Sport Itineraries: Villeneuve

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.

After reaching Champlong Dessus hamlet, above Villeneuve, cross the village and continue for 100 metres on the road on the left until a small dirt parking lot.
After leaving the car follow the paved road that goes up and after 5 minutes reaches a fork. From here begins, on the right, the wide path that entirely on a gravel road easily reaches Chevrère hamlet,, in Introd municipality. In the middle of the itinerary you cross the Cammino Balteo path that goes up from Villeneuve.

When you get to the village of Champlong Dessus, a hamlet in the municipality of Villeneuve, continue along the road until you go past a bend on the right. After a few metres take itinerary 1A which alternates between sections of private road and sections of path and, after crossing the meadows near the houses and going into the woods, it reaches Prorayé. Here, the itinerary continues on a private road, which you should leave, except for a few short stretches that cut across large bends, and reaches Mont Poignon.

By car reach Champlong Dessus hamlet, above Villeneuve, cross the village and continue for 100 metres on the road on the left until a small dirt parking lot.
After leaving the car, continue on the paved road that goes uphill and after 5 minutes reaches a fork. From here begins route n.1A, that slightly uphill, continues along the gravel road that along wide hairpin bends in the forest reaches the abandoned hamlet of Prorayé on a small and green plateau.
For those who wish to walk more, the itinerary can continue, from Prorayé, on the gravel road that reaches Petit Poignon at 1576 mt, on the ridge between Valsavarenche and Cogne Valley.

In Villeneuve, after the bridge over the Dora Baltea near a crossroad with the road from Aymavilles, go up the stone staircase, at the end of which you take trail 1 on the left, until you come to the remains of Châtel-Argent castle.

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.