Nature: Aosta, Brissogne, Charvensod, Fénis, Pollein, Saint-Marcel

The Mont Avic Park, first natural park in the Aosta Valley, preserves since 1989 the natural resources of the upper Chalamy stream valley in the municipality of Champdepraz and, since 2003 the Dondena valley, in the territory of Champorcher.

The protected area is characterised by extremely captivating landscapes and environments only marginally affected by human activities.
Crossing the paths that meander through the protected area gives visitors the chance to come into contact with particularly interesting and various natural aspects: rugged and characteristic geological formations, floral alpine endimisms and peculiar plant associations tied to the green rock substratum. The largest mountain pine forest (pinus uncinata) in the region with a couple dozen ponds, marshes and peat bog, it is unrivalled in number and in extension in the Aosta Valley. All the most widespread alpine animals in the region are represented.

You can hike along the park paths all year round. Most of the paths are snow-covered from November to May and only advisable for experts with appropriate equipment. Some paths can be ridden on horseback or on mountain bike.

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This particularly interesting area from a geomorphological and archaeological point of view, the hillock with steep slopes and a flat peak is located to the North-East of Aosta and it is also known locally as “Quota B.P.” (from Baden-Powell, scout founder).

A late Neolithic settlement, dating back to 3000 B.C. was situated at the top of the hill.

The nature reserve extends across 14 hectares at an altitude between 720 - 796 meters and offers typical sceneries of low mountain slopes with southern exposure.
The area is an excellent point for birdwatching during the migratory periods, especially for some birds of prey and corvidae. The reserve is also home to some mammals, reptiles and various invertebrate species.

The area’s climate promotes typically xerophile plant species mainly downy oaks and plants of steppe origin.
This conditions make the reserve’s visit possible all year round, with preference for spring and autumn.

How to get there
From the exit Aosta Est of the A5 motorway, take the national road 26 towards the town. At the second roundabout turn right towards Porossan and go on until the Serod hamlet. Continue following the signs to Saint-Christophe until reaching the little parking at the reserve’s entry.

In a very urbanised environment, the traces of a Roman bridge dating back 2000 years are the only precious visible testimony of the ancient bed of the Buthier river. The river, an important tributary of the Dora Baltea, to which it lent its name, now flows near the Arch of Augustus, but up until the 11th century it flowed with a single bed under the Stone Bridge. The city of Aosta develops on the distal section of the large fan of the Buthier river in convergence with the Dora Baltea. From the Roman presence up until the late Middle Ages, the river flowed, with a single bed, under the “Ponte di Pietra”. On an unknown date, which is thought to be prior to the year 1000, following a serious flood, a diversion of the river caused the subdivision of the riverbed into two branches. Documents from the 11th-13th centuries certify the existence of two separate rivers, each of which had a bridge: “lapideus” the Roman one and “ligneus” the more recent one, situated around one hundred metres further west, near the Arch of Augustus.
In a print dated 1682, showing the city of Aosta, we can see that the canal with the largest capacity flowed under the wooden bridge (which has now been replaced by a modern bridge), while under Ponte di Pietra there was only a modest stream. Around 1850, the historian Aubert discovered that the section of riverbed under the Roman bridge was three quarters full of flood debris. Water definitively ceased flowing under the bridge around the first decades of the 20th century. The Roman Bridge, which ceased its function as a link, remains as a testimony of the extraordinary engineering art of the Romans and an evolutionary moment in the route of the Buthier river. The ancient riverbed, near the bridge, was transformed into a green area to be used as a public garden, where there are stones and round and smooth masses, which perhaps once belonged to the old river. The span of the bridge is partially obstructed by a wall that supports a brick terrace. Behind the bridge, the area is completely built-up and there are no recognisable traces of the historical branch of the Buthier river.

How to get there:

You can reach Aosta city either through the S.S. 26 or via the motorway. Arriving from Turin, once you have surpassed the commercial area, follow the signposts for the city centre. Having passed the state road through an underpass, you will reach Corso Ivrea directly. It is possible to park in Via Monte Emilius.

TECHNICAL NOTES
Altitude: 500 m above sea level
Overall duration of the tour: 20 minutes.
Recommended period: All year round

Itinerary:

The geological site is located in Aosta city, coming from the centre of Aosta, go in the direction of the Arch of Augustus and as far as corso Ivrea, the street immediately below the Arch, the bridge and the old riverbed are 100 metres after the first traffic light on the left.

The patois name refers to the small woods near the hamlet of Entrebin, 971 metres above sea level and only 6 Km from Aosta. The southern entrance of the park is on the municipal road to Arpuilles< the north entrance is on the private road to Excenex.
Near the two entrances are shelters showing the map of the site, indicating the trails, refreshment areas (with wooden benches) and rules for using the site.
Many varieties of local and exotic trees can be found in this wooded area: red spruce, larches, scotch pines, black pine, Douglas fir, cedar, cherry, ash, elm, mountain maple, linden, oak, walnut, birch, poplar, chestnut, common elderberry, wild pear and apple etc.
There is also a charming chapel in the area.

At the bottom of the central valley, a highly interesting ecological habitat

Location: on the Dora Baltea river, at Brissogne municipality.

The nature reserve extends across 35.4 hectares at an altitude between 526 - 532 meters.
The riparian mid-central valley environment, located in an area formerly occupied by a bend in the Dora Baltea river, is characterised by two quarry lakes with mainly naturally re-populated shores.
The reserve is the most important regional stop over and feeding ground for migratory birds. Many species also nest here. The reserve is home to amphibians, reptiles and, in the lake waters, tenches and pikes.
The vegetation, representative of the ancient riparian landscape now receded from almost the entire valley, is made up of marsh cane, reeds, sedge and a few prominent plants such as the Dwarf bulrush.

How to get there
From Aosta, follow State road 26 towards Turin and turn right at the Brissogne bridge. Go on walking along the Dora Baltea river, until you’ll reach the reserve entry, indicated by an explanatory board.

The modern construction which houses the Grand Place multifunction centre is surrounded on 3 sides by a tree park, founded in 1994, and host to a considerable number of tall forest trees, including two specimens of Ginkgo Biloba (a “living fossil” and sole survivor of a group of plants that were prolific in the Mesozoic Era) .

Since 1998 the park has hosted a series of rocks representing the main types of specimens found in the mountains of the Aosta Valley region, arranged in a sequence based on geological and geographical origin.

Each mass is accompanied by a descriptive panel featuring the name of the rock, the metamorphic environment in which it was formed, the geological unit it belongs to, its mineral composition, a few notes on the specific characteristics of each specimen and the geographic zone of origin.

The site stretches across an altitude of between 1,720 and 1,850 m, set among stunning nature and landscapes in the Mont Avic-Mont Emilius Special Protection Area, which is part of the Natura 2000 network.

The tour trail set up through the mining site leads you to explore the mining work that went on here, as well as the material processing phases, the miners’ lives and the related economic and social aspects.

You can enter the site at the Les Druges Picnic Area (1,594 m at Les Druges Alte, accessible by following regional road No 14 for about 15 km from the bottom of the valley), where you’ll find the ticket office and visitors welcome point (as well as restrooms, tables, benches and barbecues).
From here, a pleasant 20-30 minute walk leads you to the mining site.

Main points of interest
The tour route is marked out by a series of information panels in 3 languages (Italian, French and English) which describe:

• the remains of the ancient Treves foundry, the entry point of the site;
• the mining tunnels, now preserved to let you experience the life of a miner: the “1815” tunnel, situated at the highest point (open to the public for about 120 metres walking on the “original” ground), the “San Giacomo” (open for about 30 metres, where you can see the millstones) and the “San Giuseppe” (open for about 80 metres);
• the guard’s quarters, set up inside with vintage objects;
• the mine track;
• the dormitories, forge and service buildings;
• the powder magazine and detonator store;
• the Decauville: the cableway station;
• the slag heaps, where you can see and touch the remains of the mined materials.

The outside of the mining site is freely open to the public all year round.

Visits can be organized for groups of 8 people by reservation only.

For knowing visits-events in program, visit the web site and the Facebook page

Useful info
The site is located in the mountains, that’s why hiking clothing and footwear are recommended.
The temperature in the tunnels is about 8-12 degrees. A protective helmet is provided to access the tunnels, while for entering the “1815” tunnel boots, are also provided.
Ascent height: about 250 metres.
The visitor car park is located by the Les Druges Picnic Area.
For safety reasons, animals are not allowed on visits.