Nature: Lillianes, Perloz, Pont-Saint-Martin, ** Valle d'Aosta **

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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Col de Joux (1640m) is a woody pass linking Saint-Vincent with Brusson, and is thus a beautiful alternative route to the road that goes up from Verrès, to reach Val d’Ayas.
It runs past charming hamlets and goes through beautiful woods, providing wonderful views of the central valley and Val d’Ayas.
The word “Joux” has pre-Latin origins and means woody highland, however, can also be traced to the Latin Jugum, yoke, and hence hill.
Col de Joux also hosts the final Ayas section of Ru Courtod, an irrigated canal coming from the Ventina glacier and dating back to the 14th century.
Several trails of varying difficulty start here, for example those leading to Testa Comagna or Col Tzecore, but you can also go for a pleasant walk along the private road towards Sommarèse, or towards Pallu, with its artificial lake.

Superb in spring and early summer both for the substantial volume of the waterfall due to the melting of the snow and for the flowering of laburnum.
Also to be visited in autumn for the splendid autumn colors of the forest. In winter it is not uncommon to find ice cream in the basin of water that forms at the bottom of the jump.

From Fontainemore, coming from Pont-Saint-Martin, turn right towards Coumarial.
After a few hairpin bends you reach Pian Pervero, then turn right.
After passing some hamlets, you arrive at the bridge over the Bouro stream. Once the car is parked, the waterfall is on the left.

In Aosta Valley there are areas of spontaneous flowering of peonies: the best-known area is the saddle of Col Fenêtre, above Perloz, less frequented but also interesting the territory between Issogne and Arnad.
These wild, autochthonous specimens are protected by a regional law that prohibits their collection.

The flowering of peonia officinalis reaches its peak from the end of the month of May to mid-June, the ideal time to discover these large bright red flowers, as well as to schedule rides along the paths through larches and beeches woods.

The mule track starting from Faye Dessous (1022 m) and passing through the villages of Pessé and Fenêtre until reaching the Col Fenêtre is a highly advisable course, either because of the aspects related to the nature, or to the rural architecture. Worthy of attention are the stone cross and the monumental ash tree located in the hamlet of Pessé, as well as the magnificent circular fountain carved into the stone in Fenêtre.

A small lakeside basin, the precious habitat of rare species

Established in 1994, this nature reserve covers 1.5 hectares. It is located at an altitude of 750 - 790 meters in the municipality of Pont-Saint-Martin, near the Suzey castle.

Flora: the wetlands include marsh reeds and broadleaf cattail. Additionally, it is the only known station in Aosta Valley of spatulaleaf loosestrife.

Fauna: considering the small size of the reserve, it only includes some rare amphibian species of which two newt species.

How to get there
From Pont-Saint-Martin village centre take the regional road towards Gressoney, turning on the right when you find the sign for the Ivery hamlet ; then continue until joining the Holay village.