Monte Faraut, Mountain summit in Piedmont, Italy

Monte Faraut is a 3,046-metre mountain in the Cottian Alps, on the watershed between the Varaita and Maira valleys, on the border between the municipalities of Bellino and Acceglio in the province of Cuneo. It is made of Jurassic-Cretaceous ophiolite-bearing phyllitic calcschists of the Pietre Verdi di Gastaldi complex, and on its north-eastern slopes outcrop the Permo-Carboniferous conglomeratic quartzites of Sampeyre.

Monte Faraut lies on the secondary ridge that leaves the main Alpine watershed at Monte Maniglia and separates the Varaita valley from the Maira valley. The ridge runs through Colle di Bellino, Monte Bellino, Buc Faraut and the Faraut summit, then on to Monte Reghetta and Cima Sebolet. The mountain is built of Jurassic-Cretaceous ophiolite-bearing phyllitic calcschists of Gastaldi's greenstones.

The mountain sits near small alpine villages with traditional restored barns, sundials, and bell towers that show typical regional building techniques. These structures are visible when walking through the hamlets in the surrounding valleys.

Begin your climb early in the morning to avoid hazardous conditions in the Barricate gorge, where falling rocks and ice are common dangers. Good footwear and attention to weather changes are important for safe passage on this route.

The mountain is made of Jurassic-Cretaceous ophiolite-bearing phyllitic calcschists of Gastaldi's greenstones; on its north-eastern slopes outcrop the Permo-Carboniferous conglomeratic quartzites of Sampeyre, the Alpine verrucano, which also form the neighbouring Rocca la Marchisa.