Cogne is the scenario that romantic travelers chase in the imagination of the perfect mountain landscape. At the dawn of the third millennium, hikers, mountaineers, tourists and vacationers enter the nineteenth-century dimension from the Grand Tour. There are three paintings: the amphitheater of Valnontey with the dramatic ice of the Tribulation; the meadows of Sant’Orso, symbol of inviolable living space for human speculation; the Lillaz waterfalls, water games, vaporized rainbows, the strength and richness of an explosive and abundant element here, extremely precious. Cogne and its mountains open towards the sky: on sunny days the light enters everywhere, bounces off the eternal ice and caresses the slate roofs; when perturbations and atmospheric turbulences enter nature flexes its muscles, roars and screams among mountains that fully express the concept of wilderness. Vittorio Emanuele II in 1850 took part in a hunting trip walking from Champorcher to Cogne. Thus begins the history of the Gran Paradiso National Park: the first Italian national park, which will be established on December 3, 1922, was born thanks to the hunting passion of a king. Cogne is a small capital that hides its soul in the heart of an ancient magnetite mine, a mineral from which very high quality iron is obtained. Extraction and processing of magnetite occupied the life of the Cogneins from the time of Salassi and Romans, until 1979 when the mines located in the heart of Monte Creya closed their doors. In the Genius loci of Cogne there is the soul of César-Emmanuel Grappein, a brilliant personality who made a decisive impact on the community of the valley between the 18th and 19th centuries. After interrupting his studies in theology, he embarked on a military career before graduating in medicine. Inspired by enlightened visions, philanthropist particularly attentive to the social, cultural and health conditions of the Cogneins was director of the mines and twice mayor.
The beautiful valley that opens between Cogne and the Gran Paradiso massif with the spectacular Tribolazione glacier. Ideal to travel on foot, by bike and on horseback.
The Sant'Orso grass is a sort of natural square dedicated to the free time of citizens, travelers and tourists; symbol of identity of Cogne and the balance between man and environment in the summer and winter version dedicated to cross-country skiing.
Reference point for all Cogneins dedicated to the Aosta Valley priest who between the 17th and 18th centuries would have reclaimed this originally inhospitable place. The first evidence of its existence dates back to 1184. The eighteenth-century wooden altars carved and embellished with twisted columns are interesting.
You can visit them with guided tours exploring the Costa al Pino galleries and the Colonna buildings.
Center for temporary exhibitions dedicated to Alpine culture; it hosts the permanent exhibition La Miniera di Cogne, a journey through documentation with stories, characters and objects in this important reality.
Ethnographic Museum. Masterpiece of stone and wood, an important testimony of rural architecture that brings back to the life of "once upon a time" in the valley through the spaces and objects of family life.
Over 1000 species of plants and flowers present in the Alps, the Apennines and also exotic species of mountain environments in Europe, Asia and America; botanical paths, typical rocks from the Gran Paradiso National Park, spontaneous collections of lichens and butterfly garden.
Today the Colonna mines that once housed over 400 miners are shrouded in silence, clinging to about 2,400 meters high, they have the profile of a Tibetan monastery that stands out against the backdrop of Mont Blanc. The wind hisses in the empty rooms. Flags fly which instead of Tibetan prayers entrust to the sky the faces of the miners who for centuries have been the soul of the mine, faces sculpted like magnetite that stir very lightly at the breath of the Gran Paradiso. The idea came from Barbara Tutino, an artist who owes her existence to the mine as the grandson of Franz Elter, former director of the mining complex in the 1940s. The same creative ferment takes shape in Cogne in the Clay Temple, where Anna Biancardi succeeds in transforming tradition into signs of creativity beyond all schemes: with ceramics she launches strong messages in which diversity is an opportunity for growth and affinities generate love. The artist's research on the ancient art of saboteurs and on the gestures that these craftsmen share in wooden shoes similar to clogs, The path that passes from the mine to tourism makes Cogne a destination whose exclusivity is proportional to the authenticity of places and people who identify with a strong sense of creative industriousness. As evidenced by the skill of the Dentellières, the embroiderers of lace at the Maison of Pitz; and from the stone stories of Donato Savin who manages to see and sculpt the forms of feelings, emotions, stories of men, saints and animals in the stones of the Gran Paradiso. Walnut, on the other hand, is Dorino Ouvrier's favorite material, one of the most appreciated sculptors, a master in rendering the idea of movement and of the human multitudes that recall popular festivals and agricultural work. Cogne is the small capital of these mountains, a pleasant urban setting ideal for rest and relaxation before embarking on splendid excursions. In the center of Cogne it is possible to get in touch with the history and life of the mountain people by visiting the Maison Gérard Dayné, a masterpiece of wood and stone, an important testimony of rural architecture that brings back to the life of the past in the valley through the spaces and objects of family life. And to feel the flavor of this place, there are three moments of gastronomic reflection not to be missed: the seupetta di Cogne, a soup of bread, rice and fontina; mecoulin, sweet bread with raisins; and the sensual Cogne cream, a triumph of chocolate.
A few steps and many emotions accompany the easy hike to the Lillaz waterfalls, where the Urtier stream manifests the energy and strength of the water with three jumps. Instead, following the path that lies in the bottom of the Valnontey, we recommend a stop at the Paradisia Alpine Botanical Garden, a splendid natural book that is told with over 1000 species of plants and flowers that grow on the Alps, Apennines and other mountains of Europe, Asia and America. Continuing you can easily reach the Pra su Piaz mountain pasture of the Jeantet family where Bruno and Mirella with the milk of 24 cows produce a legendary fontina, tome and ricotta, and other products such as yogurt, butter, panna cotta and whipped that testify to the purity of fresh mountain pasture grass. Ancient work that of cheesemakers that is based on a production chain that contributes to maintaining the territory in balance with Mother Nature. An excursion that summarizes the great beauty of the Gran Paradiso is the one that follows the climb to the Vittorio Sella refuge from Valnontey. At the Sella you eat well and sleep divinely. Sunrises and sunsets give extraordinary lights to photograph, as did Vittorio Sella. Twenty minutes on foot from the refuge and you reach the Lauson lakes, a special destination for lovers of photography and places where Mother Nature's drawings and reflections border on perfection. More experienced hikers can reach Col Lauson or the Herbetet farmhouses.
The Gran Paradiso Film Festival is a fascinating event which celebrates extraordinary images, nourishes cultural debate and analysis. Since 1984 it has been held in the heart of the National Park, promoting concepts like biodiversity and natural tourism vocation. In addition to the screening of films nominated for the Stambecco d’Oro award, the programme also includes De Rerum Natura, a cycle of events: conferences, meetings, shows and in-depth analysis of topics linked to the environment, science, nature and above all, the culture of sustainability. Aria di Festival proposes experiential moments for discovering the Park. Devétéya celebrates the return of men and herds from alpine pastures once summer draws to a close; it is always characterised by large-scale public participation. This is a moment of celebration: families are reunited during the cattle parade along the streets of the town, following the Reina di cornes with a distinctive red bosquet.
Cogne Valley Tourist Operators Consortium.
All about the 3 Valle d'Aosta valleys: information, news, events and services for the traveler.
Interactive laboratory, sensory and multimedia spaces, reference themes are water, forest and pasture, fauna and man.
