Limone-Piemonte, together with the resorts of Limonetto and Cuota -1400, make up the skiing area “White Reserve” ( Riserva Bianca ). The main advantages of this place are proximity to big cities, the sea and low prices. In general, this is a weekend resort. More than one day here is boring. But you can ride for a couple of days, renting a room in a traditional Italian hotel for the night. And in the evening, take a walk around the cozy old town.
Everyone will be interested in Limone, both beginners and professionals. Closer to Limonetto, wide red bowls open up – space for freeride. The resort is one of the oldest in Italy, there are ancient ski lifts. There are also many sports schools that train Italian speed gnomes, future Olympians.
If you live in the area from Cannes with Nice to Monaco with Menton, you should go to Limone, provided that Isola and Aron have already been driven. By the way, it will not work to slip through the mountain passes of France-Italy. Many are closed for the winter season. So don’t trust navigators and drive along the coast.
The Riserva Bianca ski resort is located on the territory of the commune of Limone-Piedmont and is the main winter resort of the province of Cuneo. Reserve Bianca offers tourists 80 km of ski tracks at an altitude of 1,050 to 2,050 meters, served by 16 lifts. The resort provides opportunities for all winter sports. It is especially popular with skiers who prefer skiing on untouched ski slopes (heli-ski).
In addition to skiing, the resort provides opportunities for ice skating and snowshoeing, ice climbing, a golf club, a weightlifting gym, a health center with a swimming pool, tennis courts, volleyball and soccer fields. The resort is very convenient for family vacations with children, for the little ones there is an open Kinder Park, where children are waiting for experienced instructors, as well as games and fun on trampolines. The Ligurian coast can be reached in less than one hour by car or train from the resort.
Limone Piemonte
A small town in the province of Cuneo, with a population of about fifteen thousand inhabitants, is known as the main ski center of the province of Cuneo: majestic snow-capped mountains, more than 100 km of trails along mountain streams, slopes surrounding the town and, of course, the total length of ski slopes (80 km) – attract many tourists here both in winter and in summer.
The Limone Valley is bounded from the north by the mountains Bisalta (or Besimauda) with a height of 2,231 m and Costa Rossa (2,404 m), from the south by the mountains Rocca dell’Abisso (2,755 m) and Colle di Tenda (1,820 m), in the east rises the Cima della Fascia (2,495 m), from the western side stretched Ciotto Mien (2,375 m) and Monte Vecchio (1,920 m).
Lemons of Piedmont from a height
A bit of history
Already at the beginning of the 20th century, Limone Piemonte was one of the first places in Italy that attracted skiers. The development of alpine skiing here began in 1907 with a competition between alpine shooters, and in 1909 open competitions between “civilians” were already held. Therefore, in 2007, the centenary of skiing was solemnly celebrated here.
Limone 1400
Until the opening of the railway in 1891, the main part of the population of Limone was engaged in the transportation of goods on mules, oxen, horses from the port of Nice to the Piedmont plains and back. As a result, many of the local residents moved to the Cote d’Azur. Today, the local economy is based mainly on tourism, both winter and summer. The hotel capacity here is small (only about 500 beds are available), but the local population is happy to accommodate tourists in their homes, thus adding approximately 2,000 more beds.
The first lifting device appeared here in 1937, it was the simplest ground cable car on skids. In 1948, the first chairlift was built, and in 1975, the ski complex “White Reserve” (“Riserva Bianca”) appeared with ski tracks with a total length of 100 km. Currently, the active ski tracks occupy a total of 80 km. By Christmas 2006, a new lift with cabins was inaugurated.
Limone 1400
The origin of the name Limone Piemonte is not known for sure, it is quite possible that it has nothing to do with the lemon, which, however, has adorned the city coat of arms for three centuries. According to one version, the name comes from the Greek word “Leimon”, which means “a place overgrown with grass, pasture”, according to another version – it comes from the word from the Provençal-Alpine dialect “li mount”, that is, “mountains”.
Located near the Colle di Tenda pass, historically Limone was the place connecting Piedmont with the Ligurian and Provençal coasts. Its tourist popularity also owes its proximity to places such as Sanremo, Montecarlo and Nice, with which Limone was connected by the Cuneo-Ventimiglia-Nice railway, completed in 1928. The road, however, was destroyed by the Germans in 1945, but a year later the railway connection between Cuneo, Turin and Genoa was restored, but in the directions of Nice, Sanremo and Monaco, trains started running again only in 1979. The roads laid in 1882 have remained in working condition to this day.
Local attractions
In the town square of Limone Piemonte is the parish church of St. Peter in Chains (San Pietro in Vincoli), built in the 14th century from stone in the late Gothic style and recently restored, with a bell tower in the Romanesque style dating back to the 19th century. On the first Sunday of August in Limone Piemonte, the day of the city’s patron Saint Peter in Chains is celebrated.
Church of St. Peter in Chains
Other interesting religious buildings of the city include the chapel of John the Baptist (cappella di San Giovanni Battista), the oratorio di Sant’Antonio.
The historic center of the stone-paved city is intended exclusively for pedestrians, there are numerous cafes that offer visitors traditional local dishes.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Limone Piemonte was densely built and expanding, but the vast majority of new buildings were purchased by Ligurian and Piedmontese tourists.
In the town of Vernant, 6.5 km north of Limone Piemonte, there is an opportunity to admire the art of “murales” – wall paintings on the houses of the whole town, dedicated to the story of Pinocchio. It was here that Attilio Mussino, the famous illustrator of Carlo Collodi’s works, spent the last years of his life. The Pinocchio museum is also located here, which presents the original drawings for the fairy tale.
Murales in Vernant
A little further, 12 km north of Limone Piemonte , in the town of Robilante is the Museum of Accordion, Music and Folk Art, which displays musical instruments and other exhibits related to local folk music, as well as wooden sculptures by Giorgio Bertain.
In the area of the village of Roaschia, 15 km from Limone, in the direction of the Valle Jesso valley, there are caves with interesting karst phenomena.
The Natural Park of the Maritime Alps, located on the territory of ancient hunting grounds, in the area of the towns of Entrakkue and Valdieri, attracts lovers of tourism and mountaineering to the region. And for tourists who are going to stop and rest, traditional local “huts” are located throughout the park.
An inhabitant of the natural park is a mountain goat
Winter rest
Winter makes Limone unique and is of interest to trekking enthusiasts in its winter version – with the help of snowshoes. A total of 12 routes have been developed for this purpose, and the snowshoes themselves can be rented.
A walk in snowshoes
In the ski center “White Reserve” tourists have 80 km of ski tracks served by 16 lifts (one cable car for 8 seats, 11 chairlifts and 4 cable lifts). Ski lifts reach a height of 2,070 meters in the area of Monte Alpetta, from where, going down the 3.8 km long track, you can directly get to Limone Piemonte , which is located exactly one kilometer below.
The resort has 40 slopes with different levels of slopes. Of them, there are 26 red slopes, which are ideal for experienced skiers and will not let them get bored in the valley of the Colle di Tenda pass.
Thanks to seven blue runs of medium difficulty, visitors have the opportunity to go down a long run and enjoy the speed. The absence of sharp slopes makes driving through these sections more peaceful and pleasant, and thanks to the long direct descents, they give the opportunity to fully enjoy the picturesque beauty of the southwestern Alps.
For professionals, there are 7 black slopes with sharp turns and drops. All tracks are laid around three ridges. The central one, Limone, has a height of 1400 meters and lies between two other, higher ones. There is also a children’s park and a ski school with a special gentle track, where any beginner skier can improve his skills.
“White reserve” is located at an altitude of 1010 – 2050 meters. It is easily accessible both by car and by train. Tired skiers can recharge their batteries in one of the 12 rest areas located along the ski slopes.
Ski center “White Reserve”
Snowboard lovers will be attracted by the snow park, located at an altitude of 500 m and covering an area of about 3,500 square meters. m. There is also an ice rink in the “White Reserve”.
As for beginners, ski school instructors are ready to teach both adults and children to stand confidently on skis.
Summer leisure
In summer, Limone Piemonte offers a wide selection of routes for lovers of active recreation: for hiking – from a simple walk to more serious ascents in the mountains; for rock climbers, even for the most demanding – climbs of any degree of difficulty; for mountain bike lovers – kilometers of convenient mountain trails.
Fans of extreme sports such as canyoning (overcoming canyons without flotation devices, but with climbing equipment) and hydrospeeding (rafting down a mountain river in a wetsuit and with fins) will find their way along the Sture and Roja rivers.
At an altitude of 1,370 km on the Valle Jesse mountain, among the rich alpine nature, there are warm mineral springs of Terme di Valdieri – this is the highest thermal resort in Italy, located in the center of the Natural Park of the Maritime Alps. It operates only in summer, and the water temperature of the warm spring is 36 degrees. Sulfur caves and baths, algae, mud, procedures for the treatment of gynecological diseases, physiotherapeutic and shiatsu massages, hydromassage, aesthetic procedures are used here to improve health.
Thermal resort Terme di Valdieri
The Limone Piemonte Sports Center (Campo Base) also offers sports lovers a climbing wall, tennis courts, basketball courts, a grass soccer field, a golf club, children’s pools and a weightlifting gym throughout the summer.
Après-ski
The developed infrastructure of Limone-Piedmont will not let its guests get bored. After skiing, tourists can relax in local alpine restaurants – there are many such establishments right next to the slopes.
For those who like to indulge themselves with exquisite Italian wines, the commune has built special bars with wines of its own production, such as Barolo and Barbaresco.
Tourists can also visit local spas, of which there are quite a few. There you can enjoy peeling, wrapping, steaming and several other special Alpine treatments.
Almost all hotels are equipped with their own Finnish baths, so that after a long ski trip, you have the opportunity to go home and warm up in the bath.
Hotels
The Limone-Piedmonte tourist area has a modern complex of hotels, cottages and apartments. Since a large part of the population is involved in the tourist business, finding a place to stay at a reasonable price will not be difficult.
We have selected the best hotels for you according to the reviews and ratings of tourists.
2 stars
Two-star hotels are often chosen by family couples – it is usually quite quiet here, there are no loud drinking establishments where hotel guests stay up late. In addition, the cost of a room for 3 people is also very reasonable.
Petit Meuble
Petit Meuble is a small hotel in a classic Alpine style. The hotel rooms, the interior decoration of which is made of wood, have bathrooms, TVs and Wifi. The hotel windows offer a view of the enchanting alpine slopes.
La Casetta Del Dahu
La Casetta Del Dahu is quite a comfortable hotel for little money. The view from the windows overlooks the ancient church. Each room is equipped with its own shower and Wifi.
3 stars
Three-star hotels are the chosen “classic” among accommodation options. As a rule, the service here is an order of magnitude higher than in 2 * hotels, but the prices are also somewhat higher. There are 4 three-star hotels in the commune.
Marguareis
Hotel Marguareis is located in the very center of Limone-Piedmont . A big advantage of the hotel is its location, just 400 meters from the railway station.
Limone Palace Aparthotel
The convenient location of the Limone Palace Aparthotel allows you to take a walk on the picturesque slopes after skiing. A steam room, fitness room, bicycle rental and many other pleasant surprises are provided for guests. The hotel is located just a few steps from the railway station and the bus stop that goes to the ski slopes.
4 stars
There are two luxury 4-star hotels in Limon-Piedmont. Of course, the prices for accommodation are quite high, but the range of services provided usually fully justifies it.
Grand Principe
Grand Principe is an incredibly beautiful stone hotel built in the style of medieval castles. There are all the necessary amenities, a wonderful restaurant and bar. The hotel is located right next to the lifts of the Riserva Bianca and thanks to this, a gorgeous panoramic view of the slopes of the Southern Alps opens from its windows.
Apartments and B&B
As a rule, B & B is extremely popular among young people – the prices for accommodation are quite democratic, and the facilities provided are quite enough for a comfortable rest.
Arrucador Boutique Lodge
Arrucador Boutique Lodge is a small bed & breakfast hotel located close to the area’s main ski lifts. At guests’ disposal are cozy air-conditioned rooms, daily traditional breakfasts.
La Casa dei Gatti
La Casa dei Gatti is one of the most popular accommodation options for tourists who are not used to spending large sums of money on accommodation, preferring to spend it on excursions and entertainment. The set of amenities is standard for hotels of this type – television, bath, daily breakfast in the hotel dining room.
How to get there
Lemone-Piedmont is located quite close to both Turin and Nice. Therefore, getting to this commune will not be a problem for you. A plane ticket from Kyiv to Turin will cost you on average 250 euros, and to Nice – 200 euros. Next, you can choose the most convenient way of travel:
On a bus
The price of a direct bus ticket from Turin to Limone Piemonte is only 9 dollars. The trip lasts 1 hour and 20 minutes. Bus 91T departs hourly from Torino Esposizioni station.
On the train
The most democratic form of transport is the train. The price of a regional ticket from Torino Porta Nuova Central Station to Limone Station is €8.70.
Trains run every hour, with a transfer in Fossano, which, of course, is not very convenient for tourists, but it is cheap. The duration of the trip is about 2 hours.
By car or taxi
Having rented a car in Turin for 30-40 euros per day, the cost of fuel costs will be only 20 euros, and after an hour’s drive, you will be able to enjoy all the delights of the Limone-Piedmont resort . Be sure to take into account that almost all mountain passes are closed for the winter, so you should not trust the road to your navigator, it is better to create a route in advance by consulting with experienced travelers or local residents.
The most comfortable way to travel from Turin to Limone-Piedmont is to order a transfer. You can do this on the website kiwitaxi.ru. The transfer costs about 200 euros and will take about an hour. In addition, many hotels have their own transfers from Turin airport (and back) – you should find out about the availability of this service and its cost.