Arvier

Situated at 776 meters above sea level at the entrance of the Valgrisenche, in an area dotted with pretty vineyards, in Arvier you can see how the town planning adapted to a rough terrain over the centuries, with dwellings built on all the available land, terraces being raised on the sunniest side. Here the famous red wine Enfer d’Arvier is produced, one of the first Aosta Valley wines to obtain the prestigious D.O.C. appellation. In Roman times this village was called Arebrigium (from are=nesar and briga=hill) and was a military camp along the road to Gaul:  some ruins dating back to those times can still be seen. 

WHAT TO SEE
● The impressive Montmayeur Castle, with the cylindrical tower that still remains, reachable on foot from the hamlet of Grand Haury.
● The square tower of La Mothe Castle, built towards the end of the 13th century that dominates the village.
● The frescoes of the pilgrims’ hospice founded in 1368 in the nearby hamlet of Leverogne.
● The shrine of Notre-Dame de Rochefort and the magnificent view on the Château Blanc glacier and on Mont Blanc. The building stands on the ruins of the castle of Rochefort,  whose remains can still be seen at the back of the chapel.
● The fort-house of the Lords of Avise built in 1312 in Planaval.

NATURE AND SPORT
The Lake Lolair nature reserve is an area of great natural interest. The lake, fed by three springs, is surrounded by an extensive cane field and the characteristic rounded and smooth rocks of glacial origin. The reserve can be reached with a pleasant walk starting from La Ravoire, where you'll find a sport climbing crag . Another equipped wall is located in Leverogne.
An ideal place for excursions and ski mountaineering is the hamlet of Planaval, where every two years the Tour du Ruitor takes place, a very tough ski mountaineering race where participants ski in pairs. It is very spectacular and it attracts high-level athletes from all over the world.

FEASTS AND TRADITIONS
Levrogne d'eun cou: an interesting celebration that evokes the life of the past and the traditions of the characteristic village of Leverogne, with a market of handicrafts and food products from the Aosta Valley. Tastings of typical regional specialities are also possible.

FOR CHILDREN
In the village there is an equipped green area with playground, soccer field and volleyball court.

IDENTIKIT
● Inhabitants: 870
● Altitude: 776 m
● Distance from Aosta: 26 km 
● How to get there by public transport: Arvier can be reached from Aosta by bus with the line “Aosta-Courmayeur”. The timetables are available on the website of the Arriva company (timetables 'Alta Valle').