- AREA_4
- T_MARZO
- T_APRILE
- T_MAGGIO
- T_GIUGNO
- T_LUGLIO
- T_AGOSTO
- T_SETTEMBRE
- T_OTTOBRE
- PASSION_TREKKING
- SKILL_FACILE
- SKILL_MEDIA
- T_GENNAIO
- T_FEBBRAIO
- T_NOVEMBRE
- T_DICEMBRE
Busca’s chestnut trees
- Status Open
- Area Val Bormida
The great and magical “bread trees”
Casa Busca is an old house with a drying room surrounded by big sweet chestnut trees: they used to be called “bread trees” as they were the primary food for the population of the inland communities. They were also said to be the trees of the fairies, for the magical aura they have about them.From Colla Baltera, keep the wind turbine behind you and take the steep trail marked with 3 yellow dots, which quickly leads to a dirt road. Here leave the signpost behind and take the easier, almost flat dirt track on the right.
At the next fork, keep left, the trail will gently climb up. Stay on the main path: the dirt road cuts the west side of Bric Ciapazzi - Bric Paonazzi’s peak up to the crossroads with Colletta, a wood-cutting area. Here you will see the signpost with the 3 yellow dots again. Take the initially flat dirt road on your right that runs along the north side of Rocca dei Francesi.
Now the most striking stretch of the whole trail begins: a wide paved road in the middle of the beech forest, which gradually descends crossing two small streams. The first big chestnut trees announce your arrival at Casa Busca.
On the house’s upper floor, chestnuts were laid out to dry on a wooden rack, while on the ground floor a low fire was constantly burning thus smoking the chestnuts. You can still see the hollow trunk, through which the dried chestnuts were pushed out, sticking out of the wall.
