Departure point:
Crevoladossola (VB), Italy
How to get there:
By train: Domodossola Station, Ferrovie dello Stato. Timetables: http://www.trenitalia.com/; www.ffs.ch
By bus: bus to Crevoladossola, Domodossola Line - Cascata del Toce; or Circular Nord Line. Timetables: www.vcoinbus.it
By car: A26 motorway to Gravellona Toce, then SS33 Sempione, after Domodossola exit for Crevoladossola.
From Ulrichen to Domodossola: train. Timetables: www.ffs.ch
General Description:
Old historical trade route connecting Luzern to Domodossola through the Gries Pass in seven daily stops. Since 2002 it is one of the 12 Cultural Itineraries of national interest of Switzerland. Each summer, on this itinerary an historical commemoration happens with a long caravan of men, mules and goods. www.sbrinz-route.ch
The route:
The Italian route proposed here of Via Sbrinz (the “sbrinz”, a typical cheese from the Bernese Oberland, was one of the most exchanged products in trades) runs mostly along the valley bottom through the towns and near the main road. From Crevoladossola, the route goes up to the Antigorio Valley arriving to the villages of Oira, Pontemaglio, Crodo, Baceno, Premia, Cagiogno, Rivasco, Foppiano. It then goes up to the close of the Casse up to the wide plain of Formazza, gets over the Toce Waterfall and reaches the Gries Pass, between the Formazza Valley and the high-Vallais, which was for five centuries the smoother road between the Lombard plain and Central Switzerland. From the pass, the route goes along the Gries lake until you cross the road for the Nufenen Pass and then goes down along the Agenetal to the Ulrichen in the Goms Valley, cradle of the Walser settlement movement. From here, the Sbrinz Route continues until Luzern through the Grimselpass and the Brünigpass. Otherwise from Ulrichen it is possible to go back to Domodossola by train.
Useful information:
From Domodossola to Ulrichen you must plan a minimum of 3/4 stops. In Italy: trail G00 Via Sbrinz; in Switzerland: trail number 40
Where to eat:
• Ristorante Del Parco - Via Vegno 3 - 28862 Crodo, VB, (IT) tel +39 0324 61018
• Ristorante Marconi - Via Pellanda, 21 - 28862 Crodo, VB, (IT) + 39 0324 618797 http://www.ristorantemarconi.com/
• PaneVino Beer Food & Wine Frazione San Rocco, 28866 Premia, VB, (IT) tel +39 340 8282458
• Bar Ristorante Cascata Toce Località Cascata del Toce, Formazza 28863, VB, (IT) tel +39 (0) 324 634130
• Ristorante Aalts Dorf Località Riale, Formazza 28863, VB; (IT) tel. +39 0324 634355 http://www.aaltsdorf.it
• Rifugio Bim-Se Località Morasco, Formazza 28863, VB, (IT) tel. +39 339 5953393 http://www.rifugio-bimse.it
• Ristorante Walser Schtuba Località Riale 28863 Formazza VB, (IT) tel. +39 0324 634352 - cell. +39 339 3663330 http://www.locandawalser.it
