If there is a place where nature seems to have designed an outdoor playground, it is the’Cansiglio Plateau. For our guests staying at The Court of Marga, This is the number one summer day trip: in less than 40 minutes you go from the Prosecco vineyards to the coolness of one of Italy's oldest and most fascinating forests.

Today we accompany you along the’Cansiglio Ring, an easy, flat route full of discoveries that will leave your little ones open-mouthed.

🌲 The Dogs' Woods: An adventure for little explorers

As soon as you arrive in Piana, the air changes: it's crisp and smells of resin. The path begins near the main car park (Bar Bianco area). The trail is wide and gently enters the beech forest, the same one that once provided the wood for the oars of Venice's galleys.

The magic touch Along the route, you'll often find educational panels explaining woodland life, but the real attraction is the deer. If you walk silently, especially in shadier areas, it's not uncommon to see them emerge from among the trees.

🏠 The Cimbrian Villages: In the footsteps of the lumberjacks

The stage that children love the most is the Cimbrian Village of Vallorch. Here the houses look as if they've come out of a fairytale book: they are made entirely of wood, with sloping roofs and small porches. It is the testimony of the Cimbri, an ancient people of woodcutters who arrived here centuries ago. It is the perfect place for a packed lunch or to take unique souvenir photos.

Choosing the right path between Cimbri, Woods, and Mountain Huts

The Big Giro (The Complete Ring of the Plain)

This is the actual hiking trail that encompasses the entire Cansiglio Plain.

• Who is it suitable for: Hikers, families with older children (10-12 years and up), or mountain bike/e-bike enthusiasts. It's not suitable for pushchairs due to roots and disused tracks in the undergrowth.
• Length and Duration Around 12 km For 3½ to 4 hours on the actual path.
• The Pathway and References You start from the Sant'Osvaldo Refuge (near the Visitor Centre) and you follow the path that skirts the large pastures. It touches, in sequence, the Cimbrian Village of Le Rotte, it pushes north towards the nature reserve of Pian Austria, descends along the reserve of Valmenera (the absolute best spot for deer spotting) and returns passing through the Capanna Genziana Hut before closing at the starting point.

2. The Mini Giro (The Family & Pushchair Variant)

For our guests with small children, infants in prams, or those simply wanting a relaxing stroll without exertion, this is the perfect route.

• Who is it suitable for: Families with young children (even 3-6 years old) and pushchairs (ideally with large trekking wheels).
• Length and Duration Around 4.5 km For 1 hour and a quarter a leisurely stroll.
• The Pathway and References It is a perfect and safe triangle that develops in the southern area of the Plain. You park at the Sant'Osvaldo Refuge, enter the paved, traffic-restricted forest road which leads directly into the charming Cimbrian Village of Vallorch (the famous wooden houses of the lumberjacks). From Vallorch, cut across the meadow along the flat, well-trodden path that leads to the White Bar (a mandatory stop for ice cream and cheese) and from there you return to the car park along the main road on a protected walkway.

🍦 The must-do stop: The White Bar

No trip to Cansiglio is complete without a stop at the White Bar. While you enjoy a board of local cheeses (the Cansiglio and the Montasio (they are sublime), children can run in the surrounding meadows or enjoy an ice cream made with the freshest milk from the cows grazing right in front of them.

📍 Not-to-be-missed landmarks during the day

• The Man's Visitor Centre and Museum (Piana del Cansiglio): An excellent starting point. Inside, there is a museum dedicated to the history of the Cimbri and local wildlife, which is very useful for explaining to children what they will see in the woods.
• G. Lorenzoni Alpine Botanical Garden: It is just a short walk from the Sant'Osvaldo Refuge. It houses over 700 species of forest plants, with accessible elevated boardwalks.
• The Cimbrian Village of Vallorch: A core of historic houses built entirely of fir wood according to the ancient tradition of woodcutters who arrived from Germany in the 1700s. It's a real time machine.

ℹ️ Technical Data Sheet and Useful Information for our Guests

• Key Refreshment Points * Sant'Osvaldo Refuge: Traditional home-style cooking (the game-based first courses are excellent). The ideal choice for those looking for a proper lunch whilst sitting in comfort, with traditional mountain dishes. The pasta dishes with game sauces are extraordinary, as are the hot polenta with Schiz (the traditional grilled fried cheese) or the roe deer. It’s very welcoming and perfect as a strategic starting or finishing point for both routes, as it’s very close to the main car park. White Bar: In the centre of the plain: The absolute benchmark for those doing the short loop with children. It's perfect for a snack or a quick lunch without too many frills: it offers excellent hot sandwiches with the typical cheese, platters of local cured meats, and exceptional artisanal ice cream made with their organic milk. It has a huge meadow in front where children can run around within sight while parents relax at the outdoor tables. It also has a shop to buy Cansiglio Biologico cheeses to take home.
• Equipped Picnic Areas (The Total Freedom Option): If, on the other hand, you prefer to come and go as you please, without having to worry about opening hours or bookings, the area stretching from Vallorch to Bar Bianco is full of wooden tables in the shade of the beech trees. The perfect tip for guests at La Corte is to set off from Miane with a well-stocked rucksack, or to buy some fresh cheese directly from the Bar Bianco shop for an unforgettable picnic in the woods.
• Logistics and Parking: The largest and most convenient car park is around the Visitor Centre / Sant'Osvaldo Refuge. On summer weekends it fills up quickly, so we recommend arriving by 9:30 am.
• Recommended clothing: Trekking shoe or trainer with a sculpted sole. Note on altitude (1,000m): Compared to Miane, the temperature drops by about 6-8°C. Always bring a sweatshirt and a jacket for the children in your backpack; mountain weather can change quickly in the afternoon.
• Water There aren't many fountains along the forest trails, so it's best to start with your water bottles full from the car park.