Holiday homes in the Western Italian Alps The best route for your investment...

Holiday homes in the Western Italian Alps The best route for your investment...

Oulx - Piedmont

Click here to see a google map of the area.

In the heart of the Western Alps, Oulx - pronounced ulks - has much to offer with its breath-taking views and refreshing climate as well as its ideal location. Less than an hour from Turin, you can readily avail yourself of all the benefits such a city has to offer, yet access to the Milky Way ski region is right on your doorstep.

Getting to Oulx is easy. You can drive, fly or take the train. For directions by road click here.Torino Casselle airport can be reached from a number of UK airports. British Airways fly from Gatwick, Easjyet from Luton and Ryanair from Stansted. Once landed, Oulx is only an hour away by road with a simple journey straight up the motorway (autostrade) towards the Frejus tunnel. Alternatively you can take the shuttle bus to Turin and the train from there, which takes a little longer but costs much less. You can also fly into one of the Milan airports. Transfer time from Milan Malpensa is around three hours.

As for rail travel, Oulx is a major stop on the Paris-Milan high speed rail link and a return trip to Turin costs no more than 10 euros.

Though yet to be discovered by British property buyers, Oulx and its surrounding area has proved a popular get-away resort for Italians both during the winter and summer months. . Boasting 300 days of sunshine a year and with lower summer temperatures because of the 1100m altitude, Oulx offers the ideal climate for all kinds of sporting and relaxing outdoor activities.

During winter, Oulx plays host to many visitors who come to enjoy all that the Milky Way has to offer. The Milky Way is a vast ski area made up of five ski resorts, four of which are located in Italy and one in France. The highest resort is Sestriere which is accessible via road or bubble lift and hosted many of the events in the 2006 Winter Olympics. The closest resort is Sauze d’Oulx, less than 15 minutes drive from Oulx. The Milky Way is open from December to April for winter sports and much of it opens again in July and August for mountain biking.

Due to the large amounts of British tourists who come here to ski and snowboard each winter, it is not uncommon to find people who speak English especially amongst the younger generation. The Italian ski resorts also provide an excellent and attractive alternative to the more costly French resorts located just over the border. During the 2008/2009 winter season, in particular, as the global financial crisis began to bite hard and the pound lost out to the euro, the cheaper food, accommodation and lift passes offered by the Italian resorts proved both popular and good value when compared with the soaring costs of ski holidays in France and Austria.

Typically Italian, there is no shortage of cafes to relax in with a coffee or restaurants to dine in with the family. There are places to eat out no matter what your budget or the season and staff are always happy to accommodate you. During the summer, most cafes offer a great selection of delicious home-made ice cream.

For the essentials, the Le Baite shopping centre houses several shops including a supermarket where you can find everything you are likely to want. However, shopping in the local bakers, butchers and convenience stores is also to be highly recommended. Not only does it enable you to sample the real Oulx but you will also be playing your part in supporting the local economy.

Oulx has several clothes shops which cater for a wide range of age groups and offer variety in style and price.

Activites around Oulx

Turin - For less than 10 euros you can buy a return ticket for Turin and enjoy the many sites and attractions it has to offer. Turin is home to many museums including the world’s largest Egyptian museum outside of Cairo, an automobile museum and the iconic Mole Tower which can be seen for miles around. Click here for tourist information for Turin.

Walking - The Alps are widely known for their network of footpaths that lead through the valleys and over passes and the Valle di Susa is no exception. Close to Oulx, you can wander the trails in the Gran Bosco and spot many different types of plants and wildlife whilst taking in the magnificent alpine views. For more information about the Gran bosco click here.

Ski - Sestriere, Bardonneccia and Sauze D'Oulx are just a few of the great ski resorts close to Oulx offering a range of winter sports activities, in addition to the other resorts that make up the Milky Way. Although Bardonnechia is not itself part of the Milky Way, it is the oldest ski resort in Italy and the town has a wonderfully authentic feel to it. . Sauze, though famed for its night life also has a very picturesque old town which frequently goes unnoticed by many skiers and other holidaymakers. All these resorts are easily accessed by car and Sauze, in particular, is notable for being the most commutable ski resort in the Alps because of its excellent road, rail and air links.

Cycling - In May 2009, the Giro D'Italia, featuring Lance Armstrong, came through Oulx and the Valle di Susa highlighting the exciting and challenging environment the Western Alps has to offer cyclists of all abilities. For the keen road cyclist, the roads are perfect and you can find yourself within kilometres of some of the first category climbs used in the mountain stages of the Tour de France. The local tourist office can provide suggested routes for cyclists which take account of different fitness levels and local motorists are considerate and allow plenty of time when overtaking cyclists.

Mountain bikes can be hired from the ski resorts and some ski lifts open during July and August to accommodate daring downhill riders. The Milky Way provides great cross country routes for keen mountain bikers and there are also trails for more leisurely riders.

Canoeing - The river that runs through Oulx provides a great current for eager canoeists. Courses are available to those who wish to learn canoeing and guides can also be hired to lead groups. Click here for more information.

Forts and Museums - The Piedmont region where Oulx is located, is one of great historical significance and the fortresses and castles found deep in the valleys and high on the mountains are testament to this. Here are some which are well worth a visit:The Piedmont region, home to Oulx, has played a great part in history and the fortresses and castles found deep in the valleys and high on the mountains only go to prove that. See the list below of some of the forts and castles open to the public:

• Fennestrelle Fortress
• Exilles Fortress
• Saint Michael's Abbey
• The Castle of Rivoli

Whatever your age or interests, the Western Alps have much to offer. However, the only sure way to appreciate the true diversity and beauty of this whole area is to come to Oulx and experience it for yourself...

Useful links:

About the area:
- Piedmont Tourism
- Wine of Piedmont
- Sauze D'Oulx

skiing:
- Via Lattea

Getting here:
- Ryanair
- Easyjet
- British Airways

literature:
- Live & Work in Italy
- Italian with Michael Thomas

Immobiliare Cols des Alpes s.r.l. Oulx (To) – c.so Montenero 5
Tel 0122/831176 – Fax 0122/600282 - info@colsdesalpes.it - © 2010 - All Rights Reserved

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