The 5 best hiking routes on paths of the Great War in the mountains of Brescia Lombardy
They wind through the Camonica Valley, the Sand Valley and the Trompia Valley, in the prealps of Brescia, 5 suggestive itineraries on the paths of the Great War that lead to the discovery of the history of past battles immersing itself in magnificent natural landscapes
Index of Article
5 Great War trails in Lombardy
1. Tour of Monte Aviolo
In Valle Camonica, the Giro del Monte Aviolo is one of the most popular paths of the Great War: you can start from the refuge to the waterfall and move, on a comfortable forest road, towards Roccolo Pornina.
Shortly before the huts, on the right, the old track of the military road leads to two interesting artifacts of the Great War: a duster, basement and under good conditions, and a barracks, also in good condition.
Also in Valle Camonica, between Col Blumone and Laione, there are countless military stations of the period 15-18.
To devote a day to history, you can continue to the Passo della Monoccola, almost continuously walking on old mule tracks, passing through old buildings dating back to the beginning of the last century.
From Santa Apollonia, a pleasant and long walk through the woods of larch trees and rhododendrons in the wake of ancient mule tracks, allows you to overlook the Bocchette di Val Massa, a unique fortification of its kind, which definitely deserves a stop. Other variations start from Villa d’Allegno and Canè di Vione.
Towards the Adamé valley, the refuge of Lissone is the privileged starting point for the ascent of the Corno Grevo.
The ferrata to the Forcel Rosso Pass offers an excellent view of well-preserved locations dating back to the First World War.
Near Passo di Campo, at 2296 meters above sea level, on the road to Passo Dernal, just over an hour from Rifugio Maria and Franco, there are other fortifications dating back to the Great War.
2. Alta Via dei Forti in Valle Sabbia
Trenches, caves dug into the rock, artillery stations, ammunition deposits: are just some of the suggestions proposed by the Alta Via dei Forti in Valle Sabbia. A hiking itinerary inaugurated in 2016 around Lake Idro that touches the main sites of the Giudicarie, such as the fort of Valledrane, the fort of Cima Ora, the museum of Capovalle and a series of fortifications, guards and weapons deposits.
A note also deserves the Scuro Lake Pass, where one of the highest military villages in the Alps, used all year round.
3. White War Museum of Temù
You cannot leave this ideal path on the paths of the Great War without visiting the Museum of the White War of Temù, outpost of military heritage and history of valorization of the world war in Lombardy.
The new exhibition center is dedicated to the White War, that is to the war fought on the front of high altitude between the Passo dello Stelvio and Lake Garda, located largely above 2,000 m, with vast expanses over 3,000 m and peaks over 3,500 m.
A collection of more than 1,700 artifacts, found mainly in the area, help the visitor understand the hard life of soldiers in trenches under extreme conditions, survival in the harsh climate of the alpine winter, transport systems and equipment to fight on the mountains.
4. Path of the Great War in Val Trompia
The Trompia Valley offers a thematic contribution to the Path of the Great War.
At an altitude of 1684 metres, the Maniva is a pass that represents the natural border between Bagolino and Collio, for which several defensive lines were built.
In view of World War I, the importance of a strategic point of view greatly increased and military works such as roads, fortifications, cable cars, stations and barracks were built.
The remains of trenches, walks and bunkers still visible and visitable today.
Two main paths on the paths of the Great War from the Maniva: the first for Cima Dosso Alto; the second for Dasdana, the Colombine and return from Casermone.
5. Trekking of the Great War
Also on the Maniva, following the CAI paths and the old military roads, the Trekking of the Great War allows you to cross what was the third front.
It is a matter of retracing what, during the First World War, was part of the road network of the third defensive line of the Italian army, opposed to the Austro-Hungarian one, along a path punctuated with interesting road works, ammunition deposits in the cave trenches that housed places of observation of the artillery.
