About Sauze d’Oulx

Sauze d’Oulx, at an altitude of 1,509 metres, is not only a renowned winter resort but also the perfect place for those who want to be in direct contact with nature and enjoy the regenerating peace and quiet of breathtaking views.

Nicknamed the “Balcony of the Alps” for its splendid position overlooking the Upper Susa Valley, it’s one of the largest resorts in the Vialattea ski area and boasts two perfectly preserved ancient nuclei, Sauze d’Oulx and Jouvenceaux, testimony to a past rich in history, art and culture.estimonyto

ST GIOVANNI BATTISTA PARISH CHURCH

Built around 1532, also with the contribution and work of the citizens, it was consecrated in 1538. The building was seriously damaged as a result of
disagreements and repeated raids by Waldensian religious movements. The high altar, built by a craftsman from Thures at the beginning of the 18th
century, was later repainted by a master gilder from Pragelato using no less than six thousand sheets of gold: it features a panel of carved wooden columns framing the image of the baptism of Christ; on the baptismal font (1540), in green marble from Foresto, is carved the coat of arms of the Dauphins of France; the wrought iron lock (1534) on the side door is of exquisite workmanship. The bell tower, in pseudo-Romanesque style, has a square plan and is divided into five storeys: a high central spire with an octagonal section, embellished with four small triangular spires, rises above it.

THE HAMLET JOUVENCEAUX AND THE ST ANTONIO ABATE CHAPEL

Jouvenceaux is the enchanting hamlet of Sauze d’Oulx, consisting mostly of recently renovated mountain-style chalets. It is a place where you can find traces of the past, such as the old bakery or the St Antonio Abate Chapel, known since 1498, that preserves frescoes dating from the late 15th
and early 16th centuries, attributed to the workshop of Pinerolo painters Bartolomeo and Sebastiano Serra. The exterior frescoes feature a majestic Last Judgement on the façade, set according to medieval canons, while the side wall facing north features depictions of the Annunciation, St Michele, St Antonio, St Cristoforo and two small scenes dedicated to Good and Bad Communion and Confession. The recently restored interior houses scenes from the life of St Antonio, a suggestive crucifixion and a depiction of St Biagio. The large T of “TAU”, which the friars wore around their necks, appears in the shelters and churches where they worked and was also above the main door of the St Antonio Chapel.

THE FOUNTAINS

Fountains are a distinctive feature of Sauze d’Oulx and are considered one of the village’s main attractions, not only for their beauty but also for their history and importance to the local community. Built centuries ago, they have been a vital source of water for the villagers throughout the year. Many of them have been restored, maintaining their original appearance while ensuring efficient operation. The oldest was erected in the 16th century and, like most fountains in the upper valley, is octagonal in shape. Today it is located in the churchyard of the St Giovanni Battista Church, but it was originally in the small square next to the old communal bakery and the Chapel of St Rocco and St Giuseppe: it was transported to its current location entirely by hand by the people. In 2006 a smaller, hexagonal-shaped fountain was built in the same place as the old one. The two fountains in the beautiful historic centre of Jouvenceaux complete this important cultural heritage. The first is located from the Napoleonic time at the northern entrance to the hamlet: characterised by the rounded shape of the stones, it bears the mitered coat of arms of the Abbots of the St Lorenzo Provostry in Oulx. The second, on the other hand, built near the chapel, has three carved stones: one with the shield of France, one bears the date 1555 and one is decorated with a lily flower and a dolphin.

THE TOWER

L’ex colonia montana estiva Fiat “La Torre”, costruita nel 1937 su progetto dell’architetto Vittorio Bonadè Bottino per volontà di Giovanni Agnelli, è gemella della Colonia Marina Edoardo Agnelli di Marina di Massa ed è oggi uno dei simboli di Sauze d’Oulx. L’edificio è stato concepito come un’unica, interminabile camerata con sviluppo elicoidale e, grazie alla sua copertura in vetro, è perfettamente illuminato da luce naturale per gran
parte della giornata, quindi adatta in quegli anni a ospitare ogni estate circa 750 bambini insieme a 60 operatori. Il complesso venne utilizzato fino agli anni ‘80 del Novecento come Colonia Climatica Montana e, dopo un ventennio di passaggi di proprietà, alla fine del 2022 è stato acquisito da un gruppo di privati che l’ha trasformata nel prestigioso hotel “La Torre”. Una curiosità: il parco custodisce una sequoia “Velintonia”.

CHALET MOLLINO

Designed and built at Lake Nero between 1946 and 1947 by the famous architect Carlo Mollino (1905-1973), at an altitude of 2,286m, the building housed the arrival station of the sledge lift. Born as a ski hut, until the mid-1960s it brought millions of skiers under the Triplex mountain at an
altitude of 2,300m. Since its appearance, it was the object of attention from authoritative architecture magazines: due to its innovative, structural and dynamic characteristics, this original “designer chalet” is considered one of the most important works of modern architecture in our country. Left in a state of serious neglect for a long time, it has now finally come back to life thanks to the commitment of the Sauze d’Oulx municipality: its spectacular terrace it has once again become a point of reference and refreshment on the slopes for skiers.

CAPANNA KIND AND THE BIRTH OF SKIING

CAPANNA KIND (2,137m), was opened on 22 December 1912.In those years, ski enthusiasts came up with the idea, innovative for the time, of building a hut solely for skiers, the first in Italia and built according to special criteria. The Clot Sabouiller location was chosen, that already hosted the first real ski course in 1906 and that years later became the famous Sportinia. This first ski hut was dedicated to the memory of Adolfo Kind, a skiing pioneer and one of the founders, in 1901, of the Ski Club Torino. The Great War interrupted the affluence, which resumed with renewed vigour in 1919, also by members of the Ski Club Torino, so much so that in 1920, thanks to a bequest of 9,000 lire, it was enlarged. Capanna Kind underwent various renovations over time: the current building with two floors plus attic, by architects Cappa Bava and Panizza, was inaugurated on 16 November 1958 and with its architectural lines still stands out on the Sportinia plateau.

THE ALPINI LIGHTHOUSE

The Alpini Lighthouse is located on Mount Genevris (2,535m), in 1944 the theatre of war between partisans and Nazi-Fascists: it was donated by the Italian Navy and placed here at the behest of the ANA group of Sauze d’Oulx, in memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the Homeland. Again by the will of the Alpini, a small stylised chapel stands nearby. Situated adjacent to the “Assietta Road”, the Lighthouse can be reached on foot or by bike and can also be approached by motorbikes and off-road cars. Recently renovated and once again illuminated thanks to the ANA group and the CAI subsection of Sauze d’Oulx, it is the destination of many walkers who, along the historical path no. 8 from Richardette or passing by Lake Laune, can reach the summit to admire a fantastic 360° panorama with the help of an orientation board.