Arnad

Arnad is located at an altitude of 340 metres in an area where the central valley widens, forming a small plain: this location is popular above all for the Lard d'Arnad, tasty and fragrant PDO cured meat, but those who decide to stay there will also have other welcome surprises.
Three castles, a fortified house, the bridge in Echallod, the Machaby sanctuary and the parish church of San Martino bear witness to its rich history, while the most interesting climbing walls in the region fullfil the tourist offer: a mix of good food, culture, sport and hospitality.

WHAT TO SEE
● The Parish Curch of San Martino, the most important example of Romanesque architecture in the Aosta Valley.
● The Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Nevi: hidden by the chestnut trees in the Machaby valley, just 3 kilometers from the village centre, it has very ancient origins. On the outside square you can admire some soapstone statues.
● The Vallaise Castle: now undergoing restoration, it is a rare example of a Baroque residence in the Aosta Valley.
● The Medieval village of Ville and the Ohta fortified house, an interesting manor compound built around a Late Medieval tower.

NATURE AND SPORT
In Arnad you can do excursions of varying length and difficulty, but the sport for which this municipality is particularly suited is sport climbing: il Paretone e la Gruviera are full of “routes” at the disposal of all enthusiasts.
In the municipality there is also a pond where you can practice sport fishing, near which you can leave for a funny rafting tour along the Dora Baltea up to the Forte di Bard.

EVENTS AND TRADITIONS
● Lard d’Arnad Festival: during the last week-end of August, the village of Arnad celebrates the Féhta dou lar, dedicated to the Vallée d'Aoste Lard d'Arnad. This tradition that has been ongoing for nearly fifty years and attracts thousands of tourists.
● Celebration of the Madonna delle Nevi at the Sanctuary of Machaby: on the occasion of the celebration of Our Lady of the Snows, the shrine is opened to welcome the numerous pilgrims.

FOR THE LITTLE ONES
For the little ones in Arnad there are two playgrounds: one in the hamlet of Arnad-Le-Vieux, behind the parish church, the other in the hamlet of Echallod Inferiore.

IDENTIKIT
● Altitude: 340 m
● Inhabitants: 1200
● Distance from Aosta: 33 km
● How to get there by public transport: you can reach Arnad from Pont-Saint-Martin or from Aosta by bus with the line “Pont-Saint-Martin - Aosta” by the Arriva company or with the bus "Carema - Montjovet" by the VITA Group company.