Lago della Vecchia

Lago della Vecchia is a high-altitude glacial lake in the Cottian Alps, within the municipality of Venaus, in the Turin metropolitan area, Piedmont. Sitting at roughly 2,670 metres above sea level, it lies almost exactly on the Italian-French border — cross the ridge above it and you are already in the commune of Bramans, in the French department of Savoie. This unusual position means boundary markers can still be found right by the shore, even though the border itself was only fixed here by the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty, which settled a number of Alpine frontier disputes after the Second World War.

Where exactly is the lake?

Lago della Vecchia sits in a side range of the Susa Valley (Val di Susa), close to the Moncenisio pass and within sight of Bardonecchia, though it falls administratively within Venaus. Its coordinates place it at roughly 45°10' north latitude and 6°57' east longitude. Monte Giusalet, rising to 3,312 metres, dominates the skyline above the lake and serves as the clearest landmark in this part of the Cottian Alps.

Where does the water come from?

The lake is glacial in origin, occupying a rocky basin carved out by an ancient glacier. It drains via the Rio Berto stream, which in turn feeds the larger Cenischia torrent, itself a tributary of the Dora Riparia. On French IGN maps the lake appears under the name "Lac de la Vecchia," a small detail that underlines its position straddling the frontier.

How do you get there?

Several hiking trails reach the lake. One popular route starts near Bar Cenisio, at around 1,483 metres, climbing through cool larch woods and open alpine pastures to the highest point of the walk at roughly 2,674 metres — a total gain of close to 1,200 metres. A second option begins in Venaus, near the Mulatera area: the path climbs the eastern flank of Punta Mulatera to Rifugio Avanzà, then continues west along an easy, clearly marked trail (white-and-red waymarks) to the lake itself, which — according to hikers who know the area — appears suddenly in a rocky hollow just off the path. This variant involves around 800 metres of elevation gain.

What else is there along the way?

Rifugio Avanzà, passed on most routes, serves as a natural rest stop for walkers continuing toward the border ridge. The area is notably quiet and far less crowded than better-known destinations in the Susa Valley, which makes it appealing to hikers looking for a peaceful high-altitude walk away from the busier trails.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the same Lago della Vecchia as the one near Biella? No. Piedmont has two separate lakes sharing this name. The one described here sits in the Cottian Alps, in the municipality of Venaus, right on the French border. The other, in the pre-Alps near Biella, is an entirely different lake with its own characteristics and history — the two should not be confused.

How high up is the lake? At around 2,670 metres above sea level, it is a typical high-altitude Alpine lake.

Are there visible traces of the border at the lake? Yes — boundary markers from the line established by the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty can still be seen near the shore.

Where's the best place to start the hike? The two most commonly used starting points are Venaus (near Mulatera) and Bar Cenisio; both routes pass through Rifugio Avanzà.

Is the trail difficult? It requires reasonable fitness — elevation gain ranges from roughly 800 to nearly 1,200 metres depending on the route chosen, with the highest sections above 2,600 metres, so hikers should be prepared for genuine high-mountain conditions.

What feeds the lake? Its waters are glacial in origin, and its only visible outflow is the Rio Berto stream, a tributary of the Cenischia.