Palanfrè, a jewel of Alpine architecture

From Vernante, the climb up the Val Grande to Palanfrè, a hamlet on the edge of the Alpi Marittime Natural Park, is not to be missed. It is the starting point for splendid hiking itineraries, such as the one that reaches the Albergh lakes.

In the close vicinity of the hamlet is a famous beech wood, a ‘bandita’ that protects houses from avalanches for centuries. The uncomfortable living conditions led in the 1980s to the complete abandonment of Palanfrè in winter. A situation that changed again in the early 2000s, when two families of breeders from the area returned to live permanently in the hamlet all year round. Today, Palanfrè offers visitors a hotel-refuge and a cheese factory selling high quality alpine cheeses.