The headwaters of the Belbo
T11
Level of difficulty
Type
Duration
2 hours 30 minutes
STARTING POINT
Father John Secco Street
Municipality of departure
Montezemolo
Starting fee
739 m
POINT OF ARRIVAL
Father John Secco Street
Municipality of arrival
Montezemolo
Arrival fee
739 m
Length of the route
20.8 km
MAXIMUM QUOTE.
750 m
Minimum fee
617 m
Uphill elevation gain
445 m
Downhill gradient
456 m
Charging column
Not present
THE PATH.
Interesting loop trail that traverses much of the Belbo Springs Nature Reserve, offering a beautiful view of the landscape and local floristic biodiversity.
From the center of Montezemolo, climb northward toward Colle Monte until it joins the Municipal Road to Saliceto, which you follow for a few hundred meters before turning back onto a dirt road on the right.
Skirt, then, the Bric Vallette and thus reach Provincial Road 111. Still moving northward on dirt road, skim the La Pavoncella Refuge and, shortly after, reverse course, skirting Bric Morzano and passing the hamlets of Barbei and Albaretti to the characteristic Oratorio del Foresto.
Finally, crossing the entire plateau of the protected area from one end to the other, pass Bric Biola and Bric Pian Cavagna before ascending to Montezemolo from the village of Tetti.
LOCATIONS AND POINTS OF INTEREST
The Belbo Springs Nature Reserve
Established in 1993 and spanning the municipalities of Montezemolo, Saliceto, and Camerana, the Reserve protects the entire plateau that extends around the headwaters of the Belbo Stream, making it the only wetland in the Alta Langa region. Home to high levels of faunal and floral biodiversity, the Reserve (now administered by the Maritime Alps Protected Areas Management Authority) is particularly notable for the twenty-two species of orchids that inhabit the area, some of which are found exclusively here within the region. Equipped with rest areas and hiking and biking trails, it is particularly well-suited for immersing oneself in nature in the spring or fall.
The Cordero di Montezemolo Palace
Built in the village of Villa using some of the materials from the ancient castle that once stood on the hill overlooking the hamlet, the building likely dates back to the 18th century and has belonged to the Cordero di Montezemolo family over the centuries. Today, the imposing two-story palace is privately owned and closed to the public.
The Tower of Camerana
With a square-shaped tower and built of local stone, the tower dates back to the 12th–13th centuries and is currently owned by the municipality. Built in the hamlet of Villa in a panoramic location overlooking the Bormida Valley, it was associated with the ancient, neighboring castle—of which only a few ruins remain—which was likely built by the Marquises of Monferrato, for whom the “castrum cameranese” is mentioned in documents from 1216 and 1233.
The Castle of Monesiglio
Probably built in the 13th century at the behest of the Caldera family, a noble family from the area, the building was completely remodeled during the 18th century to transform the fortification into a stately residence. As a result, the original structure is now barely recognizable, though it still preserves rooms steeped in history and charm, such as the Armory and the “Salone delle Feste” on the main floor, and the “Sala Rossa” and the “Sala degli Stemmi” on the second floor.
Local Specialties
Langa honey: The area’s unique natural environment and distinctive microclimatic characteristics—also highlighted by the establishment of the Belbo Springs Nature Reserve—make these territories particularly well-suited to honey production (primarily acacia, chestnut, dandelion, and wildflower). The town of Montezemolo, in particular, has been a member of the “Le Città del Miele” association for years and, until 2015, organized a famous and well-attended Regional Honey Fair, which was suspended for ten years but resumed in July 2025.
Download gps coordinates of the route
All Mongibike tracks are also available on Tabui
