Bartolomeo Gastaldi Mountain Hut

Access

Introduction

Description

The first Gastaldi mountain hut was built by the Turin Section of the Italian Alpine Club (CAI) when mountaineering was taking its first steps in the mountains closest to the regional capital, namely in the Lanzo Valleys. It is dedicated to the former president of the Turin Section of the CAI, the geologist Bartolomeo Gastaldi.
 The first building, erected in the hamlet of Crot del Ciaussiné – named after an old lime quarry – dates back to 1880 and consisted of a single room at the time. Over the following twenty years, it was extended several times; nevertheless, the small Rifugio Gastaldi proved insufficient to cope with the growing number of mountaineers visiting the area. The Turin Section of the Alpine Club therefore decided to build a new refuge-hotel, which was erected just a few metres away from the old refuge.
 The new refuge was officially inaugurated on 2 September 1904, on the occasion of the 35th Congress of Italian Mountaineers organised by the Turin Section and held in the Val d’Ala. The event was attended by 160 mountaineers from all regions of Italy and forty-five guides, half of whom were from the valley and half summoned from Courmayeur. The facilities offered by the refuge in those years were those of a true luxury hotel with every comfort, including running hot water, radiators and champagne.
 Unfortunately, after just four years, the new hotel-refuge was destroyed by a fire caused by the carelessness of some guests. Rebuilt exactly as before, it was reopened two years later and extended in 1930.
 During the Resistance, it served as a base for the partisans and, during the clashes with Nazi forces in October 1944, it was set alight and destroyed. Thus, although severely damaged, the now dilapidated old refuge resumed its irreplaceable role, managed by the legendary guide Giuseppe Ferro Famil, known as ‘Vulpòt’. This period lasted until 26 July 1970, the day of the inauguration of the rebuilt New Refuge, which, thanks to numerous technological innovations, continues its history to this day.
 In 1983, part of the Old Refuge was transformed into a permanent exhibition, linked to the National Mountain Museum in Turin and dedicated to the history of Piedmontese mountaineering, which spans over a century.

(information taken from the refuge’s website)

Access

•  from Pian della Mussa (2h30')

Routes from the refuge

•  Col d’Arnas
•  Refuge de l’Evette
•  Upper Chalanson Pass
•  Cibrario Refuge
•  Colle Altare
•  Punta Maria
•  Punta d'Arnas
•  Punta Adami
•  Albaron di Savoia
•  Punta Chalanson
•  Uja di Ciamarella
•  Piccola Ciamarella

Information

Altitude: 2,659 m

Location: Cròt del Ciaussiné cirque

Ownership: CAI Turin branch

Manager: Roberto Chiosso

Sleeping capacity: 109

Winter lounge capacity: 10

Lighting: electric

Wi-Fi: available

Device charging: not available

Water: in the refuge

Refuge guest book: available

 Contact details

Opening period: from April to mid-September

Telephone: +39 (0)123-50.50.08

Mobile: +39 348-711.91.54

Website: : www.rifugiogastaldi.com

email: info@rifugiogastaldi.com