Renovated Walzer house 15 mins by car from Alagna

Our chalet is a renovated "Walzer" style barn. We are a Belgian family with 3 children and a dog and love this remote quiet place in the Valsesia valley. We enjoy hiking in the mountains or just walking in the valley or swimming in the river that passes by on the back of our house. We love skiing in the nearby "Monte Rosa" or "Alpe di Mera" Ski domains (15 or 10 minutes respectively by car) and enjoy cooking with local produce savoring local wines (Gattinara, Ghemme, Barbaresco, Barolo, ...) The space The overall house is divided in two distinct parts, each part owned by a different family. Both parts are completely separated with distinct entrances and are being rented out separately through Airbnb. Our part consists of the middle and upper floors, a sunny balcony and the upper and lower garden (left of the garden fence). You can access our part through the drive way on the left side of the garden fence. Take note that our garden is not fenced for dogs or little children. Our friendly Italian neighbor "Sergio" rents out the ground floor and lower garden (access through the drive way on the right side of the garden fence). The entrance to our house is on the back side of the house which you can reach by walking up on the drive way along side the rocks. There is a master bedroom on the upper floor with a king size double bed with ensuite bathroom and WC. On the lower floor, there is a bedroom with two individual beds and a mezzanine with a double bed. For little babies, there is a foldable baby bed in the cupboard in the main sleeping room on the higher floor. There is also a separate bathroom with WC on the lower floor. Cars can be parked on the large drive way on the left side of the garden fence. The kitchen is fully equipped with the exception of a microwave (which is not present). There is a large smart television connected with the WLAN for your favourite streaming (there are however no TV channels available). During winter, skiers can rent a ski box at the ski shop in Alagna at the start of the ski lift (Sport Haus, Frazione Bonda, 15, 13021 Alagna Valsesia VC). During the summer, you can practice all sports on the river such as canoeing, rafting, hydrospeed, canyoning as well as horseback riding in the riding stables of Riva valdobbia. Mountain bike trails are also very popular. In the region, you can visit the romantic Orta Lake (where you can rent a kayak or a SUP-board) and the charming little town Orta San Giulio, which is about 60 km away by car, or you can visit historical cities such as Novara (80 km), Milan (130 km), Turin (135 km) or the close by Varallo with its most famous Piedmontese pilgrimage site on the top of the mountain (you can take a cable lift starting at the town). The Malpensa airport is about 95 km from the house. Other things to note In the lower garden on the left side of the drive way, there is an open fire pit, where you can enjoy the beautiful stars at night around the fire. Note that when using the wood stove located in the living room in the house, you can best dispose of the ashes from the wood stove at this fire pit in the garden. Shopping tips: 1. Meat, bread, small groceries and limited fresh vegetables: there is an excellent butcher shop "Marcelleria Ottone Sergio" upstream in Campertogno (Corso Umberto I, 3, 13023 Campertogno, Vercelli). Very charming family shop selling excellent beef (try the T-bone steak or beef for carpaccio) and delicious home made sausages. You can also buy here your daily bread, dairy, cheese, pastas, a limited choice of fresh vegetables, wine and beer, water and non-food products (like toilet or kitchen tissue paper, coffee, tea, ...). We highly recommend you to also try the beer from the local brewer Z'Amsteg (we like the "Pale Ale" or the "Moonshine" very much). During the weekends, you can buy the beer directly from the brewery at a cheaper price than in the local shops (in upstream Mollia - Frazione Casacce, 13020 Mollia, Vercelli). 2. Local produce: You can buy local cheeses, pastas, jam, honey, biscuits and a broad selection of wines (from Piemonte and other regions) at the local shop "Caseificio Alta Valsesia" in Piode (Via Varallo, 5, 13020 Piode, Vercelli). 3. Supermarkets: Our favorite supermarkets are the Ipercoop downstream in Borgosesia at about 30 mins by car (Via Luigi Lenot, 37, 13011 Borgosesia, Vercelli) or the Carrefour at about 35 minutes (LOCALITA, Regione Torame, 1, 13011 Borgosesia, Vercelli). Both have a very broad choice of fresh vegetables and fish. There are also smaller supermarkets with fresh fruits and vegetables in Varallo (20 minutes drive by car), but these do not sell fresh fish. Restaurant tips: depending on the season, some restaurants are only open upon reservation. During school holidays, some of the below restaurants may be fully booked. We therefore recommend you to always book a table in advance. Booking on the same day is fine, booking a table in English is normally not an issue. For telephone numbers, please consult the website of the respective restaurants: 1. Pizza and pastas: our favourite simple Italian cuisine restaurant with delicious pizzas is definitely "Lo Chalet", upstream 10 minutes by car in Riva Val Dobbia (Via Circonvallazione, 18, 13020 Riva Valdobbia). All locals go there with their families. 2. Fine Italian cuisine: "Ristorante Giardini" in Piode (Via Umberto I, 9, 13020 Piode). In summer, you can enjoy a nice walk along the mountain bike trail on the back of the house along the river to Piode village. Prices are also a bit upmarket. A really nice up market restaurant is the "Hostaria di Bricai" in a beautiful renovated old house in Varallo. 3. Local mountain food: another favorite of ours is the "Osteria di Boccorio" in upstream Boccorio at about 10 minutes by car (Frazione Boccorio, 9, 13020 Riva Valdobbia). They servce delicious local mountain dishes. 4. Local mountain food: Another great restaurant in Rassa is the "La Cruggia dal punt" (Cantone S. Antonio, 53, 13020 Rassa). They serve only one set menu of 4 or 5 courses. The food and the settings of this restaurant, where you are seated under a very authentic wooden roof, is really nice. This restaurant is only open during the weekends. 5. Local mountain food: We also love the local dishes and busy atmosphere of the "Ristorante Unione" in upstream Alagna at about 15 minutes by car (Via Fratelli Viotti, 3, 13021 Alagna Valsesia). Pubs & Bar tips: 1. Igel Bar: When you are walking on the mountain bike trail upstream to Alagna (on the left bank going upstream), you may want to do a stop for a beer at this very busy local pub on the right bank in upstream beautiful Campertogno (SP299, 14, 13023 Campertogno). The bar is located along the main road on the small square at the back side of the huge church of Campertogno. Open until late in the night. 2. Caffe Della Mostra: along the mountain bike trail, you may also do a stop at this pub further upstream on the right bank in Mollia (Via Roma, 25, 13020 Mollia). You can have a beer or eat small typical Italian snacks (stuffed Italian crepes - Miacce). 3. Azienda Agricola Floralp: When you are on the mountain bike trail, after Campertogno, you will pass through a very charming small village called "Rusa". Just after Rusa, you may want to make a stop at Azienda Agricola Floralp, where you can enjoy some drinks and Italian crepes on the beautiful terrace or in the nice garden overlooking the mountains (Frazione Rusa, 13022 Campertogno). 4. Da Mario: one of our favorite bars is this small pub with a great terrace at the charming square of Riva Val Dobbia. Many locals, but also many Milanese tourists drop by here for an apres ski or an aperitivo in summer after their walk (Piazza Quattro Novembre, 2 - loc, 13021 Riva Valdobbia). Registration Details IT00209700007