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The mines of Cogne
Resorts: Cogne
A step back in time in the highest mines in Europe.
The history of the magnetite mines of Liconi, Colonna and Costa del Pino, situated at the slopes of Mount Creya, is said to commence from the era of the Salassians and the Romans.
The Church held usage rights up to 1679, when the bishop Bailly sold the mines to the Municipality of Cogne. A lengthy period of inactivity followed, which was most likely due to the lack of capital and labour. Interest in the problem of the mines by the Mayor Grappein, led to the building of a carriageable road about 6 km in length, which was completed in 1824, and which reached Vieyes from Champlong (where the material arrived on sleighs).
Moreover, Doctor Grappein also proposed a fair sub-division of the profits from the mines among all the inhabitants of Cogne. Around the mid-19th century, the crisis in the iron industry forces the Municipality to rent the mine, and up until the early decades of the 1900’s very little work was done. The two World Wars and the State Intervention were cause for an impulse to use the mines, which lasted up to 1970, when they were hit by a serious crisis that imposed a slow-down in production, the mines have been closed since March 1979.
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Description of the route
The mines of Cogne represent a beautiful testimony of industrial archaeology: the remains of the aerial ropeways used for transporting the material are still clearly visible, the cableway for passengers arriving in Colonna from Cogne and the numerous buildings, the mine workers could in fact take advantage of the store, the library and even a cinema. The ancient silver mine of Valeille, the copper mine of Ecloseur and the magnetite mine of Larsinaz are also worth mentioning.
guided tour by reservation at 10.30 am and 2.00 pm
It will be possible to venture inside the mine thanks to the suggestive vintage train and then continue on foot in the heart of the mountain for a visit that lasts about 2 hours.
Meeting in Costa del Pino
Big news for 2021: every Thursday, at the end of the visit, sensory tasting of Aosta Valley wines put to refine in the mine.
The reservation can be made directly here
- Full price: € 20.00
- Reduced: € 15.00 children 5 - 14 years, groups, FAI members, Amico di Cogne Card and Aosta Valley Card
Useful information
the mine is accessed by train and the temperature is 7 degrees
heavy clothing and trekking shoes are recommended
minors must be accompanied, the site is accessible to children over 5 years
the mining route is not accessible to dogs
See also
Cogne
One-day excursions
You can also continue inside the valley of Liconi (ancient cultivation site outside the iron mine) to reach the ridge leading to …
Cogne
Parks and reserves
Cogne
Museums
A few steps from the centre of Cogne you can visit an interesting exhibition on the extraction of minerals in the Aosta Valley region.
The complex of the miners’ village, reachable by …