Valle d’Aosta
Valle d’Aosta is a district in Lombardy region with main town Aosta, only two hours by local bus from Torino.
It is the valley of river Dora Baltea, which has its source under the slopes of Monte Bianco ( Mont Blanc).
The most ancient pass through the Western Alps,Great St Bernard Pass connects the Valley with Switzerland.
A hospice for travelers ( that still operates) was founded there in 1049 and named after Saint Bernard of Menthon.
In the Nothern part of the Valley there is a group of the Alps with peaks Zermatt (on Swiss theritory) , Monte Cervinio (Matternhorn) and Monte Rosa.
Monterosa Ski is the biggest alpine resort in Valle d’Aosta.
‘Canton des Allemands’ features 200km of slpes with 42 lifts. Two alpine passes Colle della Bettaforca ( 2705 m ) and Passo dei Salati ( 2980 m) connect ski areas of three valleys:
Valle d’Ayas, Valle di Gressoney and Valsesia.
The new cable car ‘Funivor’ connects Pianolunga with Salati,from which one can admire the best panoramic views in the area.
The main villages in the area are : Antagnod, Brusson,Champoluc, Gressoney-La-Trinite at the feet of Monte Rosa, Gressoney-Saint-Jean and Alagna.
Cervinia remains one of Europe’s highest resorts, and with the ski lifts linking up to 3,899m – Europe’s highest lift-served point.
In Cervinia there also is the longest ski run ( 22 km ) that stretches from the Klein Matterhorn in Switzerland down to Valtournenche in Italy.
The skipass from Cervinia gives also access to Zermatt’s glacier.
La Thuile area together with adjoined French La Rosiere make 150 km of slopes with 35 lifts around Colle del Piccolo San Bernardo (Small St Bernard Pass) 2188m a.s.l.
The pass is opened only during the summer months, as for the remaining part of the year is covered by the snow, reachable only by skiers.
The slopes of the highest mountain in Europe Mont Blanc are on the Italian side in Courmayeur resort, and the French one – Chamonix-Mont-Blanc.
Similar to former, the skipass purchased in Courmayer allows to ski in the French area of Chamonix.
Pila is located almost on suburbs of town Aosta, accessible from town by a cable car, with high slopes on Piatta di Gara – 2752 m a.s.l. perfect for the beginners and intermediate skiers. Pure white, perfectly prepared snow and stunning panorama of the Alpine peaks from Monte Bianco through Cervinia to the group of Monte Rosa.
Besides four ski areas mentioned above, there are several other ski resorts, perfect for family skiing, or simply for enjoying slopes without the big, international crowds.
Champorcher, located at the beginning of Aosta Valley features ski resort Rosa dei Banchi with 5 lifts serving 21 km of runs.
Col de Joux near St.Vincent features 5 km of runs and 3 lifts.
The single lift is also in Nus, Valle di St.Barthelemy, under glacier Becca di Luseney.
Slopes in Valle del Gran San Bernardo are divided into three resorts Crevalcol, Flassin and Ollomont.
At the end of the Valley there are small ski resorts: Valle di Cogne ( a paradise for Nordic ski lovers )
Valsavarenche,Valle di Rhemes and Valgrisenche.
[A view over part of the Breuil-Cervinia ski area from Theodulpass by james preston]