Fernweh: Home
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a tripMy tripLast visited
    de|en
    All Places & RegionsAll highlightsAbout FernwehFAQPrivacy PolicyImprint
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a tripMy tripLast visited
    Gran Paradiso National Park (Piedmontese Part)

    Italy

    Gran Paradiso National Park (Piedmontese Part)

    Point of Interest

    Gran Paradiso is Italy's oldest National Park, founded on December 3, 1922, on the territory of a former royal hunting reserve, for the protection of alpine flora and fauna.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Italy
    7. Piedmont
    9. Gran Paradiso National Park (Piedmontese Part)
    Gran Paradiso is Italy's oldest National Park, founded on December 3, 1922, on the territory of a former royal hunting reserve, for the protection of alpine flora and fauna. It lies on both sides of the border between Piedmont and Aosta Valley. The Piedmontese part includes the Orco Valley with Ceresole Reale and the Soana Valley.

    Places of Interest

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Reservoir and Dam of Ceresole Reale
    Attraction

    1Reservoir and Dam of Ceresole Reale

    The reservoir in the upper Orco Valley lies at 1582 meters. The dam of Turin power utility AEM was built 1925-1931. A roughly 9 km circular path leads around the lake; in winter, a cross-country ski trail.
    Open in Google Maps
    Cascata del Dres
    Attraction

    2Cascata del Dres

    Rio Dres Waterfall on the south side of Lake Ceresole Reale.
    Open in Google Maps
    St. Nicolao Church (Ceresole Reale)
    Church

    3St. Nicolao Church (Ceresole Reale)

    Church of San Nicolao Vescovo of Ceresole Reale.
    Open in Google Maps

    Dining & Drinks

    1

    Ristorante La Genzianella

    Restaurant with Italian cuisine in Ceresole Reale, near the dam wall.
    Show on Google Maps
    2

    Ai Laghetti Camping - Bar - Ristorante

    Restaurant and bar of a campsite in the Orco Valley below Ceresole Reale.
    Show on Google Maps
    3

    Lo Sciatore Ristorante Bar

    Restaurant and bar on the road above Lake Ceresole Reale, towards Colle del Nivolet.
    Show on Google Maps

    Food and Drink

    In the mountain valleys, food is simple and hearty.

    Erbaluce di Caluso

    White wine (DOCG) from the Canavese region around Caluso, produced dry, as Spumante or as a sweet Passito from dried grapes.

    History and Nature

    At the beginning of the 19th century, the Alpine ibex was severely endangered; in 1821, King Carlo Felice banned ibex hunting. In 1856, the area officially became a royal hunting reserve, which was then larger than today's park. In 1919, Victor Emmanuel III decided to cede the reserve to the state, and on December 3, 1922, the National Park was founded by royal decree.Ceresole belongs to the Franco-Provençal linguistic area. The town has carried the suffix “Reale” since 1862: Victor Emmanuel II bestowed it after the municipality had granted him hunting rights for chamois and ibex.

    Exploring the area

    To reach the Orco Valley from Turin, take SS 460 via Cuorgnè, Pont Canavese and Locana to Ceresole Reale.On the final section of SP 50, past Lago Serrù up to Piana and Colle del Nivolet, access is restricted in summer. For 2026, this applied: on July weekends, daily from July 27th to August 30th, and on the first two September weekends, access was only possible with an online reserved Nivolet Card (10 Euros), limited to 350 vehicles per day. On certain car-free days, the road is completely closed to private vehicles. As an alternative, the park offers a shuttle bus. Rules change annually; for current information, check with Gran Paradiso National Park.

    Accommodations in Gran Paradiso National Park (Piedmontese Part)

    Find perfect stay in Gran Paradiso National Park (Piedmontese Part)

    Booking.com* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Agoda* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Airbnb
    Vacation Rentals

    * Affiliate link: if you book through it, we earn a small commission. The price stays the same for you.

    Campgrounds in Gran Paradiso National Park (Piedmontese Part)

    Find perfect campground in Gran Paradiso National Park (Piedmontese Part)

    Search via Google Maps
    Campgrounds nearby (15km)
    Camping.info
    Find Campgrounds
    Park4Night
    RV Parks & Camping

    Nearby

    Col de l'Iseran

    Col de l'Iseran

    The Col de l'Iseran in Savoie is, at 2,764 meters (the sign at the pass summit reads 2,770 meters), the highest paved mountain pass in the Alps. It connects the Tarentaise with the Maurienne and leads through a stark high-alpine landscape on the edge of the Vanoise National Park. It is a popular destination for cyclists.
    Turin

    Turin

    Turin is the capital of Piedmont and lies on the Po. Duke Emanuele Filiberto made the city the capital of Savoy in 1563; from 1861 to 1865 it was the first capital of unified Italy. Baroque squares and around 18 kilometers of arcades characterize the center; in the 20th century, Turin became a car city as the seat of Fiat.
    Chamonix-Mont-Blanc

    Chamonix-Mont-Blanc

    Chamonix-Mont-Blanc lies at the foot of Mont Blanc in Haute-Savoie and is regarded as the cradle of alpinism. The town is an international centre for mountaineers, hikers and winter sports enthusiasts. The cable car up the Aiguille du Midi (3,842 metres) takes you into the heart of the Mont Blanc massif, and the rack railway to Montenvers takes you to the Mer de Glace, the largest glacier in France, with its ice cave carved anew every year. In the town centre, Savoyard architecture, Belle Époque hotels, outfitters and restaurants mix. The Musée Alpin shows the history of the opening up of the Alps. It is busiest in July and August and during the winter holidays in February; June, September and early winter are quieter. It is best to book tickets for the Aiguille du Midi online well in advance, ideally for one of the first rides in the morning.
    Megève

    Megève

    Megève is a ski resort in Haute-Savoie with the appearance of a Savoyard village. It has a large ski area, many upscale accommodations, and a largely car-free village centre with cobblestone alleys, boutiques, and cafés. In summer, hikers and mountain bikers come.
    Piedmont

    Piedmont

    Piedmont is located in northwest Italy, bordering France and Switzerland. It is surrounded on three sides by the Alps, where the Po River originates; between them lie the wine hills of Langhe, Roero, and Monferrato. Its capital is Turin, the former residence of the House of Savoy and first capital of unified Italy.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Unsplash, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI