Valle d'Aosta region and its resorts. Trails and lifts of Val d "Aosta, Italy. How to get to Val d" Aosta

Valle d'Aosta - the most small region Italy, located in the north-east of the country, on the border with France, with which it is connected by a tunnel under Mont Blanc and the Piccolo San Bernardo Pass, and Switzerland, into which the tunnel under the Gran San Bernardo leads.

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The territory of the region is completely covered with mountains and surrounded by the most high peaks Italy and Europe: Mont Blanc (4810 m), Matterhorn (4478 m), Monte Rosa (4637 m) and Gran Paradiso (4061 m). People live mainly along the valleys formed by mountain rivers and glaciers. Due to global warming, glaciers in our time have survived only on the highest peaks.

Mount Monte Rosa / Shutterstock.com

The main border passes are called Colle del Piccolo San Bernardo and Colle del Gran San Bernardo. A through tunnel was dug under the latter.

In the south of Aosta is national park Gran Paradiso, founded in 1922 to protect rare alpine animals and plants (moufflons, sulfurs, marmots and ermines live here), as well as Natural Park mountains of Mont Avic.

Since the area is mountainous, average temperature depends on the height above sea level. In the highlands, the climate is harsh, summers are short, and winters are long and cold; In the valleys, a typical continental climate is observed: in winter the temperature drops below 0, and in summer it can exceed 30 ° C, which, due to the lack of wind, leads to stuffiness. Precipitation falls in the form of snow all year round wherever the altitude exceeds 2400 m above sea level.

Night Aosta / Shutterstock.com

Tourism

The smallest region in Italy, surrounded by the highest mountains, offers its guests a huge wealth of choice. Virgin nature, traditional architecture, sports, culture, health tourism, haute cuisine: these are the components due to which Aosta was considered resort place already in the days of ancient Rome.
For riding on skiing oh you can go to famous resorts, or you can stay in smaller towns, where much less people. In addition to downhill skiing, here you can go cross-country skiing, freeride, heliskiing, snowkiting, freestyle skiing and snowboarding.

A single ski pass Valle d'Aosta (www.skivallee.it) allows you to use any ski lifts in the region, and even those that are outside of it (the resort of Alagna Valsesia in Piedmont and La Rosiere in French Savoie).

Castle of Baron Camba in Châtillon / Shutterstock.com

Aosta also has significant cultural heritage. From the era of Ancient Rome, the Gallic road remained, passing along the lower reaches of the Aosta Valley and bifurcating in the direction of the Piccolo San Bernardo Pass (France) and the Gran San Bernardo Pass (Switzerland). The system of roads and trails forms what was once the second most popular pilgrimage route in Europe, the road of the Franks. Along it they moved from central Europe to Rome and back. Many churches, temples, chapels and crosses were built along it.
The special pride of Aosta is the Valdostan castles, a legacy of the feudal period. There are over a hundred of them! They rise at key heights, occupying a strategic position on the ground. Often they were built on the site of former Roman fortifications.

Wine and food

Friendship Cup / Shutterstock.com

Valle d'Aosta is a region known not only for the beauty and richness of its artistic and cultural heritage, but also for its enogastronomic achievements: traditional products widely known not only among local population, recognizing their status as a symbol of their identity, but also among tourists who come to this region every year for vacation. These delicacies express the close cultural connection that unites people with their land. They have all the best that this land gives to the Valdostans, and all the wisdom and skill with which they cultivate it from time immemorial.
There are really a lot of traditional products in the region. Let's talk about some of them that you should definitely try if you want to get to know the spirit of this enchanting northern Italian region, enjoy its aromas and tastes.
Cheeses. Fresh and aged cheeses of Valle d'Aosta are appreciated by many experts and are known in international level. First of all, we are talking about Fontina cheese, which has been made here since the 15th century, and Formazo, a product with a protected designation of origin (DOP).
Meat delicacies. The famous Jambon de Bosses DOP ham, an integral part of the Valdostan meat plate, is produced at an altitude of 1600 m, in the homonymous village of Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses, in the Valle del Gran San Bernardo valley. Salo Lardo d'Arnad DOP is a complex alchemy of water, salt, fragrant herbs and spices that are added to the product. It tastes good and is reminiscent of those herbs that go into brine: each slice is white, there may be a small layer of meat, and the core is slightly pinkish. It is stored in special containers made of chestnut, oak or larch. The first inventory of Arnad Castle in 1763 contains a record of four such containers stored in the kitchen. Let's not forget the prosciutto Saint-Oyen: this ham is made from the leg of a pig grown in Italy (Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Valle d'Aosta), flavored, roasted in an oven, and then lightly roasted over coals. Or about La Motsetta - dried meat from cow, sheep or goat muscles; in the old days it was made so that the meat was stored longer, and it was enough for the whole family for the winter. Salt, garlic, juniper branches and fragrant herbs are added to it; and keep it from a month to a year. Serve sliced ​​into thin slices with rye bread or croutons.
Honey. Local residents have been producing it for a long time using ancient technologies, keeping its organoleptic properties unchanged.

Fruits. In sun-drenched orchards region grow mountain apples and pears with a rich taste and aroma and juicy pulp.

Black bread ("Panner"). It has been made in Valle d'Aosta for a long time, so it has recently received the status of a traditional agricultural product.

Genepie liqueur has ancient history, pleasant taste, digestive and balsamic properties.

Guilt. The Alps protect Valle d'Aosta from the north from cold winds, and from the west from wet ones, so the climate of the region is perfect for viticulture. Numerous testimonies confirm that this art was practiced here in the era ancient rome. Over the centuries of the region's history, the industry has experienced both good times and serious crises - for example, during the period of barbarian invasions.
After the Second World War, having received the status of an autonomous region, Valle d'Aosta managed to attract significant financial resources for the development of this area, which now lives extremely dynamically: local wines receive important awards, both Italian and international.
The main wines produced in the region are Blanc de Morgex et La Salle DOC from Prié Blanc grapes, Enfer d'Arvier DOC from Petit Rouge grapes and Chambave Muscat DOC from White Muscat grapes.

Grappa. If we talk about quality, then Valdostana grappa is definitely not worse than local wine, but in terms of production, grappa, of course, is inferior. This drink is a true friend of the mountain dwellers, an ideal digestif after rich meals made up of local specialties. The importance of this production for local traditions and special regional regulations even allow - within certain limits, of course - the distillation of grape pomace for family consumption. Distillation apparatuses and other necessary tools begin to work late autumn(November and December) when local families, having gathered relatives and friends, begin this ritual of producing a transparent nectar with a delicate aroma and a dry taste. In addition to family production, there is, of course, industrial production; it allowed to expand the range of products, although it is still based on traditional technologies that give the drink a unique taste and naturalness.

How to get there

By plane
The nearest airport to Valle d'Aosta is in Turin. You can also use the airport of Milan, Bergamo and Geneva.
The main cities of Aosta can be reached from these airports by bus.

By car
The A5 motorway leads from Turin to Pont Saint Martin, the eastern gateway to the region. The distance is only 55 km. The distance to the capital of the region, Aosta, is already 98 km, and to Courmayeur - 136 km.
If you drive from Milan (164 km), then, moving along the A4 motorway, you need to turn onto Aosta at the interchange in Santia. To get to Aosta from Geneva, you need to drive 226 km.
You can also get to Aosta through France or Switzerland, through the tunnels of Mont Blanc and Gran San Bernardo along highways No. 26 and No. 27, respectively. In summer (June-October) you can also drive through the Piccolo and Gran San Bernardo passes.

By train
Going to Valle d'Aosta by train is a great alternative to traveling by car, as it avoids the traffic jams and fogs that are common here during the winter months, and also contributes to the fight against pollution environment. Aosta train station is located near the lower station of the funicular, which lifts to the ski resort of Pila. Railway connects Aosta with Turin (porta Nuova and Porta Susa), trains run quite often.
On average, the journey from Turin takes 2 hours and 10 minutes, including a change in Chivasso (or Ivrea). Intermediate stations (Pont-Saint-Martin, Verrès and Châtillon/Saint-Vincent) are connected to the transverse valleys by buses, the schedule of which is tied to the arrival and departure of trains.

From Aosta, you can drive to the picturesque Pre-Saint-Didier train station at the foot of Mont Blanc. This is the end station. The journey from Milan will take approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes, with a change in Chivasso.

Official tourism website of the Valle d'Aosta region: www.lovevda.it

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Helpful information about the Italian ski resort of Valle de Osta. Trails, the cost of a subscription, opportunities for recreation and entertainment.

This is not one, but several resorts, including the super popular Courmayeur and Cervinia, united in ski resort. The bulk of the population in this region of the Alps are tourists. Until ski resorts were built here, the area was deserted and secluded. Due to the fact that in Europe there has never been a release from those who want to ski, these beautiful mountain valleys civilization has arrived.

Location and characteristics of the resort

The Valle de Osta area is located near the border crossing between Italy, France and Switzerland. The resort is surrounded by the famous peaks of Europe Matterhorn and Mont Blanc, exceeding 4000 meters in height. This majestic environment wins hearts and makes skiers dizzy. On the territory of the Valle de Osta there are many cultural monuments, a significant part of which was created back in the days of the Roman Empire, there are also medieval castles.

As in all of Europe, in Valle de Osta hotels are examples of high service and represent a standard of quality that has stood the test of time. In addition to hotels, private households and cottages are open for settlement. You can stay in a hostel or a mountain hut.

The area for skiing athletes is located at an altitude of 1200-3600 meters. Snow on the slopes of the mountains appears in November and stays until April. Most of the winter is sunny weather. The resort offers a variety of active and hotel entertainment. At the service of visitors, a helicopter throw on the tracks, skating, sledding, dog sledding, ski and snowshoe excursions, a large number of paths for solitary skiing. A species such as ski mountaineering flourishes. Can fly to hot-air balloon over four-thousanders of Mont Blanc and Matterhorn, where the continental plates of Africa and Europe meet. The flight may end somewhere in France or Switzerland. Paragliding is also developed.

There are many outlets in Valle de Osta that sell high quality goods at reduced prices. There are night clubs and discos, there is a casino. In the mountains, the wild life of nature is in full swing, there are various animals and birds.

For high comfort, tourists have to pay at inflated prices.

Tracks

There are routes laid at an altitude of over 3500 meters, where there is a lack of oxygen. System length ski slopes exceeds the figure of 900 km, which is incredible for our resorts! It's just mountain trails, and the length of cross-country routes is another plus 300 km. Most of all are presented "red" and "blue" tracks, the share of "black" does not exceed 15%.

Ski pass price

Single pass for 6 days in high/normal seasons:

• 275/257 € for adults;
• 192.5/180 € for children aged 8–14;
• 242/226.5 € for the elderly and children aged 14–18;
• 69/64.5 € for children under 8 years old.

A single ski pass with the right to visit Switzerland (Zermatt resort):

• 331/303.5 € for adults;
• €182 for children aged 8–14;
• €242.5 for older children aged 14–18;
• 83/76.5 € for children under 8 years old.

Prices for the right to ski in Valle de Osta are among the highest in the Italian Alps.

Where to eat

Institutions are found everywhere, most of all they are concentrated in the city of Aosta, which is the capital of the resort and the Italian province. The cuisine is varied, including Alpine, with unique dishes made from meat, cheese and other ingredients. Here they prepare cheeses and ham according to special recipes, which are considered a delicacy. All this is washed down with plenty of wine.

How to get there

Geneva, Milan and Turin have international airports. You can get there by rented car or bus.

Address: province of Valle d'Aosta, Western Alps, Italy.

On that fashionable resort mainly Europeans come here, there are few Russians among tourists. majestic mountains and ancient settlements at the foot of the Alps seek to visit all skiers, from top-class professionals to inexperienced beginners.

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Valle d'Aosta

Italy is famous for its first-class ski resorts, and one of these ski tourist areas is the Valle d'Aosta region, or as it is also called the Aosta Valley here. The Aosta Valley is the smallest region of Italy, which is conveniently located in the most picturesque area Alpine mountains, here are such majestic peaks as Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa and Matterhorn.
Valle d'Aosta

Valle d'Aosta, Aosta Valley

Valle d'Aosta is an autonomous region in northwestern Italy, bordering Switzerland and France. Here are the peaks of the most high mountains Europe - Mont Blanc with a height of 4810 meters above sea level, Monte Rosa with a height of 4634 meters above sea level and the Matterhorn with a height of 4478 meters above sea level. And, despite its small size, this region offers its guests more than 1200 well-equipped and different levels trails. Most popular resorts- Aosta, Cervinia, Courmayeur, La Thuile, Pila and Monte Rosa.

Get to Aosta

To get to Valle d'Aosta, you need to use the nearest international airports, which are located 190 kilometers away and in Turin 100 kilometers away. You can also use local flights to Aosta Airport from. In addition, thanks to, you can use international airport Geneva, Switzerland, which is located 150 kilometers. All highways in the region are well planned, so the bus service between cities and airports is well developed.

Aosta Hotels

Despite its small size, the Valle d'Aosta region has a good choice hotels and apartments. Here are all categories of hotels from one star to five, as well as boarding houses, chalets, villas and other diversity. It remains only to choose suitable resort and hotel, in any case you will receive first-class service and hospitality.

Aosta is the northernmost ski resort in Italy, with an abundance of antiquities from the time of the Roman Empire. This resort can not be called super-super, but it will satisfy the needs of even the most sophisticated tourists. There is absolutely everything for have a great holiday. All year round, Aosta is visited by lovers of skiing, mountaineering, rafting and mountain tourism besides this, a woodcarving fair is held here every year, which has been held since 1000 AD.

Cervinia is one of the oldest and most diverse ski resorts in Italy, located on the southern slopes of the Matterhorn. In addition, Cervinia is also the highest mountain resort. This one is cute enough cozy town with an abundance of restaurants and hotels, here you can get pleasure just walking along its streets. The resort itself combines several villages - Breul-Cervinia at an altitude of 2050 meters and Valtornenche at an altitude of 1524 meters, and the most high point skiing is located at an altitude of 3480 meters.

Courmayeur is one of the most luxurious ski resorts in Italy. Here are the most luxury hotels, shops and restaurants. A sufficient number of ski slopes, but mostly of medium difficulty. In addition, Courmayeur has a well-developed road connection, and is the most affordable resort, which is why residents and guests from Milan and Turin flock here on weekends. Courmayeur very beautiful place, he is often depicted on Christmas cards in Italy.

La Thuile - small resort, in comparison with other resorts of the Aosta Valley, is located on the slopes of Mont Blanc. This is a fairly quiet, cozy and modern town, where there are never queues for lifts, but there is a lot of snow. La Thuile is connected by a system of lifts to French resort La Rosiere, and combined into a single ski area San Bernardo, which is located on ancient road Wallis-Digna.
Saw

Saw

Saw - is ski center Designed for skiing on easy to medium trails. An ideal place for those who come with children or are just starting to master the ski slopes. Here, the location of lifts and slopes is perfectly planned, and everything has been done for the convenience of skiing. In addition, the center of Pila is only twenty minutes by car. cable car from the resort of Aosta.

Monte Rosa is the youngest resort of the valley, here perfect place For a relaxing holiday. And although the resort is still developing rapidly, this does not bring any convenience to vacationers. Monte Rosa combines five valleys - Antagnon, Champoluc, Brusson, Gressoney-la-Trinite and Gressoney-Saint John, which are interconnected by a network of lifts and slopes.
Valle d'Aosta

Attractions Aosta

The main attraction of the Valle d'Aosta region is its natural beauty. The local scenery is simply breathtaking. If you want to touch the clouds, you should definitely come to the Aosta Valley. Also, the Valley is rich in castles built along the road from Aosta to Turin, however, many of them are already in ruins. It is worth visiting such castles - Saint-Pierre Castle, Fenice Castle, Verre Castle. In addition, Pré-Saint-Didier has a large thermal and bath complex, which attracts tourists from all over the Aosta Valley. There are many ancient sights in Aosta - the arch of Augustus, the Praetorian Gate, an arsenal with three small temples, ruins old fortress, the ruins of a Roman amphitheater, as well as monuments of the Middle Ages. In Courmayeur is medieval tower Mulqueen. In La Thuile there is a wonderful Alpine Botanical Garden. And, of course, there are many lakes throughout the valley, mountain rivers, noisy waterfalls and picturesque forests.

A little background information in the Valle d'Aosta region:

Capital Valle d'Aosta: Aosta

Official name: Valle d'Aosta

Provinces within the region: Valle d'Aosta.

Square: 3.2 thousand sq. km.

Population: 0.13 million people

Valle d "Aosta is considered the smallest region in Italy. In addition to being Italian province, the region is known as the owner of the status of autonomy. Valle d "Aosta is located in the northwestern part of the country, in the very center of the Alps. The region is surrounded by such famous peaks as Mont Blanc, Monte Cervino, Monte Rosa and Gran Paradiso. Alpine and Mediterranean regions meet at this point. Get to Valle- d "Aosta is quite simple not only on an airplane, but even on own car. This region has a large number famous resorts, the most famous of them is Courmayeur. Also, Valle d "Aosta quite often hosts various winter views sports. The neighbors of the region are the Piedmont region in the south and east, France in the west and Switzerland in the north of the region.

Thanks to such a convenient location, you can get to Valle d'Aosta quite quickly from various parts of Europe. For example, the road from Turin will take no more than an hour, from Milan no more than two hours, from Florence these lands can be reached in five hours, and from Rome in just eight.

The official in the region is French, But most of local residents they speak Arpitan (its other name is Franco-Provençal) language. In some communes, for example, in Greson-Saint-Jean, Issim and Greson-La-Trinite, part of the inhabitants speak the Highland Alemannic German dialect.

This region produces up to three tenths of a percent of the country's GDP. Approximately this is more than four billion euros per year. The most important sectors of the local economy are iron and steel, hydropower generation, construction and, of course, tourism. From natural resources it is necessary to highlight the extraction of energy in the channels of mountain rivers, as well as the currently closed coal deposit in Kona. Also in Valle d'Aosta, iron ore is mined in small volumes, the region supplies other areas of the country with goods such as cheese, wine and different kinds leather

In the provinces of Valle d'Aosta there are a number of well-known mineral springs - Pre-Saint-Didier, springs in Courmayeur and Saint-Vincent. local lands decorate a number of historical sights, as if showing the richness of the culture of the region.

The smallest, but one of the most popular regions of Italy is Valle d'Aosta, a ski area, and at the same time a crossroads of European roads.

Italian region in the northwest of the country Valle d'Aosta foreign tourists known for his ski resorts. There are regular competitions skiing at the highest level, and in between championships numerous resort areas take lovers into their arms winter holiday outdoors from all over the world.

Region features

As in any border region, in Valle d'Aosta or the population speaks two languages ​​at once: Italian and French. The Italian government actively supports its French-speaking citizens: in kindergartens, many subjects are taught in both languages, and in secondary schools of the second level, students take a separate exam for knowledge of the French language.

Approximately 0.3% of the GDP of the entire state falls on the Valle d'Aosta. The main economic component of well-being ski region is tourism. Important industries include ferrous metallurgy, construction and hydropower. An insignificant contribution to the budget comes from coal mining. Cheese, leather and wine are actively traded.

General information

The smallest region of the country is located in a picturesque valley surrounded by the highest European peaks: Monte Rosa, Mont Blanc and Matterhorn. Valle d'Aosta borders Switzerland to the north, France to the west, and another Italian region to the east and south.

total area is 3,262 km², the population is 126,660 people. However, in only one administrative center, which is Aosta, lives from 35,000 to 40,000 people. Valle d'Aosta has the status of an autonomy and a province of Italy at the same time. The entire region is divided into 74 communes, many of which are popular ski resorts. Local time is 3 hours behind Moscow time in winter and 2 hours in summer. The time zone is UTC+1 in winter and UTC+2 in summer. Additional information about the region can be found on its official website: www.regione.vda.it.

Valle d'Aosta on the map of Italy

Main cities of Valle d'Aosta

Ski Capital autonomous region is the city Aosta located in the valley. This Romanesque village is both modern and old City simultaneously. People come here to ski, explore the picturesque mountain slopes, their green massifs and ancient fortress walls with towers. Around 70 medieval castles, here and there, scattered across mountain slopes. Of course, many of them could not withstand close contact with time, but some have retained quite a decent appearance to this day.
One of them is Phoenix with big amount signal towers and frescoes of the 15th century. The castles of Ussel-Châtillon, Saint-Pierre, Savoy-Gressoney-Saint-Jean, Fenil and Châtlard are also popular.

Climatic conditions

The impregnable mountains seem to hug the valley, thereby creating a special climate in it. Winter and summer are quite early here: frosts come in November, and heat comes in May. But autumn and spring are much shorter than in all of Italy. A rather dry summer period comes "in an embrace" with frequent and short thunderstorms. The hottest month is July, with an average temperature of 21°C. The winter months are generous with snow and frost, but the average January temperature is 1°C.

Excursion into history

Historians tend to believe that the Celtic tribes of the Salassi were among the first to inhabit the region. And it happened back in the IX- VIII centuries BC. Somewhat later, the Romans captured the territory, and already in 25 BC they built their city of Augusta here. Over time, the name of the town was transformed into Aosta. The fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century resulted in the region being divided between the Frankish and Burgundian kingdoms. In the Middle Ages, not only the Franks, but also the Byzantines, Visigoths and Lombards tried to gain a foothold in the region. In 1031, the first representative of the Savoy dynasty appeared here, who received the title of Count of Aosta. The Napoleonic period led to the incorporation of the Valle d'Aosta into France. And in 1948, the region acquired the status of autonomy, but already in the Italian Republic.

How to get there?

The region has a well-developed network bus service. Flights from surrounding towns and villages leave for Aosta every half an hour. Not far from historical center The city has a train station, from where you can take a train to Turin in just 2 hours. In the Alpine direction, in just 50 minutes you can reach Pre-Saint-Didier, which is three kilometers from.

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Valle d'Aosta for tourists

Tourists come from all over the valley and nearby regions to the commune of Pre-Saint-Didier, where the famous thermal complex of the same name and a bath are located. In addition, at the foot of Mont Blanc and in Saint-Vincent there are mineral springs on high altitude. And about small town The bar is the Bar Fort, which houses the Museum of the Alps.

But, of course, it is not the mineral springs and sights of Valle d'Aosta that attract crowds of tourists here. Dizzying ski slopes and plenty of opportunities for interesting and active winter recreation - that's what makes foreigners come here. , and Courmayeur are the most popular resorts in the region, the border location of which allows you to ski right in three countries: Italy, Switzerland and France.

Attractions Valle d'Aosta

Antiquity and newness merged in the valley together in literally this word. The best of that the proof is the city walls of Aosta. Even in the era of the Romans, they protected the settlement from uninvited guests, and today this rectangle of 572 by 724 meters has practically merged with modern buildings. Its main gate Porta Pretoria is oriented towards Rome. Right next to them is the ancient Arch of Augustus, erected in honor of the victory over the Salasses back in 25 and restored in 1912.

One of the most interesting places is Cathedral Square with the cathedral Duomo. This Romanesque temple is decorated inside with gothic style. Leaving the cathedral, you can find yourself in the Museum of Cathedral Treasures.

The largest medieval building in the city is the Collegiate Church of St. Peter and Ursus, built in 994-1025.

cooking

The location next to France and Switzerland has left its mark on the culinary preferences of the locals. Italian pasta is cooked here much less frequently than in other regions of the country, but fondue is enjoyed with pleasure. The historic geographical isolation of the Valle d'Aosta region has formed the basis of the tradition of preparing food from local products grown in the intermountain. The list of the most popular dishes of the local cuisine includes jambon de Bosse (raw smoked ham), fromageo, fontino cheese, tigole macaroons, torcetti cake and chocolate blamange.

The smallest italian region Valle d'Aosta is full of surprises and pleasant surprises. Ski slopes, ski schools, sport complexes And snow parks foreigners are attracted here in winter, but in summer there is something to see. The holiday season opens with the fires of St. Giovanni. From July to August, artisans present their products and taste local cuisine on the streets of many cities. And throughout the summer, the traditional competitions "Battle of the Queens" are held in the region. These are bloodless cow fights, consisting of 20 rounds. The cow that retreats first leaves them. And the winner in October receives thunderous applause, glory and a richly trimmed collar with a bell. Why not a regional event?