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Courmayeur
The municipality of Courmayeur is one of the pearls of our nation; it is located over a thousand meters above sea level, in the province of Aosta and on the border with France. In its territory towers the highest peak in the Alps and Europe, Mont Blanc. Perhaps because of this, and because of the presence of major ski facilities and many outdoor trails, Courmayeur continually attracts many tourists and can be called the most renowned winter and summer resort in the Italian mountains. But it also holds some surprises: its small town, in fact, has an atmosphere of yesteryear and, on winter evenings, looks like a nativity scene from the many illuminated houses.
Activities in Courmayeur
Attractions in Courmayeur
Highlights
On the Italian normal route, you earn the Mont Blanc honestly from the valley. There the Papal route leads you to the highest Alpine summit.
Located at 2175m above sea level, the Saussurea alpine botanical garden is one of the four alpine ...
Magnificent route on the viewing balcony with a view of the Mont Blanc massif. The lift assistance at the beginning of the route saves energy for ...
A technically relatively simple summit route at the back end of the Ferret Valley with a beautiful view of the Grand Combin group in Switzerland.
Tor des Geants - Official track from the organization
Located at the mouth of Val Veny in the municipality of Courmayeur, it is one of the most important ...
Courmayeur, the pearl of the Alps
A town with typical Alpine charm, houses with geraniums on their balconies, historic villas and cafes, high-fashion stores, the mountains as silent but more alive than ever observers: this and much more is Courmayeur, nicknamed the "pearl of the Alps." Its historic center invites you to stroll around, window shop on Via Roma, and try the local food, without missing some of the village's "gems." One of these is the Church of San Pantaleone, built in the 18th century. Its distinguishing feature is the external staircase leading to the main door, crowned by a simple pronaos. There is a wonderful view from the square in front, while inside the polychrome stained-glass window depicting St. Pantaleon stands out. In Piazza Petigax, on the other hand, you are greeted by the Malluquin Tower, ogge venue for exhibitions.
Also worth a visit is the Duca degli Abruzzi Alpine Museum, which houses a number of testimonies on the history of mountain guides, for example, the booklets of deceased guides, photographs, mountaineering equipment, the books of the shelters on which mountaineers marked their passage, or the boots that Queen Margherita used on the Spitzbergen expedition in 1904.
Photo: Florian Pépellin, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
Another noteworthy sacred place in the municipality of Courmayeur, located at the entrance to Val Veny on a rocky outcrop, is the Sanctuary of Notre-Dame de Guérison, which is one of the most important in the entire region. From here you can admire the Mont Blanc massif in all its majesty. The church also houses many votive offerings from hikers and mountaineers who succeeded in climbing the great mountain.
Located at the mouth of Val Veny in the municipality of Courmayeur, it is one of the most important ...
Photo: Rémih, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
Beyond the Dora Baltea River, at the foot of Mount Chétif, lies Dolonne, a quaint village in Valle d'Aosta. Its name has a curious origin: it comes from the Latin word "dolere." This small hamlet, in fact, was close to the mines where laborers were enslaved, and the place name probably refers precisely to their suffering. Today, however, the hamlet retains a typical and ancient air, thanks to its wash houses, fountains and covered passages, which give it a certain magic.
Near Courmayeur, among ancient villages and Roman remains
Photo: Lysippos, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
Not far from Courmayeur is the lovely, pleasantly relaxed-looking village of Morgex, with its quaint pedestrian center, the Reading Park and the Biblio-Museum del Fumetto, which houses a collection of more than 30,000 comic books.
But the Aosta Valley is rich in quaint villages. Near Courmayeur, for example, are:
- Saint Pierre, with traditional architecture featuring stone houses and cobblestone streets;
- Avise, where you can admire the medieval castle and the 12th-century parish church of St. Martin;
- La Thuile, which, in addition to its charming old town with stone buildings and narrow alleys, also offers a large ski area.
For animal enthusiasts, on the other hand, nearby Courmayeur is the Parc Animalier d'Introd, the only wildlife park in the Aosta Valley, where adults and children can admire in their natural habitat many animals typical of the area, such as deer, ibex, chamois, marmots, hedgehogs, wild boar, foxes and badgers.
About half an hour away, however, is the region's capital, Aosta. Sometimes unjustly snubbed, this city is rich in important historical monuments. For example, the ruins of the Roman Theater, of which an imposing wall pierced by arches and windows remains. Or the well-preserved Porta Praetoria, which consists of three passages, an excellent starting point for walking along the Roman walls.
Finally, just beyond Aosta is the Castle of Fenis, erected between the 14th and 15th centuries; it is a massive, articulated manor house with a typical medieval appearance. Despite this, it probably did not have a defensive function, but an administrative one for the Challant-Fenis family. Its towers and double crenellated walls, therefore, perhaps served to intimidate the population and flaunt wealth.
You will remember your vacation in Aosta for a long time. Find information about fantastic routes, attractions, Crags, ...
Hikes in the sign of Mont Blanc
The Skyway: from Courmayeur to Mont Blanc.
If you don't feel up to tackling the King of Italy's mountains on foot, you can go up by modern Skyway rotating cable car, starting in La Palud, not far from Courmayeur. Consisting of three stations-Pontal d'Entrèves (1,300 m), Pavillon du Mont Fréty (2,173 m) and Punta Helbronner (3.466 m) -, the Skyway is considered the eighth wonder of the world: in just 10 minutes it allows you to reach Punta Helbronner and its panoramic terrace and enjoy 360° views of the highest peak in the Alps and a seemingly endless sea of glaciers and peaks. There is also no shortage of a restaurant-the Bistrot Panoramic-a bookstore and the Crystal Room, which preserves some of the precious minerals found on the Mont Blanc Massif.
Photo: Luca Maffeis, CC0, unsplash.com
Instead, at the height of the second station is the Saussurea Alpine Botanical Garden, founded in 1984, which is the highest alpine garden in Europe. This particular place collects all the typical flora of Mont Blanc, but also some species from the rest of the world.
Located at 2175m above sea level, the Saussurea alpine botanical garden is one of the four alpine ...
Outdoor activities around Courmayeur
In summer.
Ideal for hiking, mountaineering and mountain biking tours are Val Veny and Val Ferret. Here you can find unspoiled nature, clean air and breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains.
The Val Veny, which stretches from Entrèves to the Col de la Seigne, parallel to the Mont Blanc Massif, offers a varied landscape and breathtaking rock faces. Of course, there is no shortage of views of the beautiful surrounding mountains! Rifugio Gonella is the starting point of the Italian normal route to Mont Blanc, but it can also be the destination of a Sunday high-altitude hike of medium difficulty.
Val Ferret, on the other hand, stretches, again at the foot of Mont Blanc to Col Ferret, which is on the border with Switzerland. Crossing this valley for a flat walk, one can admire some of the most beautiful peaks in the entire Mont Blanc Massif, such as the Dente del Gigante. From here one can also set off on hikes, for example up to the Bonatti Refuge, some of which are still not very popular, such as the one leading to the Tête entre Deux Sauts, which also passes through the Bonatti Refuge, and the one that allows one to tackle the ascent to the Testa Bernarda from the north. Then of course there is the Tête de Ferret. One ascends (with some effort!) from Petit Col Ferret and descends via the more crowded Grand Col Ferret.
The CCC (Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix) of theUltra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), a famous trail running event that brings together nearly 10,000 runners each year, starts in Courmayeur. Created as a "little sister" to the UTMB, it has now become one of the most prestigious races in the world. It runs through the Ferret Valley, passes through Champex, Switzerland, and arrives in Chamonix, France.
Also in September, on the other hand, there is the Tor des Géants, an endurance trail race, with start and finish in the Abbè Henry Square in Courmayeur. In addition to the traditional race, so 330 km long, some additional races have been added in recent years, such as TOR30 - Passage au Malatra, 30 km long, and TOR450 - Tor des Glaciers, 450 km long.
... And in winter!
With 100 km of ski slopes and 18 ski lifts, in winter the Courmayeur-Chécrouit/Val Veny ski area offers many opportunities to practice different types of snow activities and meets the tastes and needs of all visitors. The area dedicated to skiing extends on one side on the Chécrouit side and, on the other, on the Val Veny side. Between downhill skiing, freeriding orheli-skiing, one is spoiled for choice. The most famous and beloved descent for experienced freeriders is undoubtedly that of Vallée Blanche, which, crossing the Mer de Glace glacier, allows you to reach Chamonix, on the French side of Mont Blanc.
For those who want to enjoy the snow away from the slopes, the area around Courmayeur offers several routes for ski mountaineering and quiet snowshoeing. For example, with snowshoes you can explore the Vallone di Youla along the Dora Baltea, starting from Dolonne and reaching the village of Entrèves, near La Palud. Val Vany and Val Ferret are popular destinations for snowshoeing, fat biking, sledding and even cross-country skiing.
There are numerous restaurants and clubs in Courmayeur that are perfect for traditional après-ski. Wearing après-ski, you can refresh yourself with appetizing local dishes, sip an aperitif with friends, dance and socialize, even at high altitude. The Courmayeur cable car is open until midnight, so you can have the experience of descending to the valley under the stars.
Relaxing at the Pré Saint Didier Spa
After a tiring day outdoors, there is nothing better than enjoying a few hours of relaxation at the spa! The village of Pré Saint Didier, just a few kilometers from Courmayeur, boasts one of the most beautiful spas in the Alps, offering a unique view of Mont Blanc.
The thermal baths of Pré-Saint-Didier are historic spas located in the small town of ...
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