Fontana del Thures Alpine Cottage

The Alpine Cottage

The Fontana del Thures refuge is located in the heart of the ancient hamlet of Thures, facing a 17th-century octagonal fountain.

The building was created inside an old grangia, typical of the Western Alps, following a careful architectural restoration.

It has been family-run since 1994.

Services

Fontana del Thures is a hiking mountain hut and an official stop along the GTA (Grande Traversata delle Alpi).

It offers half-board accommodation during the winter months.
During the rest of the year, guests are welcome to contact the manager directly to plan group stays.

The hut has 24 beds, arranged in rooms for 4 people and one room for 8 people, with shared bathrooms, located on the first floor.

The beds are wooden bunk beds, equipped with duvet, blanket, pillow and pillowcase. Guests are required to bring their own sleeping bag liner and towel.

Showers are available from 4:00 pm.
Water inside the building is heated by a wood-burning kitchen stove.

Meals are served on the ground floor in the warm and welcoming wooden communal dining room.

Our home-style cuisine offers traditional recipes and local products, purchased directly from farms in the valley.
Guests may inform us of any food allergies or vegetarian or vegan dietary preferences.

We favor forms of gentle and contemplative tourism, focused on discovering unspoiled mountains, 360° landscapes and panoramic views, ancient hamlets and pleasant walking paths.

At the hut, we have contacts with associations and mountain guides, as well as informative materials to enrich your stay from a historical and cultural perspective. Guests can consult maps, charts, books and descriptive texts about the valley.

The family purchased and restored the old grangia in the 1980s and opened the hiking hut in 1994. Part of the building is reserved for the private residence, where the family has cared for the land across generations: parents, children, grandchildren, grandparents, dogs, cats and, at times, even chickens or bees.

Activities

The Thures Valley offers a wide variety of destinations for summer walks and winter outings. Every curious hiker has the opportunity to enjoy unspoiled landscapes, visit ancient hamlets, and admire alpine flora and fauna. With a little quiet respect, one may be lucky enough to spot the many species of alpine wildlife. The valley’s majestic peaks accompany visitors and lovers of the wilderness along the way.

WINTER

Ski touring and cross-country skiing: the mountain hut is a starting point for many ski touring routes of varying difficulty and length. The most fascinating peaks in the valley rise above 3,000 meters (Terra Nera, Gran Roc, Punta Ramiere).

With a short detour via the Colle Chabaud, it is possible to join the Haute Route des Escartons, which connects Saint-Véran in the Queyras with the Clarée Valley (Briançonnais).

In the direction of Colle Thuras lies the Andrea Tornior Bivouac, an excellent support point for longer tours or traverses linking to other valleys.

Snowshoeing: there are numerous snowshoe routes suitable for both beginners and experienced hikers (Punta Giassez – Cima Bosco – tour of the ancient hamlets).

An experience not to be missed is night snowshoe walks on full-moon evenings, enjoying the contemplation of the starry sky.

Downhill skiing: the ski lifts of the Via Lattea ski area are just 5 km from Thures.

SUMMER OR AUTUMN

Hiking: easy walks allow visitors to enjoy the Thuras Valley, its flowering meadows, alpine pastures and peaks (Cima Bosco, Punta Giassez, Col Thuras…). It is also possible to reach the French mountain huts of Les Fonds and Abriès, as well as the Italian huts Alpe Plane and Capanna Mautino, by linking up with the neighboring valleys.

Over four stages, hikers can complete the Ramiere Tour (3,303 m) between Italy and France.
(Trail reference maps: see IGC Map no. 105 or Fraternali no. 2)

Mountain biking: the old military roads and mule tracks are excellent routes for mountain bike enthusiasts. More experienced cyclists can connect from the Thuras Valley to the long-distance route leading from Geneva or Vienna all the way to Ventimiglia.

Climbing: in addition to the routes on Monte Fourgon, there are two other climbing areas in the valley, or it is possible to reach by car the many climbing routes located between the Susa Valley and the Briançonnais.

Contacts

La Fontana del Thures Mountain Hut
via degli Alpini Thures – Cesana Torinese 10054 TO

Phone: 0039 3397084093
mail fontanadelthures@gmail.com
www.rifugiothures.org

The paved road leads directly to the mountain hut and is open all year round.
In winter, snow chains or winter tyres are required.

For those arriving from Turin by motorway, take the Oulx exit; then follow the main road towards Cesana Torinese and continue on to Bousson. Near the barracks, turn onto the road leading to the hamlet of Thures.

For those arriving from Montgenèvre, follow the main road towards Cesana.