Claviere: Skiing, Nature and History

Claviere combines winter sports, nature experiences and remarkable culture within a compact thematic area. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Claviere, you will find opportunities for active days on skis and snowboards, walks or bike rides along the waterways, as well as historical and artistic discoveries. The range of options makes it easier to plan varied days together, even when not all travellers share the same interests.

Holiday apartment in Claviere: slopes, cross-country trails and nature paths

The ski lifts and slopes of Claviere are connected to the more than 300 kilometres of slopes in the Via Lattea ski area. Experienced skiers and snowboarders can reach the French slopes of Montgenèvre from Claviere and return to Italy via the challenging and panoramic Colletto Verde slope. Near the Italian-French border in the direction of Montgenèvre, Claviere also offers three cross-country ski trails with a total length of 10 kilometres.

There are also various options for ski touring: Claviere offers tours of different lengths and with different elevation gains. The ascent of Monte Chaberton is one of the classic ski tours that can be undertaken from Claviere. This makes it possible to combine very different day plans in winter, from cross-country skiing and downhill skiing to a more demanding tour.

From Claviere, nature paths lead along the Rio Secco, the Piccola Dora and the Rio Gimont, which can be explored on foot or by bicycle. Those who choose a holiday apartment as a base for days of varying intensity can alternate between active pursuits and quieter observations of nature. Claviere's wildlife includes marmots, roe deer, chamois, squirrels, deer, foxes, hares and eagles. The forest consists mainly of pine and larch trees.

Bridges, hikes and a distinctive mountain

A special hiking route leads through the Gorge di San Gervasio and consists of a sequence of three suspension bridges. The Ponte tibetano di Cesana Claviere suspension bridge is 544 metres long and runs about 30 metres above the ground. The third bridge on the route can alternatively be reached via a via ferrata. For your planning, therefore, not only the destination is of interest, but also the route's different features.

In Claviere, Monte Chaberton is also a hiking and historical subject. The classic hike leads to the ruins of an Italian fortification. An exhibition about Monte Chaberton tells the story of the mountain through its geology and the people who lived there. This makes it possible to combine landscape, activity and regional history in a single excursion.

Culture and history in Claviere

La Gigliaffa is a house museum in Claviere featuring theatre posters, paintings, repertoire photographs, a library, costumes and stage objects. At La Gigliaffa, Emanuele Giglio performs, improvises and recites parts of his repertoire, accompanied by Monica Griffa's singing. The cultural offering is therefore not limited to exhibits, but also includes a performance.

The traditional costume of Claviere is also part of the local heritage. It included full skirts, colourful silk scarves, lace-trimmed bonnets, and a necklace with a cross or a heart. The Chapel of San Gervasio provides another historical point of reference: Pope Pius VI stayed there in 1799. The chapel was destroyed in 1940 and rebuilt in 1975.

The history of winter sports is also present: the first examination for ski instructors in Italy took place in 1932.

Getting there and further ideas for day trips

A bus service connects Claviere with Oulx railway station on the international Turin–Paris railway line. From Turin, travel is via the A32 Turin–Bardonecchia–Fréjus motorway towards Fréjus; at the Sestriere–Sauze d'Oulx–Monginevro exit, continue on the SS 24 del Monginevro towards Claviere. When choosing the location of your holiday apartment, you can therefore take into account the planned combination of winter sports, trails, culture and travel arrangements.

Discover more places here: Pavarolo, Cuceglio, Carella, Monti, Cuorgnè, Villar Perosa, Villar Pellice, Usseaux.

To the main travel overview: Turin.