Valle d’Aosta, forms the heart of the Italian Alps and offers many opportunities for adventurers, nature lovers and culture enthusiasts alike. From ski slopes in winter to versatile hiking trails, downhill MTB routes and picturesque villages in summer, Valle d’Aosta is a playground for those who enjoy the real outdoors.
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Culture
The name of the Valle d’Aosta region refers to Aosta, the regional capital and also the only city in the region. A city that was discovered early on by the Romans to trade, due to the important mountain passes between Italy and France. You can see today that Italian and French culture have come together in this region. You can find this in the dialect, way of life and eating habits. Far away from Rome, people speak a Savoy dialect in this autonomous region.
Aosta boasts a great Roman past and is also called the “Rome of the Alps. Impressive Roman sights are well preserved and recall the period when it was called Augusta Praetoria. Hotspots include: Ponte arcquedotto the Pont d’Ael (Roman Aqueduct), the Arch of Augustus. The impressive triumphal arch was built immediately after Emperor Augustus’ victory in 25 BC. Porta Praetoria, ancient Roman fortress wall.
The historic center is a succession of beautiful historic buildings. In the lively streets are beautiful stores and everywhere you can eat and drink.
Downhilling
The mountain bike enthusiast can indulge in Pila Bike Park.
There are a dozen tracks that are part of Pila Bike Park, one of which is the freeride track Pila Aosta which, with the two tracks before it, make up the wonderful route of the “Desarpa Bike”: a total of 15 km and 2,200 altimeters! You start at 2705 meters and finish 15 km later in Aosta….
The freeride tracks, are accessible to anyone with a little experience in descending, the difficulty levels are well marked, and there are chicken ways at the trickier sections. The Downhill tracks, however, require good athletic and technical training.
Explore the local delicacies
The main elements of the cucina regionale are polenta, bread and soup. Another important part of Aosta’s cuisine is formaggio, cheese. The valleys around Aosta are responsible for most of the production of Fontina, one of Italy’s best cheeses.
Tip: Within walking distance of Gioia di Vivere, you can enjoy lunch or dinner at Les Fleurs. Here you can enjoy local dishes at a table with a magical view!
Tip: At Erba Voglio, get the most delicious cheeses and antipasti from owner Stefano with a matching local wine.
Tip: If you want to taste the region’s vineyards and wine, visit Grosjean vins.
Hiking in the mountains
The region is ideal for hiking as you will find hundreds of kilometers of marked trails here. But also mountain and rock climbing can be practiced here. What is especially special about this region is the peace that you will find here. Indeed, it can happen that during a hike during the day you encounter no one. This combined with the tranquility and the “alone in the world feeling” are the reasons why mountain lovers fall in love with Valle d’Aosta. The diversity of treks is enormous, for every type of hiker.
The views during a hike are a surprise at every mountain pass, and the variety of landscapes makes you feel like you are walking through several countries. The most famous, but also the most special treks of the region are without doubt the two Alta Via routes. These routes run through the high mountains and cross Valle d’Aosta. Alta Via 1, also known as “The Path of the Giants,” is a route that runs along the foot of Monte Rosa, the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc.
The Alta Via 2, “Alta Via Naturalistica,” runs through the Gran Paradiso National Park and Mont Avic Regional Park. For both routes, almost all stages include the possibility of descending into the valley so hikers can use village facilities, or break off the route.
