Rifugio Balma

Rifugio Balma (also known as Rifugio della Balma) is a mountain hut (rifugio) in the Cottian Alps of the Piedmont region of northern Italy, within the Metropolitan City of Turin. It stands at an elevation of 1,986 metres above sea level inside the Parco Naturale Orsiera Rocciavrè, above the Sangone Valley, in the municipality of Coazze. The hut is operated by the Coazze Section of the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI), Italy's national alpine club, and is run by volunteers of that section. The building originated as the restoration of an old alpine pasture (alpeggio). According to the official website, it was refurbished by volunteers of the CAI Coazze Section between 1977 and 1985, the year of its inauguration; the German-language Wikipedia entry states that the rifugio was built in 1977 by the CAI Coazze Section and renovated in 2000. It is surrounded by green pastures and serves as a transit point for hikers ascending Monte Robinet, Monte Rocciavrè, or walking the Giro dell'Orsiera circuit. As a mountain hut, Rifugio Balma offers typical refuge services — shelter, food and drink, and information for hikers — and follows a seasonal opening calendar. Per the official website, it is open on weekends during June, September, and mid-October, and every day during July and August. Its identity is closely tied to the Orsiera Rocciavrè Natural Park and to the volunteer culture of the CAI, which manages many such huts across the Italian Alps.

Rifugio Balma is a mountain hut in the Cottian Alps of the Piedmont region in northern Italy, located in the Metropolitan City of Turin. It stands at 1,986 metres above sea level within the Parco Naturale Orsiera Rocciavrè, above the Sangone Valley, in the municipality of Coazze. The hut is affiliated with the Coazze Section of the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI), the national alpine association of Italy. The building's origins lie in an old alpine pasture (alpeggio). According to the official website of the rifugio, the structure was restored by volunteers of the CAI Coazze Section between 1977 and 1985, with 1985 being the year of its inauguration. The German-language Wikipedia entry describes the hut as having been built in 1977 by the CAI Coazze Section and renovated in 2000. These accounts agree that the modern rifugio took shape in the late 1970s through volunteer effort and that it has since been maintained and updated. Situated in green pastures and surrounded by the protected landscape of the Orsiera Rocciavrè Natural Park, the hut functions as a transit point for hikers. It is a base for ascents of Monte Robinet and Monte Rocciavrè, and it lies along the Giro dell'Orsiera, a well-known circuit in the park. The official website invites visitors to discover the "Vallone della Balma" and provides sections on the structure and its services, the management by CAI volunteers, the park and nature, and how to reach the hut. As with many CAI huts, Rifugio Balma is run by volunteers and operates on a seasonal schedule. The official website states that it is open on weekends during June, September, and mid-October, and every day during July and August. Its role is both practical — shelter and refreshment for hikers — and cultural, as part of the Italian alpine club tradition of maintaining mountain refuges for public use.

• 2000

  Renovation of the rifugio (per German Wikipedia).

• 1985

  Inauguration of Rifugio Balma after volunteer restoration (per official website).

• 1977

  Construction/restoration of the hut by the CAI Coazze Section begins.

A volunteer-managed CAI mountain hut in the Orsiera Rocciavrè Natural Park, serving hikers and nature visitors in the Sangone Valley.

• Mountain hut accommodation

• Food and drink service

• Hiking information and trail access

1. 1Rifugio della Balma Val Sangone – Cai sezione di Coazzerifugiobalma.it
2. 2Rifugio Balma – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Rifugio Balma – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org