The “Olympic Mountains” area for Turin 2006, i.e. the territory comprising the Susa, Sangone and Pinerolese valleys, is certainly one of the most fascinating and richly evocative in Piedmont. Its heritage combines sports disciplines at the highest level through to cultural and enogastronomic treasures of superlative quality, set amid a magnificent natural environment that includes no less than six protected nature reserves. The territory includes the competition and training sites for the XX Olympic Winter Games.
Crossing the Susa, Sangone and Pinerolese valleys, which have been major alpine communication routes since antiquity, to reach the most important skiing facilities in Piedmont, it is possible to discover and admire the majestic and imposing character of this area’s frontier fortifications; a fascinating journey past old battlements to the more modern and technological sports facilities. The Sacra di San Michele, one of the largest romanesque religious architectonic complexes in medieval times in Europe; the Forte di Finestrelle, a colossal work dating from 1700: a large wall that winds its way for three kilometres along the slopes of Mount Orsiera. Here then, are the first “Olympic” towns and villages, Pragelato, then Sestriere, certainly one of the most famous and well-equipped skiing resorts in the entire western Alpine chain. Sauze d’Oulx, San Sicario, Claviere, all are skiing resorts of international standing, forming part of the Via Lattea skiing zone.
A zone that offers more than 140 pistes, all connected to each other, for a total length of 400 km and 92 ski lift facilities.
Sauze d’Oulx is located in the Alta Valle di Susa at an altitude of 1,510 metres, surrounded by the peaks of Mounts Triplex, Bourget and Generis. It is defined as the "Balcony of the Alps" and it is an ideal location for practicing many winter sports, in addition to being a famous and delightful place to stay.
It has always been considered the cradle of skiing in Italy: from Placido Eydallim, considered the promoter of skiing in Sauze d'Oulx, to Piero Gros, winner of ten Absolute Italian titles, the World Cup in 1974, and the Olympic Gold in the Special Slalom, in Innsbruck, in 1976, to Giuliano Besson, also a native of Sauze d’Oulx.
Sauze d'Oulx is one of the sites for the forthcoming 2006 Winter Olympics: it will host the XX Olympic Winter Games with the Freestyle speciality. Freestyle competitions comprise, during the downhill, a steep piste, while carrying out, with very short skis, aerial acrobatics and figures. There are two specialities, leaps and somersaults: the athletes challenge each other on two parallel pistes, which come together in a single finishing area.
However, what distinguishes Sauze d’Oulx from all the other localities in the district is its liveliness: a youthful environment, full of opportunities to have fun and relax. Small artisan shops, pubs, typical restaurants and locales, discothèques open until the early hours of the morning, all ensure that the atmosphere is charged with energy and enjoyment.
However, we certainly must not forget the summer either!
Sauze d’Oulx is one of the sunniest villages in Europe.
It offers a vast array of possible excursions, through woods and mountains, as well as historic-cultural attractions.
For those who love trekking, the trails are perfect for excursionists at all levels, offering walks that last no more than an hour to day long hikes in one of the most beautiful parks in Piedmont: the Parco Regionale del Gran Bosco.
And for those who love history, the territory provides visitors with numerous testimonies. Waves of different peoples over the centuries have left small and large legacies of their presence everywhere: after the Celts, Hannibal, followed by Caesar, Galba, Constantine, the Saracens, Longobards and Franks, Barbarossa and Napoleon, who all invaded these valleys, leaving traces of their culture behind them.
The Church of San Giovanni Battista is also certainly worth visiting, almost a symbol of Sauze d’Oulx, built in gothic romanesque style, with a characteristic bell tower, decorated with two and three aperture mullioned windows. Inside, it is possible to admire the Baptistery in Foresto green marble, dating back to 1540, and the splendid high altar, decorated with columns of inlaid wood, dating from the eighteenth century. The hamlet of Jouvenceaux deserves particular mention, with its narrow streets, small piazzas, fountains, with its old houses intelligently restructured and conserving all the aromas, flavours and colours of the old quarter.
For sports enthusiasts, there are facilities for tennis, volleyball, bowling, five-a-side football, horse riding, clay pigeon shooting, with small lakes for trout fishing, trial circuits and the famous mountain bike route, “The Saracens’ Trail” (site of a competition which, with its 6,000 participants, has become the most prestigious in Europe) – all of which guarantee no one ever suffers from boredom here...
These then are just some of the reason that make Sauze d’Oulx an ideal resort for your holidays.
A village for everyone, all the year round.
Just a few kilometres away, Bardonecchia ensures rapid connections with France through the Frejus Tunnel (12 Km).
|
 |
