Heritage: Valsavarenche

Located on a morainic peak, once dedicated to the harvest of grains, the village of Nex, like the nearby village of Tignet, dominates the valley of the Dora di Valsavarenche.Its superelevated position is a safety guarantee against avalanches and torrential floods.The placename “nex” comes from the fact that hemp was soaked in the humid cavity located near the road leading to the village.This little village was completely renovated, respecting the original “outline”, by the architect, Franco Binel, during the seventies.Today it is still one of the most beautiful examples of “soft renovation” of a traditional building complex in Valle d’Aosta for the purpose of residential tourism.The architecture of Nex is very peculiar if compared to the chief town of Dégioz or to that of other villages of the municipality.In fact it preserves many wooden barns for sheaf and grain, dating back to the XV-XVII century. A small stone building reminds us that during the Lower Middle Ages the rural homes of Valsavaranche were made up of smaller buildings used for grain harvesting and for the daily activities of the inhabitants.This gives the village of Nex a great value in terms of architectural heritage of a lifestyle that today is forgotten.

Entering Valsavaranche there is the village of Rovenaud, known for its XVII century chapel, consecrated to San Defendante and Santa Margherita.It is the birthplace of Émile Chanoux, head of the Valdostan Resistance, killed by the fascists; his ideas strongly marked the independence of the region.In the middle of the village, the square, where an XIX century fountain stands, contains the bakery, the dairy and the school which face each other, while, towards the group of barns, huge stone buildings built from the Middle Ages up until the XVIII century remind us of the great role held, in other times, by the Carlin family (notary public).

The first news of a chapel dates back to 1296, however the parish church was built in 1493. The only surviving feature from that era is the belltower. The new parish church was inaugurated in 1673, leaning against the belltower (traces on the wall are still visible today). The current building dates from 1884: it replaced the previous one, which was too humid and in need of repair. With a Latin cross plan of ample proportions, the church was called after Our Lady of Carmel and inside hosts sacred art objects. The belltower, which stands alone, was built in stone with two and three-light windows.

The museum is housed in the hamlet of Dégioz, in the two big rooms of the Sala d’Arte Giovanni Calipari.
It displays objects, tools, clothes and photographs concerning the traditional lifestyle of the Alpine populations, and particularly those of Valsavarenche.

The fathers of Aosta Valley Autonomous Region and its autonomy originate from Valsavarenche, known today especially for being part of the Gran Paradiso National Park: Emile Chanoux, promoter of Val d’Aosta’s autonomy and Federico Chabod, first President of the Autonomous Region of Aosta Valley.
Emile Chanoux was born on 9th January 1906 in the small village of Rovenaud. He was a firm supporter of autonomy for Aosta Valley within a federal-style Europe, the recognised leader of the Val d’Aosta struggle for liberation after the armistice. Emile Chanoux was arrested by the Nazi-fascists on 18 May 1944 and died during the night after being tortured by the Nazi-fascists.
Federico Chabod was born in Aosta in 1901 and was very fond of his land of origin. He was the first President of the Autonomous Region of Aosta Valley and, after a brilliant university career, became a internationally recognised historian.

The Rovenaud documentation centre valorises and promotes the cultural heritage left by Chabod and Chanoux, particularly in terms of the debate on federalism and Europe. You can see an anthology of original writings by Chanoux and multimedia supports provide information concerning the contribution of other Aosta Valley authors, such as Chabod, Bréan, Caveri and others, to the debate on federalism and the new Europe.

The museum is housed in the parish church of Dégioz, and exhibits ancient sacred furnishings and liturgical ornaments from the parish.