Marta's Monterosa Blog

I am passionate about the Alps. They are my heart's home and the place where I would like to spend the last day of my life. I have been a tourist in the village of Champoluc in the Italian Monterosa for all my life and worked as a tourist operator in this area since more than 15 years.

I believe in respect for the special environment of this place that you can find only here. We all gain by enjoying its beauty, while trying to make a minimum impact at the same time. Leave it for our children in the future!

I believe in respect for people who live here with their traditions and culture, language, and work, their genuine products and delicious wines. They open their homes for us, tourists and meet us as their guests, if we are able to open our hearts for them. I have a friend who is a hotel owner and he says that when stressed people from the city come to his place, he tells them to sit down and take a drink before they even begin to worry if they have a room. Perhaps, we can bring a little of their kindness and calmness with us on our way back to the city.

My philosophy is to give back a little of what the mountains and the people from this place have given to me and to my family through my work, to communicate my philosophy and my passion to those who follow me on the blog, and in my trips as a tour operator.

If you would like to visit Champoluc, Gressoney, Alagna or other villages in the Aosta Valley, trek or ski in the Monterosa, discover Sardinia or other places we offer, contact us.

Top 5 of Alta Via

Posted: Jun 17, 2015
Categories: Champoluc, News
Comments: 0

Alta Via

Alta Via trails are among the most beautiful trails to be found in the Alps. They compose a round circuit around the Aosta Valley on the height, for a distance of 330 km. This summer we offer new program that enable you to go through all or selected sections on Alta Via 1 and Alta Via 2. Check out Marta's Top 5 of Alta Via!

 

You can even download printable brochures (Alta Via 1 and Alta Via 2). In the meantime, we present very special choice of 5 highlights of Alta Via.


1. Walser village of Cuneaz and the Rifugio Aroula

Cuneaz

Hidden in the small valley, at the end of the cable car from Champoluc, Cuneaz is located at 2032 m, at the foot of the Mount Crest. It is invisible at first glance and looks like a small town with many old, adorable wooden houses. Although, it is a Walser pearl.

The Walser came probably from the Wallis (Valais) region, the uppermost Rhône River valley where they lived in the middle ages. During so-called Walser migrations in the 12th and 13th century they moved to other parts of Alps: in Switzerland, Austria, and Italy. Ancient Walser architecture and traditions shaped the cultural and natural landscapes of the Aosta Valley, where you can find many small Walser villages and places. Cuneaz is the finest on the Alta Via trail.

Nowadays, Cuneaz is charming touristic destination both in summer and winter with the Torrent de Cuneaz river below. It used to be the highest located town in Italy. At the beginning of the 20th century around 100 people inhabited Cuneaz. They could live in the village, often isolated during winters, thanks to warehouses with bread oven, among others. Cuneaz had a chapel, a school, even a mill, but as many similar places experiences depopulating processes and many buildings were menaced by gong to ruin.  Fortunately, the village was renovated and has become a holiday attraction in the isolated, calm valley.

You will find there one of our favorite Rifugios, L’Aroula established in 2008. The owners follow the tradition and restored a little hamlet and changed it into the most charming place where you can rest and enjoy delicious local cuisine. 


2. Lakes Pinter and the view of the Monte Rosa range

Pinter Lakes

One of the most beautiful hikes in Monterosa that can be started in Champoluc through Crest and Cuneaz. Located at 2689 m Pinter lakes offer amazing view over Mount Rosa range and the waterfalls on the west side.

Read about our excursion to Pinter Lakes!


3. Hotel Bellvue in Cogne 

Hotel Bellevue

This old mountain hotel is one of its kinds. Located in Cogne, with a view over the Gran Paradiso Glacier and in the Meadows of Sant’Orso, Hotel Bellevue was founded in 1925 by Leone Cesariano Cunéaz whose family runs still the place. During these years it kept its unique character of the 1920s. It hosted many distinguished guests and families from genoa, Milan, Turin, among others.  The Hotel has an amazing art collection and is a member of Local Storici d’Italia (Historic Places of Italy). It offers spa and restaurant that has been mentioned in the Michelin Guide many times and awarded the star in 2003.  


4. Rifugio Ferraro in the Resy Valley

Rifugio Ferraro in Resy Valley

In Resy Village in Ayas Valley, not so far away from Valtournenche, you will find extremely cozy Rifugio Ferraro with family atmosphere and great food. It is located by 45-minute-long walk from Saint Jacques. Ferraro Hut is an example of the Walser architecture. Rifugio was built in 1590 and you can see typical signs on the main entrance that are characteristic for Walser buildings. Stelio, the owner, tells that his grandfather lived in the building when Resy was a flourishing village with a school for 40 kids. It was when people lived more often here at 2000 m than down in the valley, due to the fact that the sun reaches much better here than in Champoluc in wintertime. Fausta, Stelios wife, is known not only for her cheering humor but also for her Himalayan expeditions. All flags and decorations inside, as well as many of the pictures of the Himalayan mountains, are her own souvenirs from Asian trekking adventures.

It is a great place to stay on Alta Via 1 trail!


5. Trek sections Rhems-Eaux Rousses-Cogne wilderness

Gran Paradiso National Park ibex

If there is an area in the Alps where to look after the big animals as Ibex and Chamois, this is the Gran Paradiso National Park in this section of the Alta Via 2.

Established in 1922 it is the oldest national park in Italy. Located between the Aosta Valley and Piedmont regions. The park was initially established to protect Ibex when in the early 19th century species was endangered. Nowadays, the Gran Paradiso National Park protects other animals in the area of over 700 square km.

The long history of the Park makes it cool for animals to come near us humans, without fear of being killed for the furs and the meat, or even worse for “pleasure”.

This part of the Alta Via does not have so many facilities and the landscape has not been influenced by man’s presence here as much as in other places in the Alps, where agriculture, mining and water basins have often distorted the territory to supply often remote areas in Italy and not even been of benefice for the local population.

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