Holidays to get your teeth into!

With Italy just next door, few can resist taking a trip across the border to the Aosta Valley. The Petit-Saint-Bernard pass, which links France and Italy, is just a few kilometres away and La Rosière is the last French village you go through before crossing the frontier. Because of this, a certain amount of Italy has bled into the resort, and we are proud to offer a mixture of Savoie and Aosta Valley cultures. Enjoy delicious traditional cuisine in the many good restaurants in the Aosta Valley and get away from it all as you wander round the magnificent Lac Vernay overlooked by Mont Blanc.

A slice of history...

Aosta Valley is the smallest region in Italy and is surrounded by some of the highest mountains in Europe. In its central valley runs the Doire Baltée river, and from there radiate 13 lateral valleys created by glaciers and torrents. The Aosta Valley has always been a crossroads in the western Alps, connected to France via the Mont-Blanc tunnel and the Petit-Saint-Bernard pass, and with Switzerland via the Grand-Saint-Bernard pass and tunnel. Inhabited since prehistoric times, the Aosta Valley was occupied by the Romans, who settled in this region and established the town of "Agusta Praetoria" (Aosta) in 25 BC. The Valley then fell under the control of the Burgonds, the Lombards and the Carolingians until the House of Savoy was unified. In 1191, Thomas 1st of Savoy granted the "Franchises" bill to give the valley political and administrative autonomy. This was applied until 1770. The Aosta Valley was characterised by a type of autonomous political government with its own laws that came from the Estates General Assembly. The Valley's desire for autonomy came true on 26th February 1948, when Italy granted Aosta Valley a special status: legislative and administrative autonomy and equal emphasis given to the French and the Italian language. Nowadays, the region’s economy relies on tourism, cattle breeding, dairy and cheese production, AOC (controlled designation of origin) wines, energy production and traditional artisanal activities.

Gastronomy

As well as the more well-known dishes (pasta, pizza, etc.), the Aosta Valley boasts many AOC products:

- Fontina: cheese made from raw milk, which is worked twice daily after milking. The milk, processed in the region, comes exclusively from Valdotain cows, which are fed on local fodder.

- Fromadzo: this not-yet-famous half-fat cheese is made primarily with cows’ milk, although some goats’ milk may be added. Traditionally it comes in various sizes.

- Jambon de Bosses: the origins of this cured ham, which is produced in Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses, date back to the 14th century. The cold air whipping down the mountain, the long and harsh winters, the producers’ unique savoir-faire and a maturing process that lasts 12, 18 or 24 months transform these cured hams into unique and delicious products.

- Lard d'Arnad is a genuine gem of the farming world. It is now available in markets, and has recently become a great favourite with gourmet chefs. It is famous both in Italy and abroad and has won many awards.

The Aosta Valley is also well-known for its controlled designation of origin (AOC) wines: its 7 geographic appellations and 22 vines are the roses in the crown of Valdotain wine-making heritage. The Aosta Valley’s wine-growers are proud to represent and continue the great wine growing tradition of this region, and are the only wine-growers in the world whose vines are planted into the mountainside, up to an altitude of 1,200m.

Things to see and do

Market days

Aosta: Tuesday mornings
Courmayeur: Wednesday mornings
La Thuile: Saturday mornings
Morgex: Thursday mornings

La Thuile

La Thuile is the first Italian village you come to after going through the Petit-Saint-Bernard pass from France. Discover the charms of the local architecture at Pont-Serrand, which is just before La Thuile. There are plenty of places to walk in and around La Thuile, including the Cascades du Ruitor waterfalls, and the various hiking trails from the San Carlo pass.

Courmayeur

From Courmayeur, discover the Italian side of the Mont Blanc massif. Walk to Val Ferret or Val Veny to see the glaciers or take the cable car to "La Pointe Helbronner" (alt: 3,452m). From there you can even carry on to the "Aiguille du Midi".

Price of return cable car trip to "La Pointe Helbronner":
35€ in low season (1st to 17th June, 12th September to 1st November)
39€ in high season (18th June to 11th September)
Free for children under 5.
50% discount for children aged between 6 and 15 years.
10% discount for senior citizens (over 65 years).

Return trip from "La Pointe Helbronner" to the "Aiguille du Midi": 24€

Family package: return trip for 2 adults + 2 children (6-15yo) = 96€ to 105€, depending on the season.

Open every day from 8.30am. Open from 7.30am between 9th July and 21st August, and from 8.00am between 22nd and 28th August.

Cable car leaves every 20 minutes.

We advise you to take the cable car as early as possible in the morning.

Pré-Saint-Didier thermal baths (Italy - 30km)

History

Facing the Mont Blanc massif, the Pré-Saint-Didier hot springs were already famous in Roman times. Built in 1834, the baths enjoyed the height of their fame between the 19th and 20th centuries. The building has since been restored, preserving its original architecture, and is now open to the public. At the source, the water flows out of the mountainside at around 37°C, as clean and pure as it was a thousand years ago! The spa offers around 30 treatments, including 3 thermal outdoor pools, saunas, Turkish baths, steam rooms, hydro-jet massages, waterfalls, aromatherapy, panoramic and chromatic relaxation rooms and a sensory room.

Access

The Pré-Saint-Didier thermal baths are 45 minutes drive from La Rosière. Head towards the Petit-Saint-Bernard pass, drive through La Thuile and continue until you reach the village of Pré-Saint-Didier.

Opening times:
Monday to Thursday: 9.30am to 9.00pm
Friday and Saturday: 8.00am to 11.00pm
Sundays: 8.30am to 9.00pm

Entrance fee: starting at 42€, the price includes use of a bathrobe, towel, flip flops and body care products, a light buffet of fruit, bread, breadsticks, yogurt, herbal teas and fruit juices, and the use of special treatments in the saunas and steam rooms. Massages are available upon prior booking.

Children under 14 years are not permitted in the spa.

Tel: 00 39 0165 867 272

More information about the Aosta Valley:  www.regione.vda.it