Via Alpina Itinéraire Bleu - Étape 47: Refuge du Viso - Rifugio Savigliano
The place
From the Refuge du Viso, the route follows the Via Alpina on the Tour du Mont Viso, passing close to Lake Lestio before climbing towards the Col de Valante, marking the Franco-Italian border. The descent then continues into the Vallanta valley, passing the refuge of the same name, down to the lake and the hamlet of Castello. Following the left bank of the lake, the route reaches Pontechianale. This stage is also accessible by mountain bike, from the Refuge du Viso to the Rifugio Savigliano. The route then continues along a balcony path to the source of the Guil, after crossing several small streams and fording them. After a few switchbacks, the trail leads to Lake Lestio and continues below the Pointe Joanne ridge to the Col Valante, a natural border between the Queyras Regional Park and the Italian Piedmont.
Why go
- Refuge du Viso: Starting point, modern and welcoming. - Lac Lestio: Picturesque high-altitude lake. - Col de Valante: Border pass offering spectacular views. - Vallanta valley: Wild valley leading to the lake and the hamlet of Castello. - Pontechianale: Picturesque village reached at the end of the route. - Col Valante: Observation point for ibex, between green schist and pinkish gneiss.
Detailed route
Le départ se fait du refuge du Viso, puis le sentier longe le lac Lestio avant de grimper vers le col de Valante. Après la descente dans le vallon de Vallanta et le passage près du refuge éponyme, l'itinéraire mène au lac et au hameau de Castello, avant de rejoindre Pontechianale en longeant la rive gauche du lac. Le parcours se poursuit en direction du Guil naissant, franchit à gué et monte en lacets vers le lac Lestio, puis sous la crête de la Pointe Joanne jusqu'au col Valante.
A bit of history
Mont Viso, the highest sentinel of the Southern Alps at 3,841 metres, is surrounded by myths and legends. The Refuge du Viso, renovated in 2003, sits in a landscape where the coexistence of wolves and sheep flocks testifies to the region's rich nature and biodiversity. The Col de Valante, a prime observation point for spotting ibex, reflects the complex geological history of this area, with its dark schists, snow patches and the occasional presence of the 'nébia', a fog typical of the region.