Castelmauro – NorthEast

Castelmauro – NorthEast is an underrated, little-known thermal launch in Molise, Italy, sitting above a valley whose terrain kicks up genuinely strong thermals — pilots have climbed to around 3,000 m from here, and some have made it all the way to the Adriatic coast on a good day. It suits experienced pilots: the thermal activity can get strong enough that on some days the valley itself makes landing tricky. Launch is on the east side of Monte Mauro, a wide, grassy slope with a perfect tilt to it, facing northeast through east-southeast; a south-facing alternative exists too, though the separate south Castelmauro launch is the easier choice when that direction is working. There's no official trail in — leave the car near the astronomical observatory and walk about five minutes through the woods to reach takeoff. Fly with easterly wind rather than westerly, and treat sunny summer days with real respect, since that's when conditions get their strongest. Landing is informal, wherever works around Castelmauro, though most pilots land near the street on the left for an easy retrieve.

Launch & conditions

Launch is on the east side of Monte Mauro — wide, grassy, and well-tilted for launching, facing northeast through east-southeast. A south-facing alternative exists, but the separate south Castelmauro launch is the easier pick when that direction suits.

Getting there & local rules

No official trail: leave the car near the astronomical observatory and walk about five minutes through the woods to reach takeoff.

Local rules & hazards

Avoid launching in a westerly wind — the site works best with easterly dominant — and treat sunny summer days with real caution, since that's when thermals get strongest. No special flight rules apply beyond that.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Castelmauro – NorthEast, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Castelmauro – NorthEast with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.