Prali amid mountain lakes, mines and winter sports

Prali represents a blend of mountain lakes, mining history, family-friendly trails and winter sports. The landscape can be explored through easy walks, quiet encounters with nature, museums and sporting activities. This creates a destination where different daily itineraries can fit side by side: from a short route of manageable duration to longer activities in the snow, in the BikePark or underground.

Mountain lakes, nature and trails

The Conca dei 13 Laghi is home to around ten small lakes; there used to be thirteen, and they are probably of glacial origin. The Conca dei 13 Laghi is also designated as a Site of Regional Importance (SIR). In the area of the 13 Laghi, there is the two-hour, easy walking route “I laghi e le antiche leggende”, which can also be travelled by mountain bike. The combination of a lake landscape and a clearly defined route makes this area equally appealing for walks and cycling days.

Families will find “Il sentiero dei bambini”, a hiking trail from Ghigo to Villa shaped by a story divided into five parts. Along the route are chainsaw sculptures, houses of dwarves and a forest of talking trees. The Prali Animal Area is an educational outdoor trail for families, children and visitors interested in alpine wildlife. The 2.5-kilometre, accessible Sentiero 4All complements this selection with information panels about the local flora and fauna.

The Sentiero delle borgate leads to the discovery of the hamlets around the upper Val Germanasca, combining historical and ethnographic references with panoramic and natural views. It is suitable for a half-day walk with little elevation gain. This allows you to include a culturally focused route with a manageable time frame in your plans.

Mines and regional history

The Ecomuseo delle Miniere e della Val Germanasca in Prali has more than four kilometres of developed and equipped underground tunnels in the Paola and Gianna mines. ScopriMiniera takes visitors underground aboard a mine train into the Paola mine. At Bike & Mine, participants travel more than two kilometres through the underground tunnels of the Gianna mine.

ScopriAlpi leads through the tunnels and facilities of a mine and offers multimedia installations, light, sound and narrated voices during a three-hour exploration. This experience also includes a tectonic contact approximately 65 million years old in the underground of the Gianna mine, illustrating the collision of Africa with Europe and the formation of the Alps. The Perrucchetti shelters, abandoned barracks and military roads 201 and 230 in the Conca dei 13 Laghi are further examples of military history.

The museum established in the former school of Villa di Rodoretto reconstructs domestic interiors and a classroom from a mountain school. A museum in one of the oldest Waldensian temples in Val Germanasca, built in 1556, documents the history of the valley’s Waldensian community through the history of its religious buildings. The Museo Valdese di Prali can be reached by public transport via a scheduled bus from Turin to Prali, or by train to Pinerolo followed by a scheduled bus to Prali.

Winter and active days

Prali has marked snowshoe trails established by the association “Le Ciaspole”. Snowshoe route 1 from Giordano di Prali to Grange del Torre and back is rated easy, has an elevation gain of 435 metres and takes two to two and a half hours. The Prali ski resort has an elevation range of 1,100 metres and includes four lifts. The cross-country ski track in Prali is more than 12 kilometres long and runs from Ghigo di Prali to Villa di Prali.

The Prali snowpark is aimed at freestyle users and is suitable for both beginners and experienced users. The ski school in Prali offers lessons and activities in alpine skiing, snowboarding, carving and cross-country skiing. In winter, the bocce courts in Prali are transformed into a natural ice rink. Alongside classic snow sports, this provides further winter activities.

There are also various formats for cycling tours. The Prali BikePark consists of seven downhill trails with varying levels of difficulty, lengths and gradients. The Boulder Area at the 13 Laghi can be reached via both sections of the chairlift to Bric Rond, followed by a footpath of approximately 15 to 20 minutes. If you are looking for a hotel in Prali, you can use the specific duration, length and difficulty of your planned activities as a guide for your daily schedule and choice of destination.

Other places for planning your trip to Italy

Other destinations you can discover: Montaldo Torinese, Ala Di Stura, Druento, Brusasco, Buriasco, Airasca, Pecetto and Vacci.

For the higher-level travel overview: Turin.