Sport Itineraries: Oyace

From Aosta, the regional capital, to the territory of the municipality of Bionaz, passing through the villages of Valpelline and Oyace.

AOSTA CITY: ANCIENT HISTORY AND SHOPPING
Before heading North and entering Valpelline, allow yourself a few hours to visit Aosta. You will discover that it is truly worth the effort and you will head out again with only one thought: to come back soon!
Park your motorbike next to the Arch of Augustus, a symbolic monument of Aosta built in 25 BC, the year the city was founded. A few steps in the historical centre and you arrive at the Porta Praetoria, the Roman Theatre, the Forum… And then the Cathedral, the Church of Sant’Orso, the San Lorenzo basilica, Piazza Chanoux. But that’s not all. You can immerse yourself in the ancient streets of the city, go shopping in the elegant shops of the pedestrian area, enjoy the pleasure of a typical restaurant and visit the exclusive local craft shops. Enough for now, however. Valpelline awaits you!

GO UP ALONG THE VALPELLINE VALLEY
You’ll really enjoy the unique atmosphere of this valley. Quiet and little-travelled roads, a captivating setting, dominated by the imposing peaks that mark the border with Switzerland, thick forests and inviting meadows, ideal for a nice stop. The gastronomic culture is also very lively, with the “Seupa à la Vapelenentse” and, naturally, Fontina cheese, to which the large festival held annually in mid-August at Oyace is dedicated. A whole wheel of cheese, in the hard luggage, maybe not. But a chunk, yes. A nice piece of Fontina to enjoy in the evening or perhaps to melt down for a substantial fondue. So take a small detour, shortly after the capital village of Valpelline, to the visitor centre of the Cooperativa Produttori Latte e Fontina. The visit to the centre also includes the spectacular Fontina maturing warehouses dug into the rock, one of which was created inside the ancient copper mine and where the Fontina remains for 80 days and takes on its sweet and inimitable taste.

BIONAZ AND THE PLACE MOULIN DAM
Bionaz, one of the municipalities with the largest territorial extension in the region, is located at 1600 metres above sea level at the head of  the Valpelline valley. For a different stop than usual, you can stop at the Lexert picnic area, surrounded by greenery, on the banks of a pretty lake. The road continues further between curves and green panoramas until reaching the imposing Place Moulin dam: the vast lake of Place Moulin, with emerald waters, is flanked by a dirt farm road closed to traffic.

From Closé, in the municipality of Oyace, take the Alta Via 1 (AV1), which goes up amidst the meadows, intersecting sections of the dirt road and, after passing the Eclevey pasture, enters the conifer wood where it starts to climb considerably. It then leads to the pasture of Suchéaz and, as it continues to climb in the wood, the pasture of Brison. After a long diagonal halfway up the hillside, the trail winds tightly up to the last steep slope that leads to Col Brison.

From Alta Via 1 leaflet

From Closé in the municipality of Oyace, you take the Alta Via route no. 1 (AV 1) and go downhill, crossing the Betenda bridge over the Buthier stream. Keep on the same path as it enters the valley. After the pastures of Arp-Nouva and Arp-Vieille, you reach Ardamun or Arp Damon. You ignore route no. 5 on the right towards Col de Vamea, and continue left on AV1 until you reach Col de Vessonaz.

From Oyace, take the first road on the right beside the schools and following the signs for Alta Via 1 (AV1) and path 3, turn right to continue until the path takes altitude and reach the children’s playground. From the playground the path continues to the left and goes into the woods. Shortly after, there is the junction to go to the tower from where you can enjoy a wide view on the valley. Return to the original path and turn right towards Betenda. From here the path in the woods descends until the Betenda pasture homes. On the left you cross a bridge and continue on Altav Via 1 (AV1) and path 3 to the bridge over the Betenda gorge. You leave the Alta Via and turn right following path 3 and 5 which runs through woods and Bagneraz meadows. Back to the paved road and once again passed the stream, continue towards thevillage of Grenier. From here, after walking on the regional road, take the same path n. 3 and 5 which goes to the church.

Take the agricultural trail signposted 1 at the bend in the regional road near Voisinal, in the municipality of Oyace, and which leads to the historical source near the alp of Challambé. From here, take the trail that goes up on the right, again signposted 1. After crossing a stream, usually dry, you come to a crossroad with a path that leads to the alp of Dzone. Ignore this branch and descend on the left until you come to the regional road. Take this and in a few minutes you come to the hamlet of Thoules di Valpelline.

From Vernosse, in the municipality of Oyace, continue towards Bagnera bridge. Continue along the road until you come to route 4 - at the end of the paved road and start of the dirt road - which rises steeply to the pastures of Verdonaz, Broiller, Tsavanne and Tza de Verdonaz (near the latter you will find the chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Snow - Madonna delle nevi - celebrated on 5 August). From here, take route 105 on the right, ignoring the left branch for Saint-Barthélemy pass, and head for Col d’Arpeyssaou. Go down the opposite side from here to reach the bivouac La Lliée in a few minutes.

From Vernosse, in the municipality of Oyace, continue towards Bagnera bridge. Cross it then take route 3 on the left. After the Bagnera lodges, continue along the Buthier stream and, near the trail coming from the bridge of the Betenda ravine, turn right into Alta Via 1 (AV1), which goes up to Clos and goes into the valley. After the pastures of Arp-Nouva and Arp-Vieille, you reach Ardamun or Arp Damon. From here, take trail 5 on the right and you come to the ruins of Alpe Plan Barmet, ignoring the path that leads to Col de la Chaz-Sèche. From the ruins, you soon come to Col de Vamea.