A journey immersed in nature, many castles to visit and unforgettable nature trails: discovering an enchanted region.
Here is a low cost itinerary discovering an enchanted region.
La Valle d'Aosta it is truly an enchanting region. During my vacation, I had the perception of being part of a fairy tale. Maybe because as a child I loved the stories of enchanted castles and princesses to be saved, but even now these places arouse something in me.
Ideas for accommodation
If you too adore enchanted places and are about to organize yours low cost travel in Valle d'Aosta, I advise you to book accommodation in the central area, more or less in the area that goes from the surroundings of Aosta to those of Saint-Vincent. From here, in fact, every day, with a few hours by car, you can reach the most beautiful destinations, and always return to your room in the evening.
For my vacation I found an affordable offer in a Brusson hotel, a few km east of Saint-Vincent. It is a small but truly delightful village, with a splendid lake surrounded by greenery. Drop by if you have some time, even if you are staying in another city.
Here is the itinerary I made. For reasons of time I preferred to visit the most important destinations of the part central western of the region, but if you have more time, take the road that from Point-Saint-Martin will take you eastwards to at the foot of Monte Rosa. Near Gressonay-Saint-Jean is the famous Savoy Castle, built for Queen Margherita, and if you continue north for a few kilometers you will arrive at the historic center of the town. They say it is very picturesque, even if small.
Day 1. The Gran Paradiso
The entrance into the region from the border with Piedmont is marked by the view from the road Forte di Bard. The grandeur of the project is already evident from below, which develops in steps, climbing towards the top of the relief on which it is built. If you happen to pass by in the evening you will see what a show with the lights!
A little further on you will find the Verrès Castle, here I suggest you stop and stroll through the narrow streets of the town, then take the Strada del Castello which will take you to the entrance in about 20 minutes on foot. It's not a particularly easy climb, but it's worth it. From there the view is truly beautiful, and you can also see the Issogne Castle, which is located on the opposite side of the town.
The next and inevitable stop is the Gran Paradiso National Park. The accesses to the park are different, the most famous being that of Cogne and most of the nature trails start from there. I preferred to continue for about 5 km on the same road up to Lillaz because I absolutely wanted to see the falls. Being a park entrance less traveled by visitors, there is more space to park, but if you go in the high season know that you will not be the only one to have this idea. However it is not a crowded place and immediately made a great impression on me. As soon as I got out of the car, I found myself in front of a splendid clearing with a stream that cooled the air and invited us to follow it entering the woods. The path to reach the falls is well signposted and not at all tiring.
I expected them to be more impressive, but I must say that I was not disappointed. The falls are certainly not very high, but they have something fascinating, perhaps due to the idyllic landscape that surrounds them. This place conveys serenity.
On the way back is the great Fénis Castle. This castle catches the eye; approaching with the car I could not help taking my eyes off its towers and crenellated walls. The visit inside will take you on a walk through the very rich rooms of the noble residence, accompanied by a certain sinister perception ... Is it the fault of the legend of the ghost child?
Day 2. Aosta and Courmayeur
First stop for the second day is Aosta. This city is really quiet, even if less characteristic than others because it does not have the typical aspect of the mountain town with wooden huts and very sloping roofs. In Aosta, the traces of the Roman era are clearly visible walking through the center. You will meet the Roman Theater, the Amphitheater, the numerous and monumental gates that mark the entrances to the historic center. Chanoux square then it amazed me. Maybe I wasn't expecting such a large square, or maybe its rectangular shape surprised me, what is certain is that it struck me, also for its order. Another peculiarity I noticed about Aosta, compared to Brusson for example, is that it does not have particularly close mountains, which close the horizon. Brusson, on the other hand, is surrounded by high mountains, whose presence is felt even at night, like large black figures protecting the village from above. This is also why the road to this town is particularly winding.
After visiting Aosta, I continued my journey towards Courmayeur.
This is truly a special place! It has everything of the small mountain town, with a spectacular view of the highest peak of Mont Blanc, and the classic wooden houses with balconies literally invaded by large colorful flowers, the most beautiful I have ever seen. But there are also numerous luxury shops here! Alongside leather goods and rather expensive technical sports items, there are also many small shops selling typical products, with much more affordable prices, which often also offer free tastings. Take the opportunity to take home some delicious pieces of Fontina or Mocetta (under vacuum if you want them to arrive intact at the end of the journey), some tile (typical Aosta Valley biscuits) or a bottle of good Genepì, the juniper-based liqueur.
The last evening in Valle d'Aosta I dedicated it to a walk in Brusson, reaching the delightful lake near the town. As night fell, the streets and houses lit up, transforming this place into a real nativity scene, a truly enchanted place.
Day 3. Cervinia
The morning of mine third day in Valle d'Aosta I had a pleasant surprise: from the balcony of my room I saw a herd of cows grazing near my hotel. This magnificent view brought me back to the sad reality… It was my last day of vacation.
Before returning home, in the afternoon, I left for Cervinia. The road is quite narrow, steep and winding, but as you go up the Monte Cervino the air becomes more and more sparkling and encourages you to go on until the end. Cervinia is a small village, where the main attraction are obviously the ski slopes in winter, but also in summer it is a splendid destination to enjoy the fresh air and the view of the rock face that lies behind it. The gray rock was dotted with white snow, and the high temperatures were melting it so much that it created small cascades of water.
I would have stayed there for hours staring at that immense rock face, apparently motionless, but which in reality was constantly changing, second by second. Then walking around the area I discovered a small stream with a delightful wooden bridge that made me want to stay in that enchanted place forever.
