Big Bench No. 130, Barengo – Vineyard of the Giant Pencils loop from Cressa-Fontaneto

Mountain biking trails

Big Bench No. 130, Barengo – Vineyard of the Giant Pencils loop from Cressa-Fontaneto

Moderate

4.6

(8)

riders

Big Bench No. 130, Barengo – Vineyard of the Giant Pencils loop from Cressa-Fontaneto

03:49

49.2km

330m

Mountain biking

Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 20, 2026

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Riserva naturale delle Baragge

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10.1 km

Big Bench No. 130, Barengo

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It's no. 130 of the BigBench circuit - bigbenchcommunityproject.org

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14.7 km

We are on the Novara hills. This is the name commonly used to identify the hilly area of the province of Novara.
Located north of the capital, in the central part of the province, it is bordered by the Sesia rivers to the west and the Ticino rivers to the east and borders the Vergante to the north. The altitude is between 190 and 470 m above sea level.

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20.9 km

Vineyards of the Colline Novaresi

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We are on the Novara Hills. This is the name commonly used to identify the hilly area of the province of Novara.
Located north of the capital, in the central part of the province, it is bordered by the Sesia rivers to the west and the Ticino rivers to the east and borders the Vergante river to the north. The altitude is between 190 and 470 m above sea level.

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22.6 km

Briona Castle

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The site of the castle of Briona is first mentioned in 995, while the first written records of the presence of a fortress date from 1140. They are recorded in an agreement between Count Guido di Biandrate and the canons of San Gaudenzio of Novara .

The agreement stipulated that the noble rights would still belong to the canons, who owned the castle's warehouses, while the military structure would go to Count Guido. The agreement satisfied both the clergy, as they would be entitled to the proceeds of the rent, warehouses and agricultural goods contained therein, as well as the right of four farms and the aristocratic rights to the cottages they converted, and to the Earl of Biandrate since the possession of the "castrum" was an important part of the fortified system led by the castles of Biandrate, Proh, Camodeia, Carpignano, Sizzano, Breclema and Seso, all placed to defend the entrances to Valsesia and all belonging to the Earl of Biandrate.

Indeed, the castle of Briona is in a strategic position on top of the hilly ridge and in military readiness dominated the plain below, in practice it controlled the entrances to Novara from the northwest. It is likely that the place was already a garrison in the Lombard period, but there are no certainties about the founder. From 1140 to 1209, the castle will be reconfirmed to the Biandrate by successive imperial diplomas. During the thirteenth century. the property of the counts was replaced by the property of the capital families, linked to Novara and its expansionist policy.

With the arrival of the lordship of Visconti, Briona came under the influence of the lordships of Milan. In 1356 it became the property of the Visconti, who made it a base for their fight against the Marquises of Monferrato. As such, it was sacked in 1363 by the "white company" of the Englishman Albert Sterz who hired Giovanni Paleologo, Marquis of Monferrato, and who for years ravaged the area of Novara.

More info at comune.briona.no.it/it-it/vivere-il-comune/cosa-vedere/castello-di-briona-sec-xv-955-1-616af6b5ca7af3d24d9e8ff04483b429

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