Aosta Valley: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

Mont Avic Regional Nature Park was established in 1989 and is the first regional nature park in the Aosta Valley. It borders Gran Paradiso National Park and includes dozens of lakes, ponds and peat bogs that are unique in the Aosta Valley in terms of both number and extent. The nature park can be reached via the A5, either from the Verrès exit via Champdepraz or from the Pont-Saint-Martin exit in the direction of Champorcher.

Nature

Gran Paradiso National Park covers 70,000 hectares of high-alpine territory between the valley floor at 800 metres and the 4,061-metre-high summit of Gran Paradiso. In the Aosta Valley, it has four visitor centres: one in Cogne, two in Valsavarenche and one in Rhêmes-Notre-Dame. The Paradisia Alpine Botanical Garden in Cogne focuses on botany and features more than 1,000 plant species.

Hiking and Water

For hikers, the Aosta Valley offers more than 400 short hiking routes. The two Alta Via routes cross the entire Aosta Valley. In addition, there is the Via Francigena, a historic pilgrimage route from Canterbury to Rome that crosses the valley from the Great St Bernard Pass to Pont-Saint-Martin. Overall, the Aosta Valley has a network of more than 5,000 kilometres of trails; routes can be searched by location and GPX or KML tracks can be downloaded. The trail in question runs mainly along the valley floor and on slopes at medium altitudes between 500 and 1,900 metres above sea level.

From April to September, the rapids of the Dora Baltea and the alpine mountain streams offer opportunities for rafting, hydrospeed, canyoning, kayaking and canoeing.

Culture and History

Forte di Bard is one of the most significant works of 19th-century military architecture. An extensive restoration project made it usable again for cultural and educational activities. In Aosta, a large part of the route of the Roman city walls can still be explored on foot today.

Castello di Cly belongs to the so-called typology of “primitive castles”. Its keep dates from the first third of the 11th century. Castello di Cly is partially open to visitors, exclusively as part of guided tours in summer and during events at the castle.

Castello di Fénis has a pentagonal layout. There are circular towers at the corners, except at the south-western corner, which has a massive tower, and the southern corner, which has a square tower. The keep is surrounded by a double curtain wall with watchtowers and a covered wall-walk.

Regional Specialities

Micóoula is a local sweet bread made from whole-wheat and rye flour, chestnuts, raisins, butter, eggs, salt and sugar. In Hône, the Feast of Micóoula is celebrated on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on 8 December, with food stalls where visitors can taste this traditional sweet delicacy.

Every year on 10 and 11 October, Bard hosts an event promoting Valdostan agricultural and food culture. Visitors can taste and buy products from various local sectors directly from the producers, including cheese, cured meats, honey, baked goods, fruit and vegetables, and wine.

Winter

Indian Park is described as Europe's highest-altitude snow park.

Other places in the Aosta Valley: Antey-Saint-André, Aosta, Arvier, Avise, Aymavilles, Bionaz, Breuil-Cervinia, Courmayeur, Introd, Saint Nicolas, Saint Pierre, Sarre, Valsavarenche, Valtournenche, Villeneuve, La Salle, Cogne, Rhemes-Saint-Georges, Ayas, Gressoney-Saint-Jean, Verrès, Verrand, Torgnon, Saint Vincent, Quart, Pré-Saint-Didier, Gressoney-La-Trinité, Gressan, Etroubles, Chamois, Nus, Saint Jacques, Frachey, Valgrisenche, La Thuile, Champoluc, Brusson, Arnad, Fénis Ao, Pollein, Bard, Châtillon, Valpelline, Pont-Saint-Martin, Gignod, Champdepraz, Roisan, Challand-Saint-Anselme, Saint-Rhémy-En-Bosses, Ollomont, Gaby, Saint-Oyen, Montjovet, Coveyrand, Charvensod, Issime, Pontboset, Morgex, Allein, Donnas, Chateau, Lillianes, Doues, Saint-Christophe, Rhêmes-Notre-Dame, Brengon, Fontainemore, Acque Fredde, Chambave, Challand-Saint-Victor, Issogne, Verrayes, Lignan, Ozein, Chef-lieu, Oyace, Émarèse, Grand Brissogne, Jovencan, Gratillon, Epinel.

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