Three hundred and fifty miles of trails just in the area of Cervinia. Then there are Pila, Courmayeur, Val d’Ayas … All places with excellent service and cuisine.
Skiing on the slopes of the most beautiful mountains in the world, Mont Blanc, Mount Rosa, the Matterhorn, linked by the latest equipment. Hot chocolate in cosy cafés, shopping treats, velvet jackets and wool. And in the evening, after dining with friends in traditional restaurants, sleep in a cottage of stone and wood. Here are places and rituals of holidays in Valle d’Aosta.
Courmayer: In the most ancient Italian alpine station, the day begins on the slopes of Chécrouit – Val Veny, one hundred runs of medium difficulty. The skiers prefer the woods of the Val Veny where paths wind through the more insidious areas. While the most daring performers prefer competitions on the black path in the Courbe Dzeleuna. But even those who are not familiar with skiing in Italy can take a cable car to reach the terraces in the mountains, looking out vistas that take your breath away. On the tip of the ARP, Mont Blanc on one side and the glacier Rutor above La Thuile on the other. On Punta Helbronner point of the border with France, the skyline of all the majestic mountains, from Cervino to the Monterosa, and of course Mont Blanc. To enjoy the pleasures of small town in the Alps, you can sleep al’Auberge La Maison, a Entrèves, with all different rooms and excellent cuisine. Or the brand new Hotel Au Coeur des Neiges, which opened in early December with a dozen wooden chalet just minutes away from the seductions of Via Rome and the streets around. From the hundreds of meals of different flavours on sale at the pasta factory Gabriellato to the unforgettable fontine tome at Panizzi (via Circonvallazione 41, tel. 0165.84.30.41). While Cenzato specializes in traditional attire and 4810 satisfies the most demanding sportmen,
Val D’Ayas The most important town in the valley at the foot of Monte Rosa is Champoluc, but worth reaching is Soussun, rascard century village, against the mountain at 1950 meters high. The same era that dates from the Stadel Soussun, a charming hotel with wood and stone vaults, which can be reached by snowmobile or by snowmobile. Skiers, once at the village, reach the sunny slopes of the herd (about 600 meters from the Stadel) that lead to Colle Bettaforca. Also in snowmobile, you can reach the Refuge Vieux Crest, to 1935 meters, with seven rooms in more bunk beds and fireplaces, perfect for young families or groups of friends. The most beautiful village is Antagnod, at an altitude of 1710 meters, installed in the circuit of the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy. Old stone houses, old barns and the church of San Martino with the most important Baroque altar of the Valle d’Aosta. To sleep, a good address is the residence Lo Peyo, simple and welcoming. A ten-minute shuttle are Champoluc and the Monterosa Ski lifts, 180 km of trails that reach the three thousand meters. At Brusson, 11 km from Champoluc, you are provided with Fontina and salignon (a kind of cottage cheese) to the Fromagerie Haut Val d’Ayas, supplied from stalls in the area. The food is good at Osteria Il Balivo, a view of Monte Rosa, with dishes such as puff pastry with a ragout of wild and blue cheese fondue.
CERVINIA – Perched under the legendary mountain, it has a square, a green place, a place where you can walk. Yet there are many sportsmen who take part in skiing at 360 degrees, the real affair of Cervinia, with 350 km of tracks connected to each other. Skis at your feet, in a day you can go to the discovery of Zermatt, the pearl of the Swiss Alps and from there on board the train, go up to the Gornergrat, the most panoramic point in the Alps, or slipping from the top of the Plateau Rosa, a 3488 meters: it is the privileged observatory on numerous mountain peaks, including Mount Viso, Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn, 1600 m altitude to do everything in one go. At five o’clock in the afternoon the area will be enlivened by the local historian Hostellerie des Guides, in the center (Via Carrel 32, tel. 0166.94.94.73), but also in Ymeletrob, with cocktails and fine wines (square Maquignaz Guide, tel. 0166.94.91.45) . The food is good on the slopes at the Chalet Etoile, above Plan Maison. In town, the Maison de Saussure (via Abbé Gorret 20, tel. 0166.94.82.59) offers traditional dishes surrounded by mirrors and chandeliers. To sleep, the famous Hermitage, Relais & Châteaux (suite with fireplace and swimming pool), but also the hotel Mignon, in a pedestrian area, intimate as a private home.
Pila: The “balcony of the Valley” is a favourite of young people. Excited about the snow park (www.areaeffe.blogspot.com) and the district with about 70 km of pistes and 12 lifts that allow fast ascents. You can also try Gorraz on the track that hosts international competitions including slalom, Du Bois, also approved for the speed disciplines or Bellevue that, thanks to the junction with the Du Lac, allows a long path of super-g. The kitchen is to be tested, especially in mountain restaurants. Among the specialties, the dried beef, salted meat and dried, and seupa Valpellinentze served at the à la Châtelaine (hamlet Pila, tel. 0165.52.15.92), the edges of the homonymous track, but also the SIP (vegetable stew with sausages ) and the chamois in the civet Chamolé Refuge. You can stay at the Hotel Tivet, 5 km from the center, a 3 star hotel with comfortable rooms and a small spa, La Crotta, carved into the rock. To relax after the raids on the slopes.
Source: http://viaggi.corriere.it/viaggi/vacanze/2010/valle_aosta/neve_valle_aosta_.shtml