Where enjoyment is a given

The supposedly best hazelnut in the world is just as much at home here as the white truffle, one of the most expensive ingredients of international haute cuisine. From a purely external point of view, the somewhat shriveled tuber, which is found in the soil of the Piedmont between October and January by fine noses (usually specially trained dogs or pigs), is not very impressive. In terms of taste, however, the "Tuber" mushrooms are able to enchant connoisseurs from all over the world. The annual truffle harvest in autumn also marks the beginning of the high tourist season in the northwestern Italian region. Yet the area has much to offer all year round - and in culinary terms, too, the truffle is not the only thing it can present.

Culture and nature

Even the name of the region, "Piemonte", derived from the Latin "ad pedem montium", reveals what the landscape impresses with: Its beautiful views of mountains and lush green vineyards that dominate the panorama. Famous hiking trails, such as the 55-day long-distance hiking trail Grande Traversata delle Alpi, attract active vacationers. The winter sports resorts of Sestriere, Limone Piemonte and Bardonecchia are bustling with skiers, while in summer bathers crowd the shores of Lake Orta or Lake Maggiore. Those interested in history are spoiled for choice: many sights, such as the residences of the royal house of Savoy, baroque representative buildings and the Cathedral of Turin are part of the Unesco World Heritage, but the area is also rich in historical sites.

But the real hype here are the vineyards, because this is where first-class Nebbiolo grapes grow, which later shine deep red in the wine glass as Barolo, Barbaresco and Roero. White wine fans swear by Arneis and Cortese di Gavi. About three million hectoliters are pressed annually by winegrowers in the area around Ivrea, in the provinces of Vercelli and Novara, in Monferrato and in the Langhe as a whole. The latter are world-famous for another product: the Tonda Gentile delle Langhe, the variety of hazelnut considered by gourmets to be the best in the world for its fine taste.

Specialties from nature

With only twelve individually designed rooms, the "Nordelaia" in Cremolino is one of the smallest hotels in Piedmont, but it is located on five hectares of land and can look back on a long history. After three years of renovation work on an 800-year-old farmhouse, the hotel has opened its doors, celebrating tradition without losing sight of the present and the future, a fact that is also reflected in the restaurant's menu.

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