Refuge · 2660 m
Oratorio di Cuney Refuge
At 2,656 metres in the lonely Saint-Barthélemy basin, the Cuney sanctuary-refuge is one of the highest places of Marian worship in Europe. A pilgrimage site for centuries, it combines the stone oratory and the refuge that welcomes Alta Via 1 hikers and those climbing to the lakes and passes towards Bionaz. A severe, silent alpine-pasture setting, realm of chamois and bearded vultures.
Altitude
2660 m
Valley
Valtournenche
Beds
20
Opening
Mid-June – mid-September
Managed by
CAI Cervino
History
The oratory dedicated to Our Lady of the Snows is documented from the 17th century and was rebuilt in the 19th; the 5 August pilgrimage has drawn the faithful of the Valpelline and the Matterhorn valley for generations.
What to eat
Essential high-altitude meals; booking strongly recommended.
Indicative rates
Overnight roughly €25–40.
Contact & booking
Official manager details — always check opening dates and rates on the website before you go.
Where it is
45.8415, 7.4842 · 2660 m
How to get there
- High Route 1 — Stage 10: Rifugio Jean Barmasse → Rifugio Oratorio di Cuney17.1 km · +1397 mEE
- High Route 1 — Stage 11: Rifugio Oratorio di Cuney → Oyace15.0 km · +504 mEE
- Lignan - Rifugio Oratorio Cunéy8.1 km · +1074 mE
- Parcheggio Porliod - Rifugio Oratorio di Cunéy6.2 km · +830 mE
- Servaz - Rifugio Oratorio di Cunéy3.3 km · +665 mE
- Rifugio Oratorio di Cunéy - Becca di Fontaney (colletto)1.5 km · +312 mEE
- TAPPA 10: Rifugio Barmasse - Rifugio Cuney16.3 km · +1383 mEE
Recommended season
Mid-June – mid-September
Effort to reach it
Difficulty of the access trails: E–EE, +312–1397 m (CAI scale).
What to bring
A sleeping-bag liner (required in many huts), cash (cards are often not accepted at altitude), a change of clothes and warm layers for the evening, a headlamp, a water bottle. Always book your bed and meals in advance, and let the hut know if you cancel.
What to do there
Enjoy dinner in good company and the sunset from the terrace. Many use the hut as a base for a dawn departure: ask the keeper about trail and weather conditions before setting out, and start light while the snow is still firm. The climbing routes are on the trail pages above.
Nearby peaks
Community gallery
Photos are published immediately. JPG/PNG/WebP, max 6 MB.
Source: lovevda.it · CAI
Oratorio di Cuney Refuge