Langhe Piedmont: 3 beautiful towns to visit

Langhe Piemonte: Join SlowDays and visit three beautiful towns

Hello, all SlowDays friends, and welcome back to explore our beloved Langhe Piedmont! If you are here, it is because you want to learn more about the most exciting towns in the Langhe. With the arrival of spring or fall, we tend to spend a few days away from home, short vacations, and every weekend is an opportunity to go and discover new destinations and attractions. I want to start with a general introduction to what Langhe Piemonte means.

Where is the Langhe located?

The Langhe is in Piedmont—between the provinces of Cuneo and Asti. The Langhe can be easily reached from Milan to the east and Genoa to the south. They are about 180km away from both cities. Turin is much closer, about 60km. 

What is the Langhe?

The Langhe is a territory divisible into low-altitude Langhe villages, high-altitude Langhe villages (Alta Langa), and Langhe Astigiane.

Since 2014, the Langhe have been officially included, along with Roero and Monferrato, in the list of World Heritage Sites. The name of these beautiful hills comes from the Piedmontese dialect, where “langhe” means language and refers to the curved shapes of the land. The Langhe is rich in history, art, and culture; famous are the wines such as Barolo, Barbaresco, Dolcetto, and Barbera d’Alba, but also in the gastronomic sector, there are delicacies more unique than rare, such as the White Truffle of Alba, the famous Tonda Gentile hazelnut and the Robiole di Roccaverano and Murazzano.

The Langhe or La Langa, as the Piedmontese say, why are they so famous?

I borrowed Cesare Pavese, who told a lot about this area in his books. If you have read anything by this author, you know that Pavese describes it as a fairy tale land. The simple world, with the rhythms cadenced by peasant nature. It is a gentle landscape with hills, woods, and beautiful vineyards. Although many years have passed, there is still a sweetness, a softness of heart that makes any activity sweet. The green reassures, and you can see a lot of green in the hills. In the Langhe, sometimes you have the impression that time has stopped. In some villages, you still find the main square with the elders gathered—the market with farmers offering their produce. Many small wineries are still family-run, making you appreciate the world of the vineyard and the grape harvest.

Langhe itineraries: we begin in the Bassa Langa – Alba

When talking about Piedmont’s Langhe, one cannot help but think of the town of Alba, the “capital” of the area. In the past, Alba was known as the city of a hundred towers built between the 14th and 15th centuries. To this day, very few remain and are preserved between Piazza Risorgimento and Via Cavour. The latter is one of the historic center’s main streets, a street with a typical medieval appearance.

There are numerous religious architectures to visit, the main one being the Duomo or Church of San Domenico, so famous to the point of being the site of exhibitions and concerts throughout the year. The “capital” of the Langhe has also been a point of reference for many important historical figures such as Beppe Fenoglio and Giordano Berti, authors of fiction who dedicated several works to the town.

Alba and the White Truffle

Alba is best known for the White Truffle, which brings out other typical dishes of Piedmontese culture: tajarin, agnolotti del pin, or raw meat carpaccio. An annual fair is also dedicated to the White Truffle of Alba, held since 1928 in October, now considered an event of international significance. Another significant event is Vinum, the festival dedicated to the wine of the Alba territory, in which there are as many as 290 wineries; Alba wines are divided into DOC ( Barbera, Dolcetto, and Nebbiolo) and DOCG ( Barbaresco, Moscato, and Barolo) and in the territory there are wineries with significant names indeed, such as Ceretto, Borgogno or Ettore Germano.

Industries and Alba

Speaking of Alba, it is essential to remember the big industries present in the city, such as Ferrero, Miroglio, and Mondo. In short, there are many reasons to indulge in a trip to Alba; it is an all-around rich, welcoming, and exciting city. Contact us, SlowDays will organize the tour you are dreaming of!

Follow this link for more insights on What to see in Alba Piemonte, the capital of the Langhe.

Alba Piedmont, Langhe capital

Piedmontese Langhe what to see in Alta Langa: Murazzano

We move to Alta Langa and, more precisely, to Murazzano. I want to tell you about this town because it is rich in points of interest and gastronomic specialties.

An imposing tower of medieval origins dominates the center of Murazzano, once included in a fortified castle, a good 33 meters high. Not far from the town center is the Langhe Safari Park, home to more than 50 species of animals, a total of about 350 specimens, housed in cozy and well-equipped spaces; the park is about 5 km long and can be traveled for a stretch on foot and another with one’s car ( a time where wolves, lions, and large herbivores can be admired). This is an excellent cue for families who want to combine a winery tour with a few hours dedicated to the kids. 😎

Typical of the town is the cheese of the same name: Murazzano DOP, recognized in 1996 at the European level; this is a classic toma or robiola cheese with an uncooked, soft, short-ripening texture. Murazzano PDO is made from sheep’s milk from the native breed of the Langhe, usually pure. It is a cheese that goes well with Dolcetto d’Alba and Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato. Murazzano is one of the leading centers for cultivating the famous Piedmontese hazelnut Tonda Gentile delle Langhe, a PGI variety known as Trilobata.

Why not use the warm weather to visit the historic center and stop at one of the local farms? Seeing the Langhe has never been easier; turn to the SlowDays team!

Langa Astigiana, the Langhe towards Monferrato: Canelli

The Langa Astigiana is that territory that reaches as far as the province of Asti, characterized chiefly by small medieval villages. Canelli is one of the symbolic towns of the Langa Astigiana, which has always been necessary because of its location. Today, it is the capital of sparkling wine produced by major wineries located around the Gancia Castle. In fact, 2014 Canelli and Asti Spumante were proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site, critical parts of the Piedmont Wine Landscape territory.

There are many religious architectures to visit, but the most significant element is the Castle or Palazzo Gancia, built in the 11th century to defend the roads leading to the ports of Savona.

Canelli is also famous for its underground cellars used for aging sparkling wine. These are true underground cathedrals extending beneath the city; millions of bottles are left to ferment at a constant temperature of 12-14° to take on the typical Canelli aromas and flavors. The most critical wineries are Contratto, Santero, Cantine Bosca, and Coppo Srl.

Want to know more? Here I leave you this article Monferrato to discover in three days.

COUNTRIES TO SEE in the PIEDMONT LANGHE.

Actually in this article we have made a short trip between 3 different towns and cities, but many other interesting stops await you.

You could embark on a real tour of the Langhe by car among small villages and castles and each day make a stop to visit a winery perhaps!

Read more about towns to visit in this article of ours about some must-see stops in the beautiful Langhe area

There are many more towns to visit and we will continue, article by article, to introduce you to them! SlowDays’ job is to organize relaxing tours tailored to each traveler: our specialty is precisely the Langhe. Please remember to keep following us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts in which we post weekly reviews, offers and news about our packages.

Thanks for reading, see you next time!

Want to read more about ALBA? Follow me on Alba city, not just Langhe

Or get information for exploring the Langhe by bike? Langhe by bike in two weeks

Or information about the Langhe Territory?  Langhe, Roero and Monferrato Guide: The Territory

Map of the Langhe

to understand where the Langhe Piedmont is