Located in the northwest of Italy, the Aosta Valley is a small paradise for mountain lovers. At the border crossing between France, Italy and Switzerland, this territory of the Alps reveals a nature of any beauty, where the highest summits of the Italian territory watch over. It is in this idyllic setting that visitors can enjoy a multitude of outdoor activities. Walking or mountain biking, trekking, mountaineering, climbing and even summer skiing, all means are beautiful to marvel at the landscapes, contemplate the fauna, the flora, and live a stay in perfect communion with the elements that surround us. The Aosta Valley, rich in nature, where you are immediately struck by the power of the elements, is also a land of welcome for those who wish to spend a stay under the sign of well-being. The pure waters are used in the thermal baths to offer a wide range of treatments, which can be used to relieve aching muscles. It is easy to understand that the Aosta Valley is a territory of choice to be active, to let off steam, to reconnect with the natural environment, but also to take care of oneself, and to finish the holiday totally revitalized
A promised land for hikers
During the good weather, the mountains are an ideal place to spend a maximum amount of time outdoors. And in the Aosta Valley, various activities await travellers who want to exercise while enjoying the magnificent nature. Hiking is of course an obvious choice. The most courageous can plan the long hiking route called Cammino Balteo. This 350-kilometre round trip comprises 23 stages between Pont-Saint-Martin and Morgex and takes in the entire valley. The Cammino Balteo leads through landscapes at altitudes of between 500 and 1,900 metres, through villages, past castles, Roman bridges and many other treasures that man has left behind. We also go through pastures, nature reserves, waterfalls, lakes and wooded areas, all of which make up the beauty of the low and medium altitude mountains. Those who prefer can also plan only a few day trips. In the Aosta Valley there are more than 300 day hikes available for walkers.
Other notable hikes include the two High Routes. The Haute Routeno. 1, also known as the Haute Route des Géants, is accessible to all and offers a route from Donnas to Courmayeur. It reveals breathtaking high mountain landscapes, as you walk at the foot of the highest massifs in Europe: the Matterhorn, Mont-Rose and the mythical Mont-Blanc. The Haute Routeno. 2, which runs for the most part through the Grand Paradis National Park and the Mont Avic Regional Park, is another superb route for observing the alpine flora and fauna. From Courmayeur to Donnas, the itinerary crosses scree, meadows, pastures and woods of the high and medium mountains, and there is no lack of stops in the villages to discover Valle d'Aostan traditions and crafts.
To return for a moment to the Gran Paradiso National Park, the area is ideal for beautiful walks in three side valleys of the Aosta Valley. This protected area, which aims to raise awareness of the protection of the environment and natural heritage, allows walkers to go on an adventure along green plains, in valleys with trees and on the edge of eternal snow. Along the way, you will come across larch trees, fir trees, the fox-tail astragalus, as well as numerous ibexes (the symbol of the Park), marmots and golden eagles. The Gran Paradiso National Park is perfect for a nature trek where you can enjoy the view.
Finally, how can we talk about hiking without mentioning the Via Francigena? This ancient pilgrimage route to Rome includes various stages offering incredible panoramic views of the mountains, but also the crossing of vineyards and ancient villages such as Saint-Rémy-en-Bosses, famous for its cured ham that you will not fail to taste.
Among other outdoor activities and moments of pleasure around the table
The Aosta Valley, if it is magnificent to discover on foot, is also a delight for cycling enthusiasts. Cycling can be done on tarmac roads that cross landscapes and villages, but also on more athletic paths for mountain bikers. As far as mountain biking is concerned, you can opt for a moderately difficult route through the green landscapes of the Sylvenoire plateau in Cogne and around the Lillaz waterfalls, or you can choose a difficult route, for the more athletic ones, and go up and down steep paths between Gimillan and Épinel.
Change of atmosphere and head this time for the watery scenery of the Aosta Valley to go rafting on the Dora-Baltée, nicknamed the European Colorado. Canyoning can be practised in the Chalamy canyon, with a programme of abseils, jumps, superb slides and, above all, great emotions!
And then, the Aosta Valley offers a new experience in summer: skiing! To do this, head for the Rosà plateau, at the foot of the Matterhorn, where the Gravity Park awaits those who love snow sports to practice alpine skiing and snowboarding in the summer months in Breuil-Cervinia.
All these activities have the effect of whetting the appetite, and just as well, the Aosta Valley celebrates the pleasures of the table. Cheeses made from milk from the Alpine pastures, such as Fontina PDO and Gressoney Tomme, cold meats made using traditional methods, Aosta Valley Lard PDO, Motsetta and Aosta Valley Jambon de Bosses PDO, are all to be savoured with a glass of mountain wine. Nus red, Chambave muscat, Morgex white and La Salle white, they are all gathered under a single Denomination of Controlled Origin (DOC) called "Valle d'Aosta - Vallée d'Aoste". All these products can be found in the restaurants, snack bars, wine bars and trattorias of the communes that make up the Valle d'Aosta, but can also accompany walkers for a picnic in the open air in one of the areas of the territory
Strolling in Aosta and wellness in the thermal baths
It is difficult to plan a stay in the open air in the Aosta Valley without stopping in its administrative capital: Aosta. Soak up its mountain village feel and stroll through its narrow, cobbled streets before visiting its rich heritage: the 11th century Aosta Cathedral, the Arch of Augustus, a robust stone arch dating from 25 BC, and the Roman wall. The restaurants are then an opportunity to treat your taste buds to regional specialities: raw hams and other cheeses.
To relax the muscles from all the outdoor activities, a stay in the Aosta Valley can include a visit to the thermal baths of Pré-Saint-Didier, which has three large outdoor thermal pools with a view of Mont Blanc and also offers a wide range of treatments: hydromassage baths, invigorating waterfalls, mud baths, Turkish baths with aromas, dry saunas and aromatherapy. The other alternative is the Saint-Vincent thermal baths with their modern spa including Finnish sauna, steam room, sensory showers, ice fountain and other bubble baths, with a view of the mountains.
Touch the sky in the Aosta Valley
Staying in the Aosta Valley also means getting a closer look at the sky and feeling the feeling of being closer to it. You can contemplate the stars from theAstronomical Observatory of the Aosta Valley, a place that is part of an educational approach to popularising astronomy. But also live the Skyway Monte Bianco experience, a real extreme engineering challenge. The adventure starts with a panoramic cable car ride from Pontal-Courmayeur at an altitude of 1,300 m, followed by a break at the Mont Fréty Pavilion at 2,200 m, and then ends at Punta Helbronner at 3,466 m. The three resorts are a little jewel of technology, and offer services such as restaurants, bars, cultural spaces and others for the observation of the highest peaks in Europe such as the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa and Gran Paradiso. Good news, the Skyway Monte Bianco will be open in the evening from August for your night escapades.
By train: TGV Lyria Paris-Geneva + transfer by car through the Mont Blanc tunnel - 6 hours (fastest)
TGV Paris-Turin + transfer by car, bus or train - 7 hours.
By plane: Transfer possible from Geneva (134 km), Turin (119 km) and Milan Malpensa (170 km).
By car : Only 3 hours from Lyon ! You can reach the Aosta Valley from the French or Swiss side of the valley through the Mont Blanc and Grand Saint Bernard tunnels, using the national roads 26 and 27 respectively and, during the summer (between June and October), the Petit and Grand Saint Bernard passes.
Article published as part of the M.I.T.O. - Outdoor OFF project
