Path V01C

Trail V01C ascends the western slope of Mount Bracco from Barge, a piedmont municipality at 372 meters above sea level at the foot of the Cottian Alps. The route initially passes through chestnut and oak groves before entering the beech forest above 1,000 meters. Mount Bracco is known for its white quartzite quarries—the so-called Luserna stone—used for centuries for traditional roofing and still extracted today in the area's active quarries. The trail runs alongside some of these historic quarries, where signs of manual extraction dating back to the 18th century can be seen. From the highest points of the trail, you can overlook the Saluzzo plain with Manta Castle in the background. On clear days, the outline of Monviso (3,841 m) stands out clearly to the west. This hike is for experienced hikers; recommended from June to October, avoiding the hottest hours of the day during the initial stretch.