Cyclotour: Verrès – Saint-Jacques (Ayas)

From Verrès you make your way upwards along the wide, sunny Valle d’Ayas which climbs 32 km alongside the mountain river of Evançon. The first town you come to is Challand-Saint-Victor where you can visit the remains of Villa Castle from the 10th century. When you pass the 1,000 m mark you come to the Sanctuary of Sant’Anna at the entrance to Challand-Saint-Anselme; continuing on, you reach the plateau of Arcesaz which marks the start of the municipality of Brusson. Straightaway you see the ruins of Graines Castle built on a rocky ridge.
Ayas is the last municipality in the ancient valley of the Challand, situated in a stunningly beautiful hollow dominated by the Monte Rosa massif. There is no actual town of Ayas but it is a collection of numerous scattered villages, the best-known of which are Antagnod, Lignod, Champoluc, Frachey, Saint-Jacques and Crest.