You depart from the square of the Town Hall of Crissolo (1330 m approx.) going uphill along the municipal road for about a hundred metres, then, following the signs to the right for Pian del Re, you pass a narrow passage between the houses and immediately take the mule track that is on the left a few metres further on. The track goes uphill with a direct route towards the first houses of the village of Serre, comes out on the left side of the church, continues on flat ground in the village, then at a crossroads near a fountain (left towards the cemetery and then down to Crissolo) bends sharply to the right going uphill among the buildings further uphill, until it comes out on the provincial road (about 1390 m). After crossing the road, take the mule track in front of it which, after a short woody strip and then open grassy slopes, reaches the first houses of the village of Borgo and a crossroads (ignore the right fork downhill towards the Sanctuary of S. Chiaffredo). Turn left through narrow alleys, sometimes paved in stone, to shortly arrive near the church overlooking a small square with a washhouse (about 1510 m). Skirt the religious building and go slightly to the right for about a hundred metres, until you leave the asphalt road that goes towards the locality of Ciampagna, to take the mule track on the right that gradually descends into the woods. After a few hairpin bends, the track stretches out again and reaches the characteristic stone bridge over Rio Toussié (about 1400 m); after a short ascent and a stretch on sloping ground, you reach the small but lovely Chapel of the Madonna degli Angeli (about 1430 m) in Bertolini, with an excellent view of Monviso. Continue on pleasant grassy ground for about 200 m, until you get back onto the asphalt road (about 1440 m) a few metres beyond the fork to the left towards the village of Brich. You descend along the road accompanied by the beautiful view of Monviso, leaving the first fork on the left to the village of Fenogli, then the one to that of Sagne, and  the one to that of Martino, thus arriving directly in the houses of Ciampagna (about 1360 m). Continue along the carriage road admiring the church of Madonna del Buon Consiglio above, then turn left downhill until you pass Rio Combe. After about 100 m, leave the asphalt road and follow an ancient road on the left, initially narrow (about 1310 m – direction of la Villo – signposted Vie d'Oustano), which enters the beech wood and continues on sloping ground passing some deviations. Leave the one on the left (Davi - Sère) and the one on the right (S. Chafré) to reach the Ënrune shrine (1295 m approx.); ignore the fork to the left (Vio des Coste), and continue on a constant descent along the narrow and irregular path that levels out just before reaching the asphalt road in the locality of Marchetti that goes up towards the centre of Ostana (approx.. 1225 m), reaching the Galaberna Hiking Refuge (loc. Valentin - Ostana - Villa).

Panorama of the Monviso chain and the Sanctuary of San Chiaffredo; the characteristic stone bridge over the Rio Toussié; the chapel of the Madonna degli Angeli; the church of the Madonna del Buon Consiglio; the Enchanted Wood in the hamlet of Marchetti in Ostana; the Civic Ethnographic Museum of Ostana in the Villa hamlet; the Vie d'Oustano, a network of paths connecting the villages of Ostana equipped with signs and information panels on tradition, history, culture and language.

 

Accommodation facilities in Crissolo (http://www.vallidelmonviso.it/valle-po/), Hiking refuge La Galaberna

Motorway A6 TORINO - SAVONA, exit at the tollbooth of Marene; turn left on to the SS 662 in the direction of Savigliano, carry on to Saluzzo, then the directions from Saluzzo for Valle Po along the SP 26 or the SP 260; Motorway A21 TORINO – ALESSANDRIA – PIACENZA, exit at Asti est – continue to Alba - Bra - exit at Marene - Savigliano - Saluzzo - Valle Po (SS 662); from Paesana continue on the SP 26 as far as Crissolo. From Torino take the Tangenziale, exit at Pinerolo, continue on the SP 161 towards Bibiana then the SP 27 to Barge - Paesana across the section called "Colletta"; SP 26 in the direction of Crissolo.

Source: Unione Montana dei Comuni del Monviso
Itinerary code: OMV
Phone coverage: Good coverage in the centres of Crissolo and Ostana; possible less coverage on several stretches of the itinerary.
Recommended period: Spring, summer, autumn
Historical interest: Yes
Devotional interest: Yes
Access by public transport: Yes
Classification: Medium and low mountain provincial
Provinces crossed: Cuneo

From Torino and Cuneo: Atibus, timetables at www.buscompany.it/ati, Torino-Saluzzo, Cuneo-Saluzzo, Saluzzo-Paesana lines. From Torino and Pinerolo: Autolinee Cavourese, download the timetables from the website www.cavourese.it, Torino - Barge line. From Barge and Paesana: Dossetto Bus, timetables at www.dossettobus.it, Barge - Paesana - Crissolo line.

Departure

Piazza Duca degli Abruzzi
CRISSOLO
12030 Crissolo (CN)
Cuneo

see on map