Pressevin - Mattu

A beautiful route that allows you to explore the lower section of the San Grato valley.
Charming mule tracks, lined with stone and wooden buildings, accompany you for much of the walk. Many of these traditional constructions feature fascinating details such as carved windows, wooden balconies, and finely crafted doors.
For those wishing to shorten the itinerary, it is possible to drive up the first section and leave the car at the chapel known as La Grotta, reducing the overall walking time by about an hour.
Once back at the car, a visit to the church of Issime is highly recommended.

From the Pont-Saint-Martin motorway exit, turn right towards Turin. At the second roundabout, turn left following the signs for Gressoney.
The road climbs a few hundred metres before you turn right onto the Lys Valley road, which winds its way through the villages of Lillianes and Fontainemore.
Continue along the valley until you enter the village of Issime, where, on the right-hand side, you will see the church and the nearby car park.

From the car park, walk across the square in the direction of the Town Hall, cross the main road, and take the small lane between the houses.
Turn left and begin to climb along the slope, enjoying a fine elevated view of the church.
The route passes a small roadside chapel before continuing on a beautiful mule track, which crosses the asphalt road several times, eventually reaching the chapel of the Grotta.
Cross the road once again to join the mule track on the left. This well-preserved path, sometimes intersecting and sometimes following the road, climbs steadily to reach the junction at 1,230 metres, where you turn right.
From here, a delightful mule track leads past the fine Walser buildings of Tschuckjini and Benecoadi. Just beyond, a short detour to the left brings you to the chapel of Santa Margherita.
Returning to the main path, climb a little further until a left-hand bend reveals the way up to Pressevin.
Follow the charming mule track through terraced woodland until the pastures open up, scattered with the buildings of Pressevin. After the second building, climb leftwards to reach those higher up, where a long traverse begins in the direction of San Grato.
Take care not to continue straight on here: instead, turn right onto the steep trail that climbs into the upper section. Traverse left to reach the large building overlooking San Grato, then continue on level ground to a distinctive stone avalanche barrier protecting the farmstead, and finally to the alpine pastures of Mattu — the high point of the route.
Traverse across to the houses of Méttelti, where you meet the path coming down from Invanh towards the chapel of San Grato. At this junction, note the traditional bread oven and the spring. From Mattu, there is also a livestock trail descending directly to San Grato.
After a well-deserved pause, begin the descent: the path drops steeply across the pastures, passing several beautiful rural buildings before reaching the farm road. Cross it and continue downhill to the hamlet of Hubal.
Here begins a much steeper stretch, but along a wonderful mule track that leads down to the asphalt road near the Grotta. From this point, simply retrace your steps from the morning to return to your car.