Discover Gignod: Mountains, Trails and Living History

Gignod brings together mountain landscapes, historic routes and vibrant traditions within a small area. The town is situated on a plateau at the foot of Punta Chaligne and offers panoramic views of the mountains of the Valpelline Valley and the Swiss Grand Combin massif. At the same time, the Via Francigena passes through Gignod, giving the town a special connection to European pilgrimage and cultural routes. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Gignod, you will find a starting point for very different kinds of holiday here: outdoor activities, handicrafts, history and regional specialities are all closely connected as themes.

Holiday apartment in Gignod between mountains and ancient routes

In summer, numerous marked hiking trails of varying levels of difficulty lead into nature from Gignod and, for example, to Rifugio Chaligne. In winter and spring, ski tourers can climb Punta Chaligne, which reaches an altitude of 2,608 metres. Mountain biking routes also run through the surrounding forests and along the Ru Neuf, an old irrigation canal. This allows you to plan your stay according to your own interests: you can combine your holiday with hiking and mountain views, explore historic routes or experience the landscape by bicycle. The different route lengths and levels of difficulty help you organise a variety of day plans, without every holiday day having to follow the same rhythm.

History, handicrafts and sacred images

The Gignod section of the Via Francigena follows ancient routes associated with the Salassi, the Romans and medieval pilgrims travelling to Rome. A medieval square tower in Gignod dates from around the 11th or 12th century and represents the town’s former role in controlling transalpine traffic on the road to the Swiss Valais. The church of Sant'Ilario contains 15th-century frescoes, including a Descent from the Cross, a Madonna and prophets with Gothic scrolls. The Maison de l’Artisanat International adds another cultural highlight. The exhibition centre for temporary exhibitions of local and international handicrafts, opened in 2016, is located in the ancient Casaforte Caravex.

Regional speciality and living tradition

The Fête du Teteun is dedicated to a sausage speciality typical of this area, made from salted, prepared and seasoned cow udder. The gastronomic festival in honour of Teteun offers an opportunity to sample various Teteun specialities on Saturday evening and Sunday. A religiously and historically rooted tradition is the procession to Punta Chaligne, which takes place in Gignod every year on 16 August. It originated as a thanksgiving ceremony held by survivors of the 17th-century plague and falls on the feast day of Saint Roch.

More than a mountain programme

Even away from the hiking and cycling routes, there is a special opportunity for a varied day: in Arsanières, a 9-hole golf course is situated on a natural slope in a particularly impressive landscape. Gignod can be reached by the “Aosta – Bosses” and “Aosta – Excenex – Arpuilles – Gignod” bus routes. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore consider whether you primarily want to experience the mountains, cultural history, local festivals or a combination of these themes. A holiday apartment in Gignod provides the right thematic setting for a trip whose days alternate between landscapes, activity and discovery.

More places to discover:Chateau, Ollomont, Chef-lieu, Gaby, Villeneuve, Montjovet, Coveyrand, Chamois

For the overarching travel overview: Aosta Valley.