Aosta Valley

Overview of the Aosta Valley

This long valley gives the region its name. Beyond the mountain, lake, and glacier landscapes that surround it and offer hiking opportunities, the area boasts many charming small villages and, above all, around a hundred medieval castles, the most famous of which are those of Fénis, Verrès, and Saint-Pierre.

Key Facts

• Type of place: valley.

• Tourist interest: ★★★ (recommended).

• Characteristics:

• Location: in northwestern Italy, bordering France and Switzerland.

• Length: approximately 100 km (65 km wide).

• Population: 125,814 inhabitants (2018).

• Main town: Aosta (35,000 inhabitants).

• Altitude: from 345 to 4,809 m (Mont Blanc).

• Website: http://www.lovevda.it/fr

History of the Aosta Valley

Languages

Since 1948, the entire valley (in the administrative sense) has had the distinction of having French as an official language alongside Italian. Additionally, the Francoprovençal language, historically spoken in the valley, is also practiced.

Environment

Wildlife and Flora

Precautions

What to See in the Aosta Valley

Towns and Cultural Heritage

Aosta ★★
Nestled among the mountains, this small regional capital boasts Roman (theatre, walls...) and medieval (collegiate church, cathedral...) heritage. It’s also a gateway to France and Switzerland.

Fénis Castle ★★
Located in the municipality of the same name, this medieval castle is the best-known—and one of the prettiest—of the many in the Aosta Valley.

Verrès Castle ★
One of the main castles in the Aosta Valley.

Châtillon ★
A large town at the foot of the mountains, featuring several churches and small castles (including Ussel Castle).

Courmayeur ★
At the foot of Mont Blanc, the town is both a spa destination, a base for mountaineers, and above all one of the region’s main ski resorts.

Natural Heritage

Great St Bernard Pass ★★★
One of the highest passes in the Alps (between Switzerland and Italy), highly popular with cyclists and lovers of stunning landscapes and hikes. The pass is also famous for its hospice at the summit and, above all, the St Bernard rescue dogs.

Mont Blanc Massif ★★★★
This massif towering over Chamonix is a major tourist destination and hub for outdoor sports (hiking, mountaineering, skiing). Notable sites include the Aiguille du Midi (accessible by cable car), the Vallée Blanche, the Argentière Glacier, and the Mer de Glace, not to mention Mont Blanc itself, standing at 4,809 metres.

Gran Paradiso National Park ★★★★
Located in Piedmont and the Aosta Valley, this is Italy's oldest national park. Amid stunning mountain landscapes, you can enjoy hiking, mountaineering, or skiing.

What to Do in the Aosta Valley

Hiking of All Kinds

Mountaineering and Climbing

Whitewater Activities

Winter Activities

Other Activities

Climate and Weather

The Aosta Valley has a typical alpine climate with cool summers and cold winters.

Transportation

Getting There

By Road

The Aosta Valley is crossed by the RN 26, which ends at the Petit-Saint-Bernard Pass (French border with Savoie), and the A5 motorway, which ends at the Mont Blanc Tunnel (French border with Haute-Savoie). Toward Switzerland, the RN 27 starts in Aosta and goes up to the Grand Saint Bernard Pass (Swiss border with Valais).

By Train

By Air

Getting Around

Accommodation

Food

Nearby

Further Reading