What did one boy from Ozein dream about each time he flung open his window, staring in wonder at the profile of the Mont Blanc and Grivola? To fly over it. As the years passed, he still dreamed about climbing those beautiful mountains, suspended between the earth and the sky. This is the story of how instead of becoming a cowherder, one little boy grew up to become a mountaineer. This is the story of Abele Blanc, the only native of Valle D’Aosta to have summitted all fourteen of the eight-thousanders on this planet. The border between dream and reality is ephemeral and fleeting. Especially when a summit, the Grivola, the mother mountain of Aymavilles in this case, is the spiritual lighthouse of a land. The perfect lines of that pyramid behold something that is sacred, inviolable. It has been dubbed a Himalayan mountain: despite being under 4000, it exudes the magnetic character of an eight thousander. The Grivola summit should be embraced as a reference point for exploring Aymavilles, a land rich in breathtaking landscapes, art treasures, with its very own castle, Roman aqueduct and home to the Saint-Léger crypt. It towers 3969 metres above us, protecting us and showing us the way. There is an invisible thread that links all places in this area. Just waiting to be uncovered and made tangible. This is how the idea of the Grivola Trail first came about in Abele’s mind: a path which, with the blessing of his native mountain, connects all the beauty of the local area a path which, with the blessing of his native mountain, connects all the beauty of the local area. You’ll need shoe chains and excellent physical conditioning to complete the trail. After all, paradise is something you must deserve. The reward is a view of incomparable landscapes, nature breathing all around you, the dash of a chamois, the solemnity of a divine presence, especially when from Pointe de la Pierre, at 2653 metres, the highest summit of the trail, you behold the spectacular view of the Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa and Gran Paradiso.It winds through the timeless villages of Ozein and Turlin, up and down before reaching Poignon and Pointe du Drinc, at 2663 metres.
The Castle of Aymavilles is the other light-house of this land and features four impressive, angular towers with corbels, machicolations and low walls which have guarded the city since the 13th century. It is a matryoshka of different historic-architectonic layers which have been added over the years: the casaforte (fortified Medieval residence), the fifteenth century castle, eighteenth century baroque and nineteenth century decorations.
It is impossible not to see the Church of Saint-Léger it as you travel along the road towards Cogne. It stands proud, with its enormous painted façade depicting the Martyrdom of Saint Leodegar in the centre and the saints Germain, Joseph, Gratus and Leonard either side. Impressed by this monumental apparition, it is di icult to imagine its two hidden secrets: the oldest bell of Aosta Valley, cast in 1373, inside the solitary bell tower characterized by a hexagonal spire, and the marvelous 9th century crypt, perhaps dating even further back in time. This evocative environment is sober, mysterious and characterized by two naves with pillars, vaults and round arches. This aura of mysticism is further enhanced by the slight incline of the presbytery, perhaps to remind worshippers of the agony of Christ, the suffering on his face when he was nailed to the cross. The Church of Saint-Léger is just one example of ancient local faith. Oratories and chapels have spread faith throughout the area since time immemorial. The crypt is open to the public. For further information please contact Fondation Grand Paradis.
A mere 3 km separates this church from an exquisite construction, the aqueduct bridge Pont d’Ael which straddles the Grand-Eyvia torrent, set in a Dantesque landscape. Erected in the 3rd century BC, conceived by highly skilled Ancient Roman engineers and brought to life with the sweat and toil of workers who assembled the slabs suspended over the river, the spectacular construction commissioned by Caius Avillus Caimus, who belonged to a population of rich marble merchants, measures 56 metres in height and straddles a 50 metre abyss. You can discover it along a loop route leading from the upper, open-air part, featuring lithic slabs where water once flowed, down into the lower part, along an indoor walkway through which people and animals once travelled.
Tickets: 3€. Opening hours: April- September 9am- 7pm; October, Saturdays and Sundays 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm.
For thousands of years, farming has been the cornerstone of subsistence and wine is its most valuable resource. Cellars and wineries where you can taste it abound. The renowned historic Torrette is one example: this internationally acclaimed label produces PDO wines blessed by a very special microclimate right here in the prolific valleys of Aymavilles, including seven reds, a rosé, four whites, an organic wine, a late harvest wine and three table wines. It even has its own distillery which brews five different single grape variety grappas. Five wineries continue the ancient local wine making tradition which may even date back to the time of the earliest Roman settlements, two thousand years ago.
Protecting and raising awareness of traditions is the most effective way to protect the roots of origin. This is why a multitude of historic associations have flourished amidst the places of historic and landscape value in Aymavilles. For example, the theatre company Betise d’Aymavilles produces pièces in patois, the dialect of Valle D’Aosta. This is how regional linguistic identity is perpetuated, in the most entertaining and light-hearted of ways. The Boniface family, mother Liliana, father Alessandro and their sons Vincent and Remy, collectively known as Trouveurs Valdôtains, are a sort of blast from the past, devoted to regional popular music. They sing in French and in patois. They play the violin, hurdy-gurdy, bagpipes, clarinet and the button" class="button accordion. Their collection of around 500 instruments includes some which are over a hundred years old.
In addition to Cristo Re, a patron saint celebration which takes place at the end of November, Favó also reinvigorates the valley community spirit in mid July, in a triumph of songs, dancing, gastronomic and cultural events. Favó reigns supreme throughout this celebration, an ancient rustic soup containing pasta, rye bread,fontina cheese and fava beans. On the occasion, in addition to the consortium’s bakery which distributes fragrant loaves of bread for free, extinct trades are brought back to life: the carpenter, the dairyman, weavers and sculptors. You’ll also have the chance to try your hand at palet an ancient game in which players throw metal disks weighing 1 kilo as close to a ball as possible.
