THE TRAIN OF WONDERS
It is not easy to find a railway line that unites in itself lots of stimuli that render such emotions.
The Cuneo-Ventimiglia-Nice line lives the history: an event that started back in 1851 when the Savoy Government decided to connect, in a pleasant way, Piedmont with the Ligurian littoral and the rich Provence.
With mixed fortunes, the railway was completed in 1928. Then was damaged and in part destroyed by the second world war and out of use for many years.
The rebuilding was completed only in 1979 and the line reopened.
The Cuneo-Ventimiglia-Nice line is an engineering success. It is considered, by the way, one of the most daring railways of Europe. It is 96 km long, has 81 tunnels and works of art of remarkable importance. The journey follows a 26% gradient to arrive to a maximum height of 1040 m above sea level in the “Col de Tende” tunnel.
The Cuneo-Ventimiglia-Nice line is, by vocation, a tourist line: the line connects the prairies of Cuneo to the Maritime Alps, the Ligurian beaches and the French Riviera. What a great opportunity to savour various beauties that those sites offer. The ancient towns of Cuneo, Ventimiglia and Nice; small hamlets of uncontaminated atmosphere and ancient flavours, curious stories, art and architecture treasures; the alpine scenery embellished by the Natural Reserve of the Woods of Palanfré and the “Vallée des Merveilles”, crossed by numerous paths that allow one to follow them by foot, by climbing, by mountain-bike and by horse and to make excursions both by foot and by train.
What a great opportunity to savour all seasons: when the Vermenagna Valley is the paradise of winter sports, the Roya Valley relives the warmth of spring and the cities and villages of the coast enjoy an incomparable peace. What a great opportunity to savour the alpine valley, to discover the flavours of Provence and to appreciate the deliciousness of the sea. An occasion not to be missed.
The Cuneo-Ventimiglia-Nice line is a paradise for train lovers. To appreciate it more one must visit the Railway Museum of Cuneo, which documents the history of this railway.
