, Mathi, San Maurizio Canavese, Pavone Canavese, Gravere, Cinzano, Meana di Susa and Bardonecchia.

For the broader travel overview: Turin.