Sport Itineraries: Verrès

THE “LARD” OF ARNAD
A recommendation for the connoisseur: past the Bard Fort and then make a stop at Arnad and request some of the famous lard. Spicy and flavored with mountain herbs, the “Lard d’Arnad” adds to any dish an authentic taste, the taste of the Aosta Valley. In 1996 it received the Protected Designation of Origin. Every year, on the last Sunday in August, the traditional “Féhta dou Lard” - Lard Festival - unfolds, which attracts thousands of tourists.

BRUSSON
The climb from Verrès, along the lower part of the Val d'Ayas, takes you to Challand-Saint-Victor where you can make a detour to Lake Villa, a nature reserve. Continuing further, you will pass Challand-Saint-Ansèlme, you will see the Graines castle, built in the 11th century on a rocky spur, and you will reach Brusson, at 1338 meters above sea level, where you can visit the Chamousira gold mines and the dairy  La Fromagerie Haut Val d'Ayas.
From Brusson starts the road that leads to Col di Joux, which connects the Val d'Ayas with Saint-Vincent.

SAINT-VINCENT
A charming scenic road descends from the 5,380 feet of Col di Joux to Saint-Vincent, exclusive town overlooking the central valley, known as the “Riviera of the Alps” for its special climatic conditions. The ideal location to spend a few days of vacation in absolute relaxation, but also just for a pleasant break before you get on the road to the bottom of the valley: It’s the right time for a pizza, an ice-cream, a stroll through the elegant streets of the center and – why not?- a short trip to the slot-machines at the famous Casino de La Vallée.

The first municipality in the Aosta Valley is Pont-Saint-Martin. After passing the municipalities of Donnas, the fort of Bard, Hône, Arnad, Verrès and Montjovet, the short climb of the "Mongiovetta" begins which takes you to Saint-Vincent and then to Châtillon. Then after crossing Chambave, Champagne (Verrayes) and Nus, you arrive at the gates of Aosta, where the state road becomes two lanes in each direction in the municipalities of Quart and Saint-Christophe (commercial area).

After a possible stop in Aosta, having passed the Aosta Valley capital (Corso Ivrea, Via Roma and Via Parigi with numerous roundabouts) and after the crossroads which leads to the Great Saint Bernard state road N. 27, the road 26 continues westwards and crosses Sarre (crossroads for Cogne), Saint-Pierre, Villeneuve (crossroads for Introd and the valleys of Rhêmes and Valsavarenche), Arvier, Léverogne (crossroads for Valgrisenche), passes near Derby (fraction of La Salle), crosses  La Salle and then Morgex until you reach Pré-Saint-Didier (crossroads for La Thuile and, in summer, for the Little Saint-Bernard pass). From here continue to Courmayeur.

To return you can opt for the transfer route along the A5 motorway, which crosses the entire central valley, from Courmayeur to Pont-Saint-Martin. You will find indicated all the toll booths and exits that you may need to reach the starting points of the motorbike itineraries or to return home at the end of your excursions.

MOTORCYCLE ITINERARY TO THE CASTLES OF THE LOWER AOSTA VALLEY

Riding the motorbike, start from Pont-Saint-Martin: the terraced vineyards accompany you up to Donnas.
You will then see the proud silhouette of the Bard fort stand out, an ancientbulwark of defense strategically located in the narrowest point of the central valley. Over the centuries it suffered numerous assaults, up until the decisive one by Napoleon's army, which besieged and destroyed it in 1800. It was rebuilt by the Savoys in 1827. The museums and important temporary exhibitions of the Fort are worth a stop.

Continuing on, after about ten kilometers (6 miles) you come across another imposing structure: the fifteenth-century Challand castle in Verrès open to visits.

And then, on the way back, don't miss the castle of Issogne, a magnificent  Renaissance manor.

A tasty stop is also possible in Arnad, home to the production of Lardo di Arnad P.O.D.  and in the wineries of Arnad and Donnas.

It gives you the opportunity to see and learn about native and exotic botanical species by strolling quietly in one of the most scenic places in Verrès, at the beginning of the d’Ayas Valley. The arboretum can be reached on foot from Verrès, where it is better to leave the car, going up a short stretch of the regional road in the Ayas Valley. At the two entrances have been positioned some panels with the description of the area, which includes nine panoramic pitches, equipped with benches and waste baskets. The landscape visible from this site is extraordinarily vast: on the left the Verrès manor, built in the second half of the 1300s; to the north-east the Ayas Valley; to the north-west stands the majestic iron cross erected on Mount Saint-Gilles (thanks for the failure to destroy the country by the bombings of the Second World War); to the south-west and south-east the great Verrès plain and just beyond the Issogne castle. The varied vegetation can be recognized by means of special signs that indicate its botanical name, in addition to the Italian and French ones. The inhabitants of Verrès call this place, in patois (the local language) “Borna di Laou” or, in Piedmontese dialect, “Tampa del luf”, as it seems that in the area, until the end of 1800, there was a den inhabited by a wolf.

You go northwards through Torille in the municipality of Verrès and take the mule track which starts behind the houses in the wood and leads to the clearing in Nache. You go past the houses and continue straight on again along the path going through the wood. You then bear left and come to the grassy glade of Col di Nache, where you turn right along a mainly flat path which leads you to the shores of the lake.

Leave your car at the entrance of the regional road to the Ayas Valley, cross it and start going up the path that goes into the Borna de Laou arboretum. You begin to climb the area following the wooden fences that outline the path through the woods composed of conifers, broad-leaved trees of autochthonous and imported origin. Along the climb there are some benches that can be used to calmly enjoy some interesting panoramic views of the castle and the village of Verrès. Go past the two detours to the left: the path leaves the arboretum and, after passing a few stairways, pass a bridge. Continue until you reach a bifurcation, turn left and follow, slightly uphill, the stretch of path that separates you from the Cross of Saint Gilles. The cross, placed on a very panoramic rocky hillock, is clearly visible from the underlying village of Verrès.

VERRES CASTLE
An obligatory stop, before facing the return to Val d’Ayas. You can leave your bike in convenient parking and on foot, in just a few minutes you can reach the top of the Verrès fortress, from where the castle, sober and majestic, dominates the lower central valley. Magnificent example of military architecture, built by the Challands at the end of the 14th century.

SAINT-VINCENT CASINO
Why resist a small temptation? Before heading to Pont-Saint-Martin, allow yourself the satisfaction of a betting game at the Saint-Vincent Casino, among the largest and most prestigious in Europe. With motorcycle attire you can access the American Games, for the French Games, however, a jacket and tie are required; these can be easily rented at the entrance.