Sport Itineraries: Aymavilles

The Mont Ross wall was created thanks Abele Blanc, a local alpine guide who, with a group of friends who called themselves Croé Bocia, cleaned and bolted all the wall routes in a single season. The rock type is totally different from all the other walls in the Valle d’Aosta since it is dolostone, softer than granite making the climb enjoyable due to the holds and amount of various holds.
The activity requires technical experience. Alpine guide assistance is recommended.

Minimum, maximum and average route difficulty from 5b to 7c, average 6b+.

From Aymavilles, take the road that leads to Villeneuve. After the bridge over the Grand-Eyvia, take mule track 2 which rises, next to a small house called Baracca Marèse. At the crossroad, ignore route 2 on the right for La Cote and continue along the left-hand trail no. 2A until you reach the paved road leading to Seyssogne farmhouse. Take the road towards the left, then leave it on the left, by going round the outer wall of the construction. The trail continues inside the woods alongside the stream. After joining the path from Camagne, the trail crosses a small metal bridge and rises steeply next to a rocky wall before going into a tunnel, which crosses the waterfall flowing down from the overlying water basin. At the tunnel exit, the trail descends slightly until it reaches the Roman bridge of the Pont d’Ael aqueduct and the village of the same name.

This circular itinerary starts from Aymavilles, a town at the entrance to the valley of Cogne, in the area of the Gran Paradiso National Park, and runs through various sections of stage 17 (Villeneuve-Aymavilles) of the Cammino Balteo hiking route. Short sections of the ring are on roadways.

Park your car in the parking lot below Saint-Léger church.

Taking the municipal asphalted road that leads from Aymavilles to Villeneuve, you meet and cross the Grand Eyvia stream that flows down from Cogne Valley. Immediately after the bridge, on the left, a path starts off in the direction of Pondel or Pont d’Ael, indicated by the yellow signpost number 2A.

After the first bend you are on an old mule track that gently climbs the hill, crossing vineyards and deciduous woods. The morainic slopes of the Aymavilles area are particularly suited to the growing of grapes. Several wineries grow indigenous grape varieties such as Fumin, Petit Rouge and Cornalin.

The paving of the path leaves room for the ancient rocks, smoothed and worn down by the slow and inexorable passage of the glaciers that in distant times created these valleys. The sheepback rock formation is generally rounded above and on the upstream side, irregular towards the valley and elongated in the direction of the movement of the glacier; their formation is due to the pressure exerted by the glacial mass and the action of the powerful grinding action carried out by large quantities of debris incorporated within it.

Surrounded by a rural environment alternating with natural areas, the path climbs towards the meadows of Eissogne, sometimes frequented by ungulates. After passing a small footbridge suspended in the air, the path returns to climb up a very sunny and arid slope, at first sight inhospitable, but which conceals an interesting area from a naturalistic point of view, populated in particular by orchids and butterflies, and protected as a special area of preservation. This initial part is steep and rocky, an ideal environment for spotting the golden eagle, the peregrine falcon and other birds of prey that find the right conditions for nesting here.

When you reach the highest point of the climb, you are faced with a tunnel that crosses the waterfall which descends from the aqueduct located above and which, depending on the season, opens its inlets. The inside of the tunnel is illuminated thanks to a solar panel.
Once you leave the tunnel, the view is priceless and you are left speechless in front of the spectacle of nature that amazes you here also for the harmony it shows with the anthropic context. In the background, the Grivola dominates the valley and you get a glimpse of the hamlet of Pont d’Ael and its impressive Roman bridge-acqueduct. This single arch connects the 15 metres that divide the two sides from the deep gorge of about 60 meters from the underlying course of water.

Once in the village you can refresh yourself at one of the many fountains before continuing the journey.
After going through the village, follow the asphalted road that leads to the regional road to Cogne. Once you reach the road, continue on downhill for a few minutes before taking path number 3 which starts out on the left and comes across a lovely votive chapel. From there, the path descends gently initially and then becomes steeper towards the end, reaching the beautiful church of Saint-Léger and thus quickly returning to the starting point in Aymavilles.

This itinerary is none other than the old route that Aymavilles peasants used to reach the pastures. Now that the road leads to the peaks of Turlin from Ozein, the route has lost almost all of its usefulness, but remains a beautiful walk through the woods.
When you get to Montbel by car, in the municipality of Aymavilles, take itinerary 1 at the top of the village through the woods and to the hamlet of Turlin Dessous.

When you get to Vieyes, a hamlet along the Cogne road, 10 km from Aymavilles, continue a further 3km. Take the last right turning before you get to the “La Presa” dam over the Grand Eyvia stream in La Nouva. You are now on route 27C, which starts just after the snow shed and goes up to Sisoret pasture (1803 m). Go past the houses and continue on the right along the same trail until you reach route 27B from Pianesse. The trail continues up the hillside across Bois de Ronc and as far as Alpe Petit Nomenon. At the houses, take route 5 which goes up to Grand Nomenon and the Gontier bivouac.

Leave you car in the small parking lot in Champleval Dessus hamlet, go back on the road you came from for a few metres, pass the fork with route n. 2B (you will come back on this path) and after the turn on the left take on the right path n.2. Go down, cross the few houses of Champlaval Dessous hamlet and reach the municipal road that goes up to La Camagne, in Aymavilles municipality.
From here continue on the paved road for a while and just before the Eissogne farmhouse follow path 2A on the left that leads to Pont d’Aël hamlet.
After 15 minutes you’ll reach a fork, turn right on path 2B that goes up and reaches again the departure point of Champleval Dessus hamlet.
This last climb has some steep and exposed parts and high grass.

When you get to Ozein, in the municipality of Aymavilles, leave the car in the car park and take route 8, following the paved road and cutting across some of the bends, until you come to the hamlet of Chanté. From here, the trail continue in the woods and goes to La Ruy. Take the dirt road that climbs up near the pastures, then leave after a few hundred metres and head towards the path on the left that goes to Alpe La Pierre. Continue along the same route to reach the crest, at the same level as a pass. Take route 1 on the left to get to Pointe de la Pierre.

After leaving car in the small parking lot in front of the village, go left along the road that crosses the village, passes near the only restaurant of the hamlet and continues on a path through meadows and woods.
The trail ends when you reach the municipal road, then continue on the paved road until Turlin hamlet. From there the view sweeps over the main Valdostan mountains.

After leaving the car in the parking lot in Pont d’Aël hamlet, cross the village and then the roman aqueduct- bridge and follow on the right signpost n.2A that starts slightly uphill.
The route continues until a lighted tunnel so as to cross the waterfall occasionally formed by the artificial reservoir above.
Go down near a rock face until a small metal bridge and after the wood continue until the walls of the old farmhouse in Eissogne hamlet.
This area, thanks to the dry climate, offers an interesting variety of flora and fauna, in particular, rare flora species, 11 different species of rare orchids and 96 species of butterflies.

When you get to Pont d’Ael, in the municipality of Aymavilles, park the car in the car park, then cross the small hamlet then the Grand Eyvia stream over the Roman bridge and take route 2B on the left, which goes up to Alpe Petit Poignon. Just beyond this point, the trail joins a private road (signposted as no. 1) which you should follow on the right until you come to Mont Poignon.

From Aymavilles drive to Ozein village and then reach Turlin hamlet. After leaving the car in the parking take the almost flat gravel road signed n. 21, that leads to Pila.
The itinerary crosses a nice dense and shaded coniferous forest with some clearings that reveal the view on the valley below.

Vieyes is a hamlet situated on the Cogne road, 10 km from Aymavilles. Take the path that leads to Plan Pessey (route 4) until you come to a fork junction near two cabins. Follow the right branch (still no. 4) and, after crossing the woods, you come to Alpe Tsantel and the Gran Paradiso National Park lodge. From here, continue along route 5A on the left up the hillside, then cross the amphitheatre of the Nomenon basin, until you come to a crossroad below the Grand Nomenon pasture. Take route 5 on the right and go up to the hamlet and Gontier Bivouac.

Park your car in Vieyes, continue on foot on a dirt road as far as the pastures of Plan Pessey. Ignore the right branch of route 4, and continue on route 5 going up the slope and running alongside the Grand Nomenon stream until you come to Alpe Petit Nomenon. Here, ignore route 27 B on the left which goes to La Nouva, and continue up on the same route until you reach Alpe Grand Nomenon and Gontier bivouac.

Continue along the road for Turlin: after about ten minutes turn right onto the slope that climbs the mountain side. Pass the isolated La Premou house (1685 m, 0h45’): an isolated house with a view of Mont Blanc. Continue a couple hundred meters more to the fork: turn 180° and head North. You’ll slowly return towards the central valley and the unmistakable peaks of Mont Fallère, Pointe de Chaligne and the further away peaks of Mont Velan and Grand Combin will start to appear. Still climbing, you’ll reach the Titeun mountain pasture. Cross the pasture veering towards the right until you reach a delightful plain. Cross the snow-covered fields on the right as you please, following the almost always present markings. You’ll soon reach the Alpe Rond-Perrin. Climb the snow-covered ridge after the woods, crossing the farm road a couple times to the Alpe Champchenille.
Hug the pasture and turn left starting up the steepest but most beautiful part of the climb. After the last larch trees, head straight for the forepeak on the snow white slope. When on the peak, cross upwards to the foot of the cross. Pointe de la Pierre is just minutes away.

From Dailley, 1,478 m, start climbing along the farm road or cut through the sparse woods to the Romparein pasture, 1,870 m. Continue climbing East crossing the wide fields to the summer path. Follow the marked path to the Champchenille chalet, altitude 2,168 m. Keep climbing on the left of the majestic peak and follow the ridge on the last part to the top.

Technical difficulty: easy
Physical difficulty: medium
Bike-friendly: 100%
Type of Route: asphalt and dirt roads

From Aosta, follow the Courmayeur State Road no. 26 until you pass the village of Villeneuve and come to a large parking on the right, starting point of this bike itinerary.

From the square in Trepont hamlet in Villeneuve you take the State Road no.26, following directions to the Villeneuve sports centre.
Taking the wooden walkway that crosses over the Dora Baltea river, continue towards the centre of the village. On leaving the village, proceed towards Aymavilles where you go uphill to the site of the “Cave des Onze Communes” cooperative winery.

The itinerary then goes on along the direct paths that crosses the vineyards of Les Crêtes, featuring splendid panoramic views (Aosta plain and castles).
Descending at Ayamavilles, close to the motorway junction, cross the bridge over the Dora Baltea and continue by following the river.
You will reach the Gressan sports centre by passing through the village of Jovençan. The recently built pedestrian walkway allows you to cross the Dora river again, entering in the periphery of Aosta and directing towards the “Regional Farming Institute”.

From here, set off again in a westerly direction (Courmayeur), reaching the panoramic road over the hills until you reach the municipality of Sarre.
After crossing the railway, you will arrive close to the motorway junction again, where a fun dirt path along the banks of the Dora begins. Continue along this until you reach Saint-Pierre, where the picturesque castle of “Sarriod de la Tour” can be sighted. You can reach the castle via a short but difficult dirt road.

After crossing State Road no.26, the route continues towards the hamlets on the hill until arriving at a bridge that leads to Villeneuve. On reaching the river park, go back along the first stretch of the journey until you come to the site of departure.

The wineries (on the map select “Farms/Wineries”  to locate them) can only be visited by reservation.