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| Cogne-Grand St.Bernard Col-Martigny From Cogne down to the valley. Before its end, on the left, there is Pondel. Here, you can admire the hefty roman bridge-aqueduct, one of the most prestigious monuments of that age. Continuing along the main road, you arrive to Aymavilles, an inhabited centre at 640m, where you can admire the XIII cy. castle belonged to the Challant family. When you reach the #26 main road, turn on the left towards Courmayeur. Along the way, you meet St.Pierre, dominated by the castle dating back to XI-XII cy, where you can visit the permanent exhibition of the Natural Sciences regional museum. Going towards Aosta, you reach Sarre, having a castle too, which belonged to the Savoia family. Then, there is Aosta, the only town of the region, with its roman and medieval monuments. At a big cross-road in Aosta, turn on the left to the Grand St.Bernard valley. First, you meet Gignod, at 988m, dominated by its XI cy' tower. At 1270m there is Etroubles, the most important village of this valley, St.Oyen and finally St.Rhémy, the last village before the Col to the Valois. Once here, you can choose between the tunnel or the upper passage through the St.Bernard col. In wintertime, this pass is closed and therefore there is no choice.  At the col, you can visit the hospice founded by St.Bernard, the famous dogs and a museum about the history of the col and of the hospice. Moreover, you go down towards Bourg-St.Bernard, Bourg-St.Pierre, Liddes and finally to Martigny, an important spot of the Valois having a roman history. Here, it is possible a visit to the remains and to the exhibitions organized by the Gianadda Foundation.Notice: this excursion takes a day and it is made for those people who like driving along mountain roads. |
