Ferrata Ciardelli

Overview

The Ferrata Ciardelli, carved into the rocky face of the Bourcet in Val Chisone, is an athletic and emotionally intense route defined by continuous, pronounced exposure. The itinerary unfolds through a succession of vertical sections, a suspension bridge, traversing passages, and culminates in an imposing final bastion, delivering a demanding yet rewarding experience for those with a solid level of fitness. Built in memory of Captain Nicola Ciardelli, who fell in Nassiriya in 2004, it was inaugurated in 2009.

Approach

Access begins from the hamlet of Roreto, in the municipality of Roure (Turin). After parking in the square, follow the provincial road northeast for about 250 meters. Here, turn left into an alley that leads toward Bourcet. Cross a bridge and, upon reaching a wooden fountain, take the well-marked approach trail that winds along the base of the local cliffs. In about 30 minutes from the car park, you'll reach the start sign for the Ferrata Ciardelli.

Via Ferrata

The route opens with an immediate, steep vertical wall equipped with cables, setting the athletic tone of the climb right from the start. The safety gear is present but not dense, requiring calculated, self-reliant progression. At the top, a horizontal traverse to the right leads to the start of a Tibetan bridge about 25 meters long. This crossing, suspended on three ropes, is highly exposed and prone to swinging. Once across the bridge, you tackle a short but demanding vertical wall without stirrups, which grants access to a distinctive rocky cavity. This concludes the first section-a sequence of beautiful, exposed passages, at times slightly overhanging.

The route continues by crossing a short wooded area to reach a ledge. Ahead rises the final and most imposing obstacle: a vertical bastion of about 150 meters, the hardest part of the entire via ferrata. Progressing up this slab, equipped with stirrups, primarily requires arm strength and an absolute absence of vertigo, as the exposure steadily increases. While not technically extreme, this section is physically very demanding. After the bastion, a final connection leads to the summit. The climbing time for the via ferrata is about 2 hours from the start, for a total of 2 hours and 20 minutes from the departure point.

Descent

From the summit, two options are available for the return. You can follow the trail marked with blue blazes, which is quite slippery and in some spots loose, requiring maximum caution. The alternative is the trail marked in red (to the left), a more manageable dirt road that leads back to the valley floor. The descent takes about 45 minutes from the end of the via ferrata, bringing the total duration of the excursion to about 3 hours and 15 minutes.

Useful Notes

The Ferrata Ciardelli is an athletic route that should not be underestimated. The support equipment is less dense than in other Piedmontese via ferratas, and the distances between anchors can challenge shorter climbers. During the traverse and especially on the final bastion, be mindful of potential falling debris from above. The Tibetan bridge has a particular configuration: the cable for clipping in your lanyard is positioned on the outside, which, in the event of a fall, would make it difficult to get back onto the structure. Nearby, about a 20-minute drive away, you'll find the Ferrata Pra Catinat, while heading up Val Chisone you can reach other via ferratas in Claviere.