Vignolo / Must do

Between the valley and the plain, a district of the Gesso and Stura River Park, a few kilometres from the city of Cuneo, Vignolo offers several particularly attractive hiking and cycling touristic opportunities in the autumn and spring seasons. We point out, for example, the itinerary that goes up from the historic Vignolo centre to the panoramic town of San Maurizio, where the Sanctuary of Madonna degli Alpini is located, to continue to the Bric Crocetta (1100 m) crossing the wood of the Empire.
Particularly interesting is the cycling and pedestrian itinerary that runs along the medieval “Via Antica” of Vignolo and which connects the area called “Basse di Stura di Cuneo” with the “Salt Bridge” of Vignolo. About 8 km long, suitable for everyone, it winds through a varied landscape made of field, crops and woods to flank the 3 historical irrigation channels of Vignolo, Roero, Miglia and Morra, dating back to the mid-15th century. Further on, with a short detour to the left, you can reach the hydroelectric power plant of “F. Olivero”, built in the early 1900s to transport the Stura water on the Cervasca and Vignolo plateau, and the nearby floodplain area with particularly fascinating aquatic environments.

In 2021 a group of volunteers from the village created the Petinmenin Path, a path with thirteen stages rich in history and local tradition. As early as the early 1900s, in fact, Vignolo tells of the tale of Petitmenin, a small child as tall as a mushroom who, left alone, after a long series of vicissitudes full of unexpected encounters and suspense, finally manages to get away from alone. The 1.5 km long path for a 300 m difference in height is particularly suitable for children and families, it can be taken along a short stretch of paved road next to the church of San Giovanni Battista in Vignolo.

The "Big Bench" also arrived in Vignolo, on the San Maurizio hill, near the Sanctuary of Madonna degli Alpini to enjoy the suggestive panorama over the Cuneo plain.