Val d'Ayas
Val d'Ayas, is one of the most beautiful valleys of the Aosta region. It is extensive, open at the mouth, surrounded on two sides by densely forested slopes, and in the depths bounded by the Monte Rosa massif. Villages living on tourism are therefore, during weekends and in high season, crowded with skiers and hikers, whereas at other times of the year there is a dead silence here.
CHAMPOLUC, the main ski resort at the end of the valley, is connected by a series of ski lifts with STAFFAL in Val Gressoney. From here you can take the difficult climb to Testa Grigia (3315 m., minimum 4 Hours.; route #62), but you can also take advantage of partial facilitation, which are the cable car and ski lift. Beginner mountaineers, however, should not get carried away on this route, unless they can afford to hire a guide (information at the tourist office in Champoluc). From the top there is a magnificent panorama of the Alps from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc.
BRUSSON located a little lower in the valley, is a better base for those focused on less exhausting trips. It is worth mentioning the trail to seven mountain ponds (3 Hours. 30 Min.; route # 6), which begins with a long ascent through a dense forest. It then passes by the waterfall, which is most impressive in the spring, when water from melting snow falls from a height 30 Metres.
On the outskirts of Brusson there is a clean, simple beau site hotel (• 0125/300144) with a good restaurant and double rooms without bathroom included in the price 35 000 L. Hotels in the center of Champoluc are expensive, but located in Crest, connected to Champoluc by the Cre-Forne cable car (• 0125/307197) has double rooms without bathroom only for 25 000 L. There are also campsites between Brusson and Champoluc.
Valtournanche and Matterhorn (Cervino)
Ending in a Matterhorn or, using the Italian name, Cervino, VALTOUR-NANCHE could be one of the most picturesque Italian valleys. In fact, what disappoints above all is the ugliness of the International Ski Resort breuil-Cervinia, as well as the Matterhorn itself, whose glacier, run over by skiers, is just dirty most of the year.
Breuil-Cervinia
Built in the interwar years as part of Mussolini's campaign for a healthy society, BREUIL-CERVINIA is one of the oldest ski resorts in Italy. Shortly after its construction, the lifts were brought to the height 3500 m. was an absolute record, and large hotels were very popular among the wealthy European elite. Today, wealthy visitors live in blatant aesthetic sense of modern buildings outside the town., and the simple streets of this resort built for tourists are filled with holidaymakers, encouraged by the area full of easy descents.
So practically the only serious reason, which may prompt you to come here, there is an expedition to the Matterhorn (4476 m.). You must have with you the map of Valtournanche and the valleys under Monte Rosa issued by FMB and the appropriate equipment. On the way there are two open all year round rifugi: Duca degli Abruzzi (• 0166/949119), 2 Hours. 15 Min. of Breuil, and Rifugio M Carrel (none • ), 4 Hours. further, where most tourists stay overnight. The more dangerous sections of the route from Carrel to the top are equipped with ropes., but still the approach is more difficult.
More stationary tourists come to ST VINCENT today, spa located at the mouth of the valley, a short distance from the industrial town of Chattillon . There is a famous casino, but the streets lack the characteristic splendor of Monte Carlo's richness. If you have some time, it is worth visiting the parish church (Parrochiale), with beautiful inner frescoes. At the church you can also see the remains of the baths, which was once part of the house of a Roman patrician.
Mousse and Castello di Fenis
From a small, Picturesque, in the shadow of the castle ruins of the village of NUS, located a little further into the main valley than Chatillon, is only two kilometers to the castle of Fenis (III-XI 9.30-12.00 and 14.00-17.30, guided tour every 30 Min.; XII-II 9.30-11.30 and 14.00-16.00, sightseeing every hour.; closed. wt.; 2000 L). Against the background of forested hills, surrounded by a double wall with numerous turrets and serrated arcades, the castle looks both powerful and fabulous. In fact, the tasks of defending the valley were fulfilled by the less embellished fortresses of Nus and Quart., while the challant family branch living in Fenis was mainly engaged in decorating its seat with Gothic frescoes..
The most beautiful of them are located in the courtyard, above the rich double staircase, which leads to the upper floors. On one of them knightly saint. George saves a woman in the clutches of a huge dragon. St. George is guarded by a host of saints, whose salutary advice is placed on the developing sheets of parchment. Further frescoes were placed in the Barons' Hall on the first floor. This for some time closed part of the castle is to be reopened, but the authorities are quite reluctant to refer to this project, because mass tourism can pose a great threat to frescoes.
At the foot of Fenis Castle is the hotel La Chatelaine (• 0165/764264), closed in low season. Double rooms without bathroom cost here from 32 000-37 500 L. Five minutes from the castle there is also the campsite Les Chataigniers, open from April to October . However, since Nus has a train station and is located near the main bus route, it is usually more convenient to stay there. Hotel Florian, on the main street, has clean and comfortable double rooms without bathroom for 33 000 L (VII, VIII and the horse. XII-hal. I 42 000 L).