Racconigi Castle and the beautiful village surrounding this Piedmont Highlight
Most visitors come to the small town of Racconigi specifically to see the stunning Castello di Racconigi, which is indeed a must-see.
However, those who only visit the imposing castle miss out, as the lovely town of Racconigi itself is also worth exploring.
Since I often pass through Racconigi on my way to Alba or Asti, I finally took the time to visit both the town and the impressive Castello di Racconigi.
Read on to find all the information you need for your visit to the fantastic Racconigi Castle and some other places not to be missed in the village.
Racconigi Castle / Castello di Racconigi
Overview of Racconigi Castle
The impressive castle of Racconigi stands prominently on the town’s main traffic circle and cannot be overlooked.
Originally built in the 11th century, it has been re-designed and extended several times over the centuries. In the 17th century, Carlo di Castellamonte carried out extensive renovations for the House of Savoy.
In the 19th century, it served as the summer residence of the Italian royal family and was renovated again by Pelagio Palagi, adding numerous neoclassical elements and making the interior luxurious.
The castle was not only a royal residence, but also the center of social life and the scene of numerous important events in the history of Savoy.
Since 1997, the Castello di Racconigi, just like the Royal Castle Venaria Reale, has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy.
Visiting Racconigi Castle
Today, Racconigi Castle is a museum and can be visited almost every day. The highlights include:
Lavish halls and rooms: The self-guided tour leads through extravagantly decorated rooms, including the Hercules Hall, the Throne Room and the Chinese Cabinet. In the basement, you can visit the large palace kitchen.
Royal furniture and works of art: As you make your way through the palace, you can admire an impressive collection of furniture, paintings and works of art from different eras.
The castle gardens: The extensive 190-hectare gardens and parks are designed in the English style.
The palace park also has a 2.5 km long system of navigable canals. Unfortunately, this area was closed for renovation during my visit. Normally, you can do a lovely 20-minute stroll through this area.
Good to know for your Palace visit
- During the week, from Wednesday to Friday, the castle can only be visited as part of an Italian guided tour. Guided tours in English are only offered for groups, but not for individual visitors.
- On the weekends, you can explore Racconigi Castle on your own. At the ticket counter, I was given a small folder in English with information about the individual rooms and halls, which helped understand their purpose.
- The upper floor, where the bedrooms are located, can only be visited as part of the guided tours during the week. These rooms are not accessible at weekends.
Opening times: Wednesday – Sunday (see details hier)
Price: € 8,00 per Person (Castle) & € 2,00 per Person (Park) / Free of Charge with the Torino Piemonte Card
⇨ Is the Torino Piemonte Card worth buying?
Things to see in Racconigi village
In addition to the popular castle, Racconigi has a number of other sights that you should not miss:
Centro Storico: The old town of Racconigi is a beautiful place to stroll around. There are narrow alleyways, historic buildings with arcades and cozy squares to discover.
Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista: This church is the most important religious building in town. Originally built in the 14th century, the church was renovated in Baroque style, has a magnificent interior and a high bell tower.
Santuario della Madonna delle Grazie: Another important religious building is the sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie, which was built in the 17th century. It is a popular place of pilgrimage and is known for its impressive frescoes.
Parco delle Cicogne e Anatidi: This nature park is located north of the Racconigi castle park and is a highlight for Orthinologists and nature lovers (⇨ location). It is home to a variety of stork and duck species and offers informative walking trails where you can learn more about the local wildlife.
The storks of Racconigi
You can’t overlook the storks, not only in the nature park, but also all over the town. They nest on the churches and on the roofs and towers of the castle.
The storks in Racconigi are the result of a successful conservation project launched in the 1980s.
At that time, white storks were almost extinct in Italy and the “Parco delle Cicogne e Anatidi” was created to restore their population.
The park offers ideal living conditions with wetlands, rivers and open fields that provide plenty of food and nesting sites.
Thanks to this project, one of the largest white stork colonies in Italy has been established, here in Racconigi.
How to get to Racconigi and parking
Racconigi is located around 40 kilometers south of Turin and is easily accessible both by car and by train, making it the perfect day trip from the regional capital.
By car, the fastest way from Turin is via the toll highway A6. Drive in the direction of Savona and leave the highway at the Carmagnola exit. From there, it is only about 10 kilometers to Racconigi.
Alternatively, I would recommend taking the SR20 country road, which is just under 10 minutes longer and without tolls.
Racconigi is prepared for visitors and offers several parking spaces. My recommendation is the large free parking lot near the sports fields (⇨ location). You should always find a space here, and there are more free options to the south.
The castle of Racconigi is a 5-minute walk away.
Alternatively, Racconigi has a train station to the north-east of the old town. There is an hourly regional train from Turin to Cuneo that stops in Racconigi. The journey from Turin takes about 30 minutes and from Cuneo one hour.
