Sport Itineraries: Torgnon

Chambave is a place famous for its wines. From here you take the road for Saint-Denis, where the Castle of Cly (11th century) is located and where mediaeval pageants are held in the summer. You continue uphill along the road which crosses the Col de Saint-Pantaléon, leading to Torgnon.
Torgnon is an ancient village with numerous scattered hamlets that still retain the features of Alpine architecture. The village lies in a sunny position with splendid views of the Matterhorn. From here you go downhill towards Antey-Saint-André from where you can reach La Magdeleine or continue on as far as Breuil Cervinia. The descent, on the other hand, continues down as far as Châtillon, a village, which extends over a vast hollow on the slopes of the Valtournenche.

Places you go through on the route:
- Chambave (520 m )
- Saint-Denis 4 km (830 m)
- Petit Brusson 8.3 km (1140 m)
- Col San Pantaleone 16.4 km (1,650 m)
- Torgnon 19.7 km (1530 m)
- Antey-Saint-André 26.1 km (1,045 m)
- Covalu Hydro-electric power station 30.2 km (780 m )
- Chatillon 33.6 km (530 m)
- Pontey junction 35.7 km (460 m)
- Chambave 38.6 km (520 m)

Technical difficulty: medium
Physical difficulty: medium
Cyclability: 100%
Type of route: mixed asphalt, dirt road, path

The Becca d’Aver monutain bike trail crosses the high-altitude landscapes of three municipalities, from Saint-Barthélemy (Nus), to Verrayes to end up in front of the Matterhorn overlooking the Chavacourt valley in the territory of Torgnon.

The route takes you through coniferous forests, grazing meadows and large open spaces. Each pedal stroke lets you discover villages, mountain pastures, uncontaminated nature and traces of an ancient world that still lives.

Along the route, you can stop for a regenerating break at the refreshment points and in the local restaurants, and if you are in Lignan, you will find a convenient vending machine for food products, perfect for cyclists leaving or arriving.

The start is from the church of Saint-Barthélemy in Lignan, then you pedal to the village of Vencorère, in the municipality of Verrayes. From there, on an asphalt road, you cross the hamlet of Grand Villa to the picnic area of ​​Champlong. The road then continues towards the Col de Bornel, from which a dirt road takes you to the picnic area of ​​Chantorné and to Plan Prorion, in the municipality of Torgnon.

Beyond, the route embraces the wetland area of ​​the Lo Ditor pond, then passes through Tellinod and arrives to Gilliarey. It is possible to continue to the Lake Cignana and the Barmasse refuge. A mountain bike or e-bike experience that lets you breathe the true essence of the mountains!

From Pont-Saint-Martin, after admiring its ancient Roman bridge, travel along the valley floor to Châtillon from where you will then climb along the Matterhorn Valley. At Antey-Saint-André you will find the crossroads for Torgnon. From Torgnon you will then pass the panoramic pass of San Pantaleone (Saint-Pantaléon) from which you can reach Verrayes by choosing between two different routes: passing through Lozon (nature reserve) or through Semon (municipality of Saint-Denis). From Verrayes you reach the valley floor again and arrive at Nus from which you climb towards Saint-Barthélemy where another exceptional panorama opens up. The route ends with the descent towards Nus.

TORGNON: RURAL ARCHITECTURE AND PANORAMA
Torgnon lies in the heart of those who visit it not only because of its privileged location, in the middle of the valley of the Matterhorn, at an altitude of 1489 m, but also for its numerous hamlets which retain their characteristic Alpine architecture. Among these the hamlets of Etirol and Triatel, whose buildings host the ethnographic museum Petit-Monde about the history of the area, its production cycle and its social organisation, stand out.
The view from the Saint-Pantaléon pass is definitely stunning and the gaze takes in the whole Valtournenche valley, encircled by the Grandes Murailles and the Matterhorn, and the Central Valley.

SAINT-BARTHELEMY, TO THE STARS
The Saint-Barthélemy Valley, initially tortuous and very steep, in the Lignan area at 1,633 meters above sea level, opens up into a vast plateau from which you can admire a splendid panorama. The astronomical observatory of Saint-Barthélemy, very important for scientific research, is one of the most suitable places for astronomical observations, thanks to favourable conditions, mainly due to low light pollution.
Excellent local wines are produced in the municipality of Nus: Nus Rouge and the aromatic Malvoisie, an enological preciousness produced from dried grapes.

Leave the car in the parking near the “Chantorné” chairlift (open in in the winter season), take the dirt road near the restaurant Les Montagnards and follow the path also called Tour des alpages.
The first part is fast flat through a prairie, then into the wood until a very panoramic point with wonderful view on the valley and on the village of Torgnon. At the end you will see some alps, the first is called Les Chavannes, then Arpeilles and then at the top you will see Chatelard. In some panoramic points you will find benches and pic-nic tables.
It is possible to go further on for around 2500 metres and you will reach the Lodetor swamp or you can leave the path and walk up for around 20 minutes to the Gordzà lake.

From Chaté, one of the last hamlets in Torgnon, which can be reached by car, take dirt road No. 9, which goes up to Alpe Chatelard Dessous.. From here, continue along the trail to reach Alpe Chatelard Dessus. Turn left onto the private road that leads to Alpe Chantorné and which ends near Alpe Fonten. When you get to the end of the road, take the path (still No. 9) which goes up on the right to Col Fenêtre , where you turn left onto the panoramic crest to reach Mont de la Fenêtre, followed by Becca d’Aver.

From Chantorné you will leave your car at the parking of the gondola arrival station open during the winter season. You will go further on the flat farm road behind the Restaurant La Montanara. When you will reach a clearing before an alp you will turn on the left and follow the road going up in the wood (trail sign n° 9 or 105) until you will reach the small Gordzà lake, ideal place to relax where you will also find some benches. The lake is also sport fishing and it is run by the near restaurant. To return back you will take the path n° 15 (winter ski slope) through the wood leading the departure point.
Near the path you will find the Summer Park playground area for children normally open during some week-ends and every day from mid July until the end of August.

From Etirol (1598 m) take the dirt road (n. 107 / 7) that goes into the valley upwards, walk by the summer pastures Tsantsevella and go on to the little lake (n.105), cross the torrent and continue along another dirt road (n.1) as far as the Beutsòlo pastures. Follow the private road (no.1), and leave it on the left to take the path that leads to the ruins of Hospice de Chavacour. At the crossroad near the ruins, take itinerary 5 on the right, which soon leads you to Alpe Château. Cross this road and continue along itinerary 5 until you come to another crossroad. Here, ignore the branch on the right which leads to the Rivolta bivouac, and follow the branch on the left which, after crossing the dirt road again, takes you to the pasture of Crô di Loy. From here, continue along trail 3 towards the Tsan bivouac. Before getting to this bivouac, take the right branch at a crossroad (route 3), ignoring route 4 on the right. Continue in the direction of Alpe Erbion and from here, to Cima Bianca.

From Etirol (1598m) take the dirt road (n. 107 / 7) that goes into the valley upwards, walk by the summer pastures Tsantsevella and go on to the little lake (n.105), cross the torrent and continue along another dirt road (n.1) as far as the Beutsòlo pastures. Just after the houses, take the dirt road to the left that leads first to the summer pastures of Alpe Courthoud di Meiten (Cortod), then Alpe Crot des Labies (Crô di Labie) and finally to Alpe Chomioi, where the itinerary continues on route 6 taking you to Col Chomioi.

Hiking itinerary without technical difficulties as far as Alpe Chomioi.
Itinerary for expert hikers (EE) from Alpe Chomioi to Col Chomioi.

From Etirol (1598 m) take the dirt road (n. 107 / 7) that goes into the valley upwards, walk by the summer pastures Tsantsevella and go on to the little lake (n.105), cross the torrent and continue along another dirt road (n.1) as far as the Beutsòlo pastures. Follow this dirt road (no.1) and leave it on the left to take the path that leads to the ruins of Hospice de Chavacour. At the crossroad near the ruins, take itinerary 5 on the right, which soon leads you to Alpe Château. After crossing the dirt road continue along itinerary 5 until you come to another crossroad. Here, ignore the branch on the right which leads to the Rivolta bivouac, and follow the branch on the left which, after crossing the dirt road again, takes you to the pasture of Crot de Loup (Cro du Loï). From here, continue along trail 4 towards the Tsan bivouac. Before you get to the bivouac, take the branch on the right at a crossroad (still route 4), ignoring the left-hand branch for Cima Bianca signposted as 3. From the bivouac, walking almost parallel to Lake Tsan, you come to Alta Via 1(AV1), which you should take on the left until you come to Fenêtre de Tsan.

From Etirol (1598 m) take the dirt road (n. 107 / 7) that goes into the valley upwards, walk by the summer pastures Tsantsevella and go on to the little lake (n.105), cross the torrent and continue along another dirt road (n.1) as far as the Beutsòlo pastures. Follow the private road (no.1), and leave it on the left to take the path that leads to the ruins of Hospice de Chavacour. At the crossroad near the ruins, take itinerary 5 on the right, which soon leads you to Alpe Château. Cross this road and continue along itinerary 5 until you come back to the dirt road. After a few metres you come to a crossroad, where you take the left-hand branch, which follows the trail (still no. 5) and reaches Alpe Grand-Drayères, visible from afar, owing to its characteristic vault shape, then goes on to the Rivolta bivouac.
The last section of the trail is very demanding.

At the last right-hand bend before the municipal seat of Torgnon, take route 13 on the left, which leads to Maisonnet, then Col Saint Pantaléon. At the church, take route 2 on the left which rises gently to the sanctuary of Saint-Evence.
Panoramic itinerary with wide view over the Valtournenche valley.
In order to shorten the route it is also possible to reach the Saint-Pantaléon pass by car and then walk easily the last 2.500 meters in the wood.

From Chaté, one of the last hamlets in Torgnon, which can be reached by car, take private road no.9, which goes up to Alpe Chatelard Dessous. From here, continue along the trail to reach Alpe Chatelard Damon. Turn left onto the private road that leads to Alpe Chantourné Dessus and which ends near Alpe Fonten. When you come to the end of the road, take the path (still no. 9) that goes up to Col Fenêtre. At a crossroad, leave itinerary 9 or 105 and take route 8 on the right, which leads first to the lower summit, and then to the summit of Mont Méabé.

This excursion departs from Triatel. This hamlet along with the hamlet of Etirol are known as Petit Monde. The first part of the trail follows the paved municipal road (it is possible to reach Etirol immediately by car), and along the initial part of the road you can see an old watermill which still ran until a few years ago. Leave the road and continue on route 107, which goes almost entirely through the woods till the mountain pastures of Tsantsevella. . From here, go along the dirt road for 500m then continue to the right, remaining on route 107, leading to Crêt. After Crêt, you come to another dirt road that runs alongside the houses of Tellinod until it comes to Gilliarey, where you will find the sanctuary in the surroundings.
From Gilliarey you can enjoy an unforgettable view of the Matterhorn and of the Valtournenche valley.

Technical difficulty: medium/difficult
Physical difficulty: medium
Bike-friendly: 100%
Type of route: mixed asphalt, dirt, path

Follow the A5 Torino-Aosta motorway , taking the “Châtillon-Saint Vincent” exit. Continue along the regional road no. 46 for around 7km until you reach Antey-Saint-André where you take the regional road no. 9. After around 6km you reaches the major town of Torgnon. Afterwards, you arrive at the centre of the town and follow the signs to the Plan Prorion sports and picnic area.

From a geological point of view, it is worth noting that the first stage of the route involves crossing the Mesozoic rocks of the metamorphic calcareous schists complex with green stones that were once part of the old lost ocean and form the area of Mount Meabé to the west of the route. Once at Mount Miracolo you can see the Arollo Gneiss rocks that were part of the old African continent while the Cima Bianca is covered by sediments made mainly of marble. The presence of chalky rock can be noted from a hydrogeological point of view.

The area of lake Tsan is made up of karst while the marshy area of Loditor has an important system of wet zones.
From a fauna point of view, you can catch sight of lots of marmots along the proposed route, particularly between the waterlogged basin of Loditor and the area of the Gilliarey mountain pastures. In the red fir and larch woods upstream of Champtorné and Loditor, you can glimpse the occasional squirrel, hare and deer or use a telescope to look at the mountain goats and chamois in the sparse woods and pastures at high altitude overlooking Monte Meabé and beneath the Punta Tsan. Y
ou can easily spot different types of bird in the sky such as partridges and various species of birds of prey including the eagle.
From a botanical point of view, the wood is made up of patches of red fir and larch while the undergrowth is characterised by the presence of fern, blueberry, dog rose and blackberry bushes.

Starting on a stretch of asphalt around 700 metres long that goes uphill towards the Chantorné cable car facilities until reaching the first mountain huts where you leave the road and continue to the right along the stretch of the cross-country ski slope.
Continuing via the dirt road you reach the Alp Chavannes, Arpeille followed by Alp Brusoney and Alp Bedsoloz. Next you come to a crossroads with an asphalt road. Instead of taking this road, go straight on to a slope with a grassy bottom that becomes gradually narrower. Continue into the shade of the larches and firs, following a stretch with manmade wooden walkways created to prevent damage when passing over the marshy areas below.
After having crossed over a wooden bridge in an area that allows you to admire the beauty of the rocky Punta Tsan, there is a brief uphill stretch allowing you to reach the wetlands of Loditor (1950 metres above sea level).

From Loditor, going uphill on the right via the dirt road takes you to Gilliarey, at 9.250 km and 2180 metres altitude. This represents the first leg of our trip but you should also stop to admire the panoramic views over Cervino, the Plateau Rosa glacier and Valtournenche. If you wish, continue along the dirt road for around another 7km and reach the Lake of Cignana and the Barmasse mountain hut (refreshment point).

Returning to the “Tour of the alpine pastures with views over Cervino” you should trace back along the road taken for the outward journey and descend until you reach Alp Tellinod (at 11.350 km) where you turn right to continue along the dirt road and go beyond Alp Palud until you reach Alp Château. There remains of the Chavacour Hospice can be found on this pasture, located on the road that connects the area of Torgnon to nearby Vallese, crossing the hills of Chavacour, For, Collomb and Théodule. These roads were used for trading cattle and the Muscat wine from Chambave.

Continuing the journey, turn left along the large and flat dirt road that partly retraces the course of the Chavacour irrigation canal, and important manmade construction that allows the cultivation of crops and the raising of livestock in some of the municipalities located on the “adret” (left side of the river), such as Verrayes, Saint-Denis, Chambave.
You continue past the mountain huts of Cortod and Tronchaney, from this very panoramic point we can admire almost the entire basin of the Torgnon pastures and the wetlands of Loditor from below.

Continuing our journey between woods of firs and larches, after a slight descent you arrive at the area of Chantorné where the ski slopes are located. Going beyond these, you come to a short and steep downhill stretch (around 150 m) with an uneven, stony path which should be undertaken on foot. Back in the saddle, you go down a slightly sloping path again that follows the cross-country ski slope. This is extremely scenic because looking backwards over the tops of the trees you are able to make out Matterhorn(Monte Cervino) and a few peaks of the Monte Rosa range. Then continue to the Col des Bornes (at 28.800 km) a panoramic view over the central valley of the Valle d’Aosta where the vegetation changes, making way for Scots pine given the drier environment caused by exposure to the south.

Turning right while still on cross-country ski slope, continue along an alternating flat stretch with a slight climb (around 2km) until you reach a crossroads where you should turn left and follow a steep descent (around 1.5km) that leads to the picnic area of Champlong (at 31.450 km). This marks the second leg of our trip where a refreshment point can be found. Moreover, in Champlong you can also visit a pasture where, between June and September, milk is worked on a daily basis to produce typical dairy products (fontina, butter, ricotta etc.) which can be tasted on site.

From Champlong (1625 metres above sea level) you gain altitude again until reaching Col des Bornes (1770 metres above sea level), following the road taken on the outwards journey for the first leg of the stretch before veering off to the right on a less demanding path until you reach to hill. From Col des Bornes, continue for around a kilometre on the road taken on the outwards journey and at the second crossroads, take a right in order to descend towards the Plan Prorion picnic area where the tour ends.

Day one
Between the hamlets of Pecou and Chaté, take the mule track on the left that heads up the north side and passes next to a chapel, located in an important position. Flank a characteristic hump at 1845m then head up the Châtelard (1891 m) pasture where you will come to the unsurfaced road coming from Septumian. Follow the trail that extends through the forest to come to the Loditor pond on the flat (1900 m). Here, to the left, a path branches out that heads above the hump at 2107 m and that, after a flat stretch, heads close to the remains of an old Chateau hospice. Here you will again find yourself on an unsurfaced road that should be followed to the end, where you will come to a pathway that heads up the Grand Drayère pasture (2350 m). Then turn right to climb back up the grassy slope. Once you reach the plain, you will leave it pretty quickly to head up a steep, open slope; above it, you should head left to face the stony slope that comes out onto the basin before the Rivolta bivouac, that you should reach in no time.
Day two
From the bivouac you will come onto the Fort Pass (2906m) where, the Punta Tsan ridge starts. After the first steps, you will come to a face that can easily be climbed to carry on without too much difficulty as far as the end of the first projection. The next flat stretch leads to the foot of the second step, that can be overcome to the left by climbing a sloping face towards the right and leads to the ridge edge. Move obliquely towards the right and you will come to the northern slope at the bottom of the beautiful compact faces. Climb up to the left using two long ropes, until you come to the base of the camino Maquignaz, an essential passage to reach the top of the second projection. Yet another flat stretch leads to the bottom of the third projection: climb up along a large dihedron that ends just a few metres from the peak.
Descent: come back down the third projection to the bottom with a descent. From here, look for a series of stone figures that allow you to take a diagonal channel on the southern side. Come down it, still following the stone figures, until you come to the bottom of the second projection. Then carry on along the stone path until you reach the basin downstream from the Rivolta bivouac. Here you will pick up the upward itinerary again.

This itinerary requires experience of high mountains and it is recommended that you get a mountain guide to accompany you.

Go down along the regional road until you reach a signpost on the left, which indicates you should turn left: you continue downhill a short way until you reach the Chapel of Saint-Pantaléon. You go past the chapel and continue onwards, entering a beautiful pinewood with some stunning panoramic views towards the Matterhorn, Valtournenche, the Emilius group and the underlying plateaus. The pathway proceeds through a fir wood where the sunlight plays light and dark games on the snow; you continue along the track of a wide path which leads across a wooded ridge-divide between Valtournenche and the plateaus of Saint-Denis and Verrayes. Our gentle walk continues onwards following the continually undulating pathway. After about 20 minutes you come to a left-hand turning in the middle of the wood, which leads to Sez de Creuvö: you climb up through the woods for about 100 metres and come across a peculiar, hollowed-out stone.
Returning to the main route, you will find a number of benches along the pathway where you can sit and enjoy some remarkably beautiful views over the central valley. Finally you reach the level clearing where the characteristic Chapel stands.

From the inhabited area of Pecou at 1650 m, start climbing along the diagonal stretch, crossing the vast pastures in a northern direction, until you come to the carriage road at the Châtelard mountain pastures, 1891 m. Follow the almost flat trail for about 3km as far as the Loditor Lake at 1962 m that can easily be spotted thanks to the vast rock face above. Start climbing up to the left in the direction of the Château mountain pastures at 2084 m and Le Crotte de Loup at 2161 m. Climb back up the steep valley that will quickly take you to the vast sections above and the Erbion mountain pastures at 2522 m. Turn westwards and, along a steeper slope, you will come to a vast ridge. Remove your skis and climb to the top.