"Anar en Prouvenso a far lou pastre" and "far la Routo" are two Occitan expressions that testify to the centuries-old movement of people and animals between France and Italy. Beginning in the 15th century, large landowners in southern France moved in search of new pastures, herding between 50,000 and 60,000 sheep from the Crau and Camargue to the Piedmont mountains.
Precisely on the basis of this profound historical relationship, the Unione Montana Valle Stura has been working for years to enhance the link between the Stura Valley – and the surrounding area – and the La Crau plain, located behind the city of Arles, in Provence.
In 2023, a hiking trail was developed that retraces the ancient transhumance routes and connects Arles to Borgo San Dalmazzo, for a total of over 500 km.
Much of the route runs on the French side, where it is marked as GR69 La Routo: from the arid La Crau plain, it crosses the fertile Valensole plateau and the foothills of the Alpilles, reaching the Italian border at the Col de la Maddalena, at an altitude of 2,000 meters. From here, the route continues on the Italian side, through varied scenery and spectacular Alpine panoramas.
In 2026, the route was further extended, reaching the city of Cuneo, a testament to the strong bond that the capital has maintained and continues to maintain with the surrounding valleys.
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