Official website for tourism in the Aosta Valley
Da Brusson si raggiunge lo splendido Col di Joux che regala splendidi panorami. Da qui si scende verso Saint-Vincent e si risale verso il capoluogo di Emarèse. In cima alla strada per il Col Tzecore c'è un area pic-nic con fontane. Dal colle parte poi la ripida discesa verso Challand-Saint-Ansèlme da cui si risale gradulamente verso Brusson.
Technical difficulty: medium
Physical difficulty: medium
Cyclability: 100%
Type of route: mixed asphalt, dirt road, path
The "Ciclovia dello Zerbion" mountain bike or e-bike route winds along paths, country roads, forest tracks and the characteristic ru, ancient irrigation channels. It connects the high-altitude panoramas to the valley villages of Saint-Vincent and Châtillon, with refreshment points along the way for a break.
Start from the Promiod hamlet of Châtillon, at 1,521 metres above sea level. You start pedaling, reaching, after about 3.5 km, the highest point of the route at 1,773 metres. You then descend towards the village of Perrière, then climb back up towards Amay and reach the panoramic Col di Joux.
From here, descend towards Sommarèse and Eresaz. If you have time, take a short detour and walk to the geosite “Borna da ghiasa,” a cavity in the rock from which a constant flow of cold air blows.
Continue towards Emarèse, and from there descend to Saint-Vincent. Pedal through the town, passing by the parish church and the archaeological site below and near the tourist office.
Finally, head towards Châtillon, where your mountain bike ride ends at the train station, with the satisfaction of having admired, along the way, enchanting views and traditional villages.
Technical difficulty: medium (difficult descents)
Physical difficulty: medium/difficult
Bike-friendly: 90%
Type of Route: mixed asphalt, dirt, path
Take the Valle d’Aosta State Road no. 26 or A5 Motorway and exit at Châtillon - Saint-Vincent. Follow the State Road 26 to the Saint-Vincent village and then leave the car in the municipal square with the sports facility where the route begins.
You follow via Ponte Romano until the Feilley crossroads and then go uphill until the Estaod (village of Montjovet municipality) crossroads (702 metres above sea level) on the asphalt road. Then you descend to the Ruelle hamlet and continue until you come to the old church of Saint-Germain and the ancient village of Montjovet.
After having passed the Dora Baltea River near the district’s hydroelectric plant, continuing along the asphalt road leads you to Fiusey di Montjovet. Then carrying on further along the asphalt road that leans against the rocky side on the orographic right side of the Dora Baltea, you arrive at the village of Gettaz. After reaching the crossroads located near the fountain (drinking water) of this village, you take the road that goes up on the right in the direction of Col Marcage and then turn onto the farm track until the hill itself before reaching Rodoz by following a rather technical path; from here, you continue along the path, wheeling your bikes alongside you for part of it, (following the red stickers – provisional signposting that indicate the direction of Bellecombe of Châtillon), and then come to a very technical path before reaching the village of Bellecombe. Once at this point, the descent to Ussel can be made on asphalt road or by following the path of the martze-a-pià race until you reach the village of Ussel.
From this point, a paved path leads to the bridge of Pontey at the railway station of Châtillon, besides which, following the farm track that flanks the Dora Baltea, you reach the hamlet of Tenso and then the ex Saint-Vincent train station before returning on the municipal asphalted road to the sports facility square from where you set out.
THE “LARD” OF ARNAD
A recommendation for the connoisseur: past the Bard Fort and then make a stop at Arnad and request some of the famous lard. Spicy and flavored with mountain herbs, the “Lard d’Arnad” adds to any dish an authentic taste, the taste of the Aosta Valley. In 1996 it received the Protected Designation of Origin. Every year, on the last Sunday in August, the traditional “Féhta dou Lard” - Lard Festival - unfolds, which attracts thousands of tourists.
BRUSSON
The climb from Verrès, along the lower part of the Val d'Ayas, takes you to Challand-Saint-Victor where you can make a detour to Lake Villa, a nature reserve. Continuing further, you will pass Challand-Saint-Ansèlme, you will see the Graines castle, built in the 11th century on a rocky spur, and you will reach Brusson, at 1338 meters above sea level, where you can visit the Chamousira gold mines and the dairy La Fromagerie Haut Val d'Ayas.
From Brusson starts the road that leads to Col di Joux, which connects the Val d'Ayas with Saint-Vincent.
SAINT-VINCENT
A charming scenic road descends from the 5,380 feet of Col di Joux to Saint-Vincent, exclusive town overlooking the central valley, known as the “Riviera of the Alps” for its special climatic conditions. The ideal location to spend a few days of vacation in absolute relaxation, but also just for a pleasant break before you get on the road to the bottom of the valley: It’s the right time for a pizza, an ice-cream, a stroll through the elegant streets of the center and – why not?- a short trip to the slot-machines at the famous Casino de La Vallée.
Take route 12 from Col du Joux. Continue along the dirt road into the conifer woods until you meet a path from the right, again signposted 12, with directions for Nuarsaz. Go past the pastures of Nuarsaz Désot, Meiten and Damon, until you come to the pasture of Chenallet and, after crossing a dirt road you come to Giacomet. Cross the private road again, and the itinerary bends to the right. At a crossroad, ignore route 7 on the right and take the private road from Promiod. Take the branch that goes up and soon reaches Francou. Leave the road on the right, and take the path that goes up the mountainside to reach Col Portola.
The starting point of the walk is the Col de Joux, which can be reached in about 25/30 minutes by car from Saint-Vincent. After having parked it in the dirt parking of the hill, take, on your left (with your back to Brusson), the path n. 107 of Gran Balconata del Cervino (Great Balcony of Matterhorn), which enters into a beautiful coniferous forest, cuts the ski slopes and continues, flat, up to Sommarèse, a hamlet in the municipality of Emarèse. Once you get here (1h) continue following, uphill, a stretch of the paved road, and then, after a while, turn left again onto path n.107, which allows you to reach Col Tzecore and its picnic area, open in summertime. Excursion suitable for families as it is easy without any difficulty. Beautiful view over the mountains!
From the most important and central square, Piazza Cavalieri di Vittorio Veneto, you have to get the roundabout placed in Via Roma (bus station), walk up into Via Conti di Challand and after in Via Monte Rosa for about 10/15 minutes, until reaching the departure point of the walk, in Les Moulins hamlet, where a signpoint has been placed, showing the path n. 103.
The track is flat along all its length and ends in La Verdettaz village, in Châtillon, as the crow flies above the parish church of the mentioned resort. Nice view over Ussel castle and the villages that have been crossed. Along the trail five equipments for fitness and stretching have been placed.
Opposite the car park you can find the start to a snow-covered track that climbs above the small park surrounding the Chapel of the Partisans. Once past the no-entry sign, you follow a short, almost flat section of the path until you reach a junction a few minutes later: here you ignore the left fork and continue going gently uphill towards Monte Zerbion. Along this section, you can enjoy some interesting panoramic views over the central valley and, in particular, across to the unmistakable silhouette of Mont Emilius. You slowly make your way into the larch wood which gradually gives way to some stunning examples of red spruce until you reach a second and less evident junction than the previous one: you ignore the right-hand fork and continue straight on, going gently upwards. The path proceeds in pleasant fashion beneath the unusual peaks that make up the southern ridge round Zerbion, until it reaches the junction point with route 107: here you make a sharp, right-hand turn almost making a U-turn. You go briefly uphill again and then start downwards once more until you meet another signpost, where you turn left and go past a covered tank, before climbing upwards again along a short section. As you walk through the woods, some small openings in the thick vegetation allow you to enjoy some interesting views over the central valley. You go downhill again once more and approach Fromy, a small village nestling in a beautiful clearing. The path starts to climb again and leads you once more into the thick, red spruce wood where the sunlight creates some interesting light and shade effects. You are almost at the destination when the ups and downs come to an end. You continue to follow the wide, well-beaten track, going through the wood until you meet another signpost and, soon after the charge basins for the Ru Courtaud waters: here you turn slightly to the right, taking a path which leads you downhill and finally to Col de Joux.
