UPPER SALT ROAD
A spectacular unsealed former military road that connects the Piedmontese and French Alps to the Ligurian Sea
It winds its way along the mountainsides following the main Alpine watershed near the border between Italy and France, at altitudes between 1800 and 2100 metres, through a succession of Alpine crossings, hairpin bends and thrilling passes.
The entirely unsealed road connects Limone Piemonte, in the province of Cuneo, with Monesi di Triora, in the Ligurian mountains, covering a total distance of approximately 30 kilometres at high altitude. It is open during summer and autumn, after the snow has thawed. The route takes in magical places, such as the evocative Carsene area, with almost lunar landscapes full of geological formations, and the unspoiled landscapes of the Mediterranean Alps. It crosses the Marguareis and Alpi Liguri parks, characterized by great biodiversity, and the splendid Bosco delle Navette forest, and passes by several late 19th-century military fortifications.
The military roads are lined by abundant flowers belonging to the 2,600 plant species recorded in this area. The Ligurian and Maritime Alps boast such great botanical wealth because environmental conditions can vary considerably on different sides of the same mountain, with the southern slopes enjoying a Mediterranean climate and the others a continental one.
The Upper Salt Road is a pulsing artery of an enormous area that can be explored along the road itself, but also through numerous itineraries that wind between Italy and France, and between the mountains and the sea, which connect to the Ligurian Cycle Route. This wide array of itineraries suitable for walkers, mountain bikers, and even off-road enthusiasts with 4-wheel drive vehicles, allows the exploration of an area that touches on three major park areas and is dotted with little towns and villages that have much to offer visitors, in every respect. Indeed, those seeking contact with the untamed nature of the peaks or the pleasure of cycling along one of the countless paths, will also find museums, delightful old towns, ancient traditions, prehistoric rock art, excellent gourmet food, open-air playgrounds, and much more besides.
The extraordinary beauty of the numerous panoramic views that accompany travellers along this fascinating road impresses unforgettable memories on their minds, which often lure them back again.
