Aosta Valley

Border regions anywhere tend to have multiple personalities, and that’s especially true when the border has moved so many times over the years. The Aosta Valley region in Italy is proof enough of that.

Italy’s northern regions were at times French, Austrian, and Italian – and although the Aosta Valley hasn’t been in French hands since the mid-1500s, proximity alone means that it still has a split personality. There are two official names for the region – one Italian, one French. The local language is more French than anything else. Many towns in the region have French names. All this is to say that while the Aosta Valley is very much part of modern Italy, it’s yet another example of why modern Italy can be so difficult to categorize.

The Aosta Valley is Italy’s smallest region in terms of area, and it also lays claim to the titles of least populated and least densely populated region. The region lies in the far northwest corner of Italy, and its sparse population is due in part to its largely rugged terrain, with high mountains (including the towering Mont Blanc and Matterhorn) and Alpine valleys.

This page contains basic travel information for Aosta Valley, including links to other articles on WhyGo Italy to help you plan your Aosta Valley trip. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, please let me know.

Quick links to Aosta Valley travel resources:

Where to Stay in Aosta Valley
What to Do in Aosta Valley
Where to Go in Aosta Valley

Aosta Valley: Fast Facts

Aosta Valley is the English name for this region, and it actually has two Italian names (as well as one official French name). The official Italian name is Valle d’Aosta (pronounced VAH|leh DAH|oh|stah), but it’s commonly shortened to Val d’Aosta (pronounced VAHL DAH|oh|stah).
The capital of the Aosta Valley is conveniently called Aosta.
The Aosta Valley is one of five autonomous regions in Italy.
Though there are more UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Italy than any other country, the Aosta Valley is one of four regions that doesn’t have any within its borders.
The Aosta Valley shares a border with the Piedmont region in Italy, and also with the countries of France and Switzerland.
Famous people from the Aosta Valley include Italian soccer players Sergio Pellissier and Paolo De Ceglie.
People from the Aosta Valley are called valdostani (masc. pl.). Other variations are: valdostano (masc. sing.), valdostana (fem. sing.), and valdostane (fem. pl.).

Where to Stay in Aosta Valley

The Aosta Valley certainly has traditional hotels and hostels in various parts of the region, but its low population numbers and mountainous terrain mean that accommodation can be a bit more rustic (not to mention a bit harder to come by, depending on where you are).

In addition to hotels and hostels, you might also consider an agriturismo stay, a vacation rental, or a B&B in the Aosta Valley. One accommodation option you won’t find in most regions is the mountain hut – in Italian, the rifugio. These are common in Italy’s mountainous regions, especially in the north, and while some of them are quite basic others are more cozy. They can be used as stopovers on a hiking trip of several days, or as a simple mountain getaway for a night after exploring the area by car.

As a side note, this is a region where you’ll most likely need a car to get beyond all but a few cities and towns – even if you’re not staying in a rifugio for the night.

Here are some links to articles about hotels and hostels in some of the cities in Aosta Valley:

What to Do & See in Aosta Valley

The biggest draw for most visitors to the Aosta Valley – besides the peace and quiet and a chance to get away from the big crowds of tourists – is the great outdoors. The mountains in the region provide natural playgrounds in both winter and summer, with world-class skiing around Zermatt in the colder months and excellent hiking and rock climbing during the warmer months. There are also some excellent natural hot springs in the area, some of which are open year-round, so it’s a popular destinations for spa lovers, too.

Any region that changed hands multiple times like the Aosta Valley did is bound to have some pretty cool fortifications, and the region doesn’t disappoint in that department, either. There are fantastically-preserved castles throughout the region, most from the medieval era, as well as some Roman era monuments.

Interesting museums in the region include the Pope John Paul II Museum (the former Pope spent many personal vacations in the Aosta Valley, and this museum occupies the house he spent so much time in there) and The Alps Museum (housed in the impressive Bard Fortress).

And if you’re feeling lucky, there’s always the Casino de la Vallée…

Where to Go in Aosta Valley

The Aosta Valley doesn’t have a long list of big cities to visit – rather it’s more like mountain town after mountain town, often connected by winding roads and sometimes difficult to reach because of the weather. Having said that, there are several cities and towns that are well worth visiting, especially if you don’t have much of an agenda. This is a region to visit if you want to settle in for a bit, explore the great outdoors, and enjoy whatever the cities and towns around you have to offer.

Here are a few of the cities and towns of Aosta Valley you might have on your list:

Aosta – Aosta Valley’s capital, near entrance to Mont Blanc tunnel, home to Roman and medieval monuments/ruins and an 11th century cathedral
Courmayeur – Located at the base of Mont Blanc, shares Mont Blanc summit with Chamonix in neighboring France, Italian town with highest elevation, famous ski resort town, popular with hikers in the summer
Breuil-Cervinia – Located at the base of the Matterhorn (Monte Cervino in Italian), ski resort town, shares ski area with Zermatt in neighboring Switzerland
La Thuile – Alpine town, smaller base for skiers and hikers, formerly an important coal region
Cogne – Small town in a valley in the southwestern part of the region, near the Gran Paradiso mountains, popular for cross-country skiing in the winter

photos, top to bottom, by: Leo-seta, Otourly, Laura and Fulvio, Ai@ce, Toprural, Laura and Fulvio