Way of St. James in Stura Valley | Stage 4 Pontebernardo – Colle della Maddalena

If coming from the bike path, in front of the first house in Murenz stay on the road that curves to the left. From the trail, instead, when you reach the paved road, continue to the right. In both cases proceed on a dirt road following it to the holiday home on the left, descending into the pine forest. Then follow the track that descends for 2.5 km towards the Prinardo hamlet. Upon reaching the hamlet, go straight past it and continue on the trail along the Rio Forneris until crossing it.

After 200 m at Villaggio Primavera, turn left onto Via dell'Ostal, follow the paved road uphill reaching a group of houses. After the asphalt ends, continue straight on a dirt track still ascending for 500 m, ignoring a road that descends on the right. At a hairpin turn, turn right following signs for the “Sentiero dell’Amore.” In case of bad weather at the Prinardo hamlet, turn right, after the bridge go left on SS21 until Villaggio Primavera where you take Via dell’Ostal again on the left.

The trail continues through the pine forest reaching a small ford, go right passing through another pine forest with benches, continue straight reaching a bridge, cross it and enter a playground, at the end there is a staircase that leads to Bersezio. Once on SS21 you can enter the village for a break or continue reaching the ski facilities on our left, cross the square reaching the ski lift crossing the Stura river; after the bridge turn right on the trail for about 3 km to Argentera (last Italian village). At the end of the village cross the Stura again and after the bridge turn immediately left and then left again onto Via Vecchia emerging on SS21, follow it for 150 m and then right on the uphill trail. In case of bad weather from Bersezio continue on SS21 to Argentera.

A bit further you cross a small stream and continue straight towards the SS21 hairpins arriving at the ruined hamlet of Grange. Cross the road and pass through the ruins descending until crossing the Stura on a wooden bridge, then start ascending on the trail marked with red stakes and red paint on some stones.

The only point to pay attention to is at a turn that climbs to the left with another trail continuing straight, symbolically blocked by some stones. Continue climbing reaching the highest point of the route (2160 m) cresting with ruins on our right and descend into a hollow used as shelter for grazing herds at the bottom right. Here begins a track descending crossing a small ford; follow it for 3 km arriving at Colle della Maddalena/Larche. At the pass there is the possibility to stop at Rifugio della Pace; if you want to end the stage at Larche (8 km) descend for 1 km on the D900, at a small parking on the right (Le Pontet) turn left onto the trail descending crossing after 1.5 km the Ubayette stream on the “Pont Rouge” and immediately after, turn right following GR 5/56 signs to Larche.

The Colle della Maddalena (col de Larche for the French) is the last stronghold of the Stura Valley and, due to its importance as a road connection, a fundamental element of the landscape-passage to the other side of the Alps. A stunning high-altitude pass, it connects the Stura Valley with the vallée de l’Ubayette and around it start beautiful routes towards imposing mountains and alpine lakes, including the famous Roburent lakes to the east and the Lauzanier lakes to the southwest.

Used since ancient times, it has always been a corridor for cultural, linguistic, and commercial exchanges, as well as a crucial control point for logistical and military operations. A few kilometers from the summit of the pass, there is a body of water called Lago della Maddalena, surrounded by gentle green meadows and served by a restaurant facility open during the summer period.

From this point the Way of St. James continues to Barcellonette, largely overlapping with the La Routo itinerary, an ancient transhumance route that connects Borgo San Dalmazzo to Arles.