Vacations in the Langhe: a destination yet to be discovered

Why the Langhe? We must rediscover the correct times, ancient tastes, colors, and rhythms. SLOW!

The Langhe has established itself as a popular tourist destination in recent years. Travelers from all over the world have begun to know, discover, and love them.

It is said that a trip always has three central moments: when you dream it, when you live it, and when you remember it.

Let’s start dreaming about it  with some concrete ideas!

A bit of geography: the Langhe is a hilly area about an hour from Turin and 2 hours from Milan, the sea of Liguria, and the lakes of northern Piedmont.

The Langhe is a territory very well known for its extraordinary wines, such as Barolo and Barbaresco, and for its excellent gastronomic products, such as the White Truffle of Alba and the “round and gentle” hazelnuts, as well as for its cheeses and many typical recipes (Vitello tonnato, Russian salad, bagna cauda, first and second courses for all tastes, bunet…).

A vacation in Piedmont can be an unforgettable experience, especially if you get to know the local people with their traditions and stories to tell.

WHERE ARE THE LANGHE LOCATED?

Vineyard-covered hills as far as the eye can see, centuries-old villages, farmhouses and wineries, towers and castles of medieval origin, but where is the Langhe?

The reference point is Alba, an hour’s drive from Turin and less than 2 hours from Milan. The Langhe is about 3 hours from Bologna.

The area is extensive, so a car or motorcycle is strongly recommended for visiting them. Alba is easily reached by train from Turin, but if you want to get to know the villages of the Langhe, you have to go up into the hills.

The Langhe-Roero and Monferrato wine-growing landscapes in Piedmont have been a UNESCO heritage site since 2014 and include:

• The Langa del Barolo: as many as 3,000 hectares of land devoted to the production of Nebbiolo, which, in the silence of the cellars, will give rise to Barolo wine. The municipalities of the “Langa del Barolo” are: Barolo, Castiglione Falletto, Diano d’Alba, La Morra, Monforte d’Alba, Novello and Serralunga d’Alba. Here, you can photograph the most beautiful and best-known views and enjoy the enchanting foliage of the vineyards in autumn. Don’t miss the cedar of Lebanon, the monumental tree that symbolizes love, and the colorful Barolo chapel, an original and cheerful monument in the beautiful vineyards of the Ceretto winery
• The hills of Barbaresco: the younger brother of Barolo wine, but no less appreciated. Barbaresco wine differs from Barolo in the years of aging. Still, if we talk about villages and landscapes, this area has nothing to envy more than Barolo’s famous Langhe area of Barolo. Villages like Neive and Barbaresco are worth a visit. We point out the Barbaresco Tower and the Barbaresco regional wine shop, where wines from nearby wineries are available for daily tasting.
• Grinzane Cavour Castle: back to the Langa del Barolo. According to UNESCO, this monument represents a special mention within the wine-growing landscapes.

Let’s stick with the wine theme: the castle of Grinzane Cavour indeed houses the Piedmont Regional Enoteca, but inside, you can plunge not only into the history of Piedmont but of all of Italy through wine. Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, inhabited it in the 19th century, creating a hub of wine research and experimentation that gave rise to the great red wines of Piedmont.

An exciting tour you can arrange with your car in the colder months is the one I described in the article Castles of the Langhe: A Discovery Route in One Day.

During the lovely season, you can think about organizing a tour of Langhe castles by bike; an e-bike is recommended!: Here I leave you a cue for a day on an e-bike with a packed lunch and tasting

During the lovely season, you can think about organizing a tour of Langhe castles by bike; an e-bike is recommended!: Here I leave you a cue for a day on an e-bike with a packed lunch and tasting

First, you will have to choose where to sleep. There are many facilities for all budgets and all tastes! From the small family-run B&B to the luxury hotel.

Suppose you don’t have a car available. In that case, I advise staying in Alba, so you can go out in the evening and experience the various excellent restaurants and have stores and services available.

Moreover, from Alba, it is easier to reach the means of transport.

If you have a car, there are many possibilities: staying in the hills overlooking the vineyards is a bit of the dream of all who want to visit the Langhe. But don’t think it is an “expensive” dream: there are beautiful facilities at great prices in simply wonderful places with breathtaking views. There are also luxury facilities (even if they are a luxury, always well integrated into the environment), such as a spa, fine restaurants, and all comforts.

Choosing a place to stay is critical, depending on what you want to do and your needs.

Now, there is also a wide choice of vacation apartments suitable for families or those wanting to be more. The only thing missing in the Langhe is the sea (even if it can be reached in less than 2 hours!), you could choose a structure with a swimming pool in the summer months… there are many!

In the summer, the temperature can be pretty hot so that the swim sool can be a great idea. Also, staying in Alta Langa, where temperatures get cooler, especially in the evening and morning, is essential.

Everything! Of course, it may not be easy to organize unique and personalized experiences, but if you can do it, your vacation will take on a different flavor!

I want to try to accompany you day by day along this trip.

On the first day

I recommend a ride by car, independently or with a guide of the area, in the heart of the Langa del Barolo, recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for wine landscapes. Begin immediately our journey through Piedmontese food and wine: you will not miss a few stops to visit the extraordinary historical cellars of the area, perhaps starting from the one where Barolo was born, without forgetting some small and familiar realities that will give you all the flavor and warmth of rural hospitality.

A lovely lunch with a view will not be missed on the first day of discovery.

After eating and drinking well, on the second day, I would dedicate it to a bit of movement: a nice ride up and down the hills of the Barbaresco area, obviously without giving up a few tasty stops! If you are scared of the climbs, I recommend a nice e-bike, so the effort will not exceed the pleasure of enjoying the landscape.

Something cultural for the third day?

You will be spoiled for choice! Alba is a medieval city with Romanesque origins, and testimonies of its history are present in the historic center and underground. If you stay in these parts, visiting Alba underground is undoubtedly worth visiting. Or you could take a comfortable train to Turin (there are trains at all hours) to see a beautiful city rich in history and monuments. I recommend a lovely guided tour of Turin’s delicacies such as “gianduiotto” and “bicerin.”

And then what else? Would you like to learn the secrets of traditional Piedmontese cuisine? A friendly cooking class then is what I recommend for the fourth day! But make sure you put your “hands in the dough.” After the course, you can taste what you have prepared with a good glass of wine!

I recommend you for the fifth day

a jump in the Roero, the other side of the Unesco territory: the landscape changes even if only a few kilometers from the Langhe, the woods and orchards increase, and the vineyards decrease. The Roero is a paradise for outdoor activities: more leisurely walks and challenging trekking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and, above all, a lot of history and nature.

Especially in summer, you can not miss visiting some areas of the Alta Langa: small villages, stone houses, hazelnut groves, goat and sheep farms to produce excellent cheeses, and above all, peace. We are already on the sixth day, and I have not even mentioned Monferrato with its wine cathedrals and rolling hills, the possibility of renting a Vespa to drive slowly through enchanting landscapes, some horseback riding in the woods, aperitifs at sunset overlooking the vineyards.

Each of these “days” would deserve a post! I think there will be more in-depth analysis soon. There is too much to tell!

I’m sure I made you want to spend more than just one weekend in the Langhe and its surroundings!

Please write to me to create your tailor-made vacation together!