GTL - Grande Traversata delle Langhe

GTL on a MTB - Leg 17

This section, too, which leads to a village that was dear to Beppe Fenoglio’s heart, is a part of the Bar to Bar itinerary, so pay close attention to the signage.

 

Niella Belbo acts as something of a borderline between the realm of hazelnuts and that of the potato (which is the pride and joy of Mombarcaro), but also of note are the area’s cheeses, honey, livestock, and ancient grains, which spatter in gold the green of the hazelnut groves.

From the centre of town, head out in the direction of San Benedetto Belbo and continue along the paved road to the marked fork to the left, which then descends and continues as a dirt road until a fork to the left. From here the path descends into the gorge and then, beyond the ford, heads back up into the woods along a flat cart track to the left. This joins up with the paved local highway to the right in the direction of the hamlet of Sant’Anna, where you take the trail to the left along the wall of the first farmhouse. You will head back up for about a hundred metres and then continue on to the hamlet of Scaroni, where you will take the paved road in the direction of San Benedetto Belbo.

San Benedetto Belbo is a magical, timeless village transported out of the transience of life (the lost castle, the decaying houses, the monastery that is no more) to the eternity of the great literature by the retiring, solitary genius of Beppe Fenoglio, Italy’s greatest author of the post-war era. It is not by chance that the few photos that show Fenoglio smiling are nearly all taken in San Benedetto Belbo, dressed in his Sunday best strolling through the square like an actor on a stage. Indeed, San Benedetto Belbo is now little more than this, a fly tower in which the author manipulates the characters down below in those streets and in those homes.

loghi

COVERED AREAS

Langhe

GENERAL INFORMATION

Departure
Niella Belbo
12077
Italy
Arrival
San Benedetto Belbo
SP31
Italy
Type of trail
Linear
Distanz
5.5 km
Difficulty
Demanding
Estimated Time
18 minutes

ACCESSIBILITY

Along the way:

E-bike charging stations along the trail
Charging stations along the trail
Picnic area along the trail
Fountains / water points along the trail

Point of interest along the way

Departure:
Niella Belbo
12077 Cuneo
Italy
Arrival:
San Benedetto Belbo
SP31
Cuneo
Italy

Suggested Itineraries

The stages of this itinerary

Back to the main itinerary

Suggested Itineraries

  • MTB - Val Sarmassa
    MTB Touring Routes
    Monferrato
    Loop
    Partenza: Vinchio
    Arrivo: Vinchio
    Demanding
    16 km
    3:00 hours
  • Trekking - Roero
    Trekking
    Roero
    Loop
    Partenza: Canale
    Arrivo: Canale
    Easy
    14 km
    2:45 hours
  • Trekking - Monferrato - Roatto
    Trekking
    Monferrato
    Linear
    Partenza: Cortandone
    Arrivo: Roatto
    Easy
    7 km
    1:40 hours
  • Monferrato - Trekking - Monastero Bormida
    Trekking
    Monferrato
    Loop
    Partenza: Monastero Bormida
    Arrivo: Monastero Bormida
    Intermediate
    8.7 km
    2:30 hours
  • Trekking - Langhe - Dogliani
    Trekking
    Langhe
    Loop
    Partenza: Dogliani
    Arrivo: Dogliani
    Easy
    10 km
    2:00 hours
  • Trekking - Langhe
    Trekking
    Langhe
    Loop
    Partenza: Cerretto Langhe
    Arrivo: Cerretto Langhe
    Easy
    6,5 km
    2:50 hours