The Valle d'Aosta and its castles

The Valle d'Aosta is an autonomous region with special status in the North-West Italy; is the smallest and the less populous region of Italy but, in its territory, hosts a wide variety of aspects that make it a very popular destination. In its territory we find the "Giganti delle Alpi", the Mont Blanc (4,810 m), a big mountain consisting of ancient granite rocks and second in Europe only to the Elbrus, Caucasus; Monte Cervino (4,488 m), with its characteristic pyramid shape; the Monte Rosa (4,634 m), the second mountain of the Alps for height; and Gran Paradiso (4,061 m), the only "4,000", entirely included in the Italian territory, within the homonymous park that lies between the Valle d'Aosta and Piedmont, set up to preserve trees and some endangered animal species such as ibex, chamois, gophers and ermines. In addition, churches, castles, Roman monuments, and faith routes along the Via Francigena, enrich this italian region where the traditional culture uses more than one derivation, as evidenced by bilingualism (Italian -French) which is part of regional history and the use of numerous dialects of German origin such as titsch and toitschu. Forced passage to the alpine valleys, Valle d'Aosta has 72 castles (including castles, "casaforti" and "dongioni") along the main valley, not including the small valleys. Historically the castles were subject to an evolution. First they had a purely defensive function, fortresses built in particularly strategic positions already in the pre-Roman period, others in recent times, witness a past of wars, rich patrons and ambitious noble families. At the same the castles started to have also a residential function, they were used in order to show the power and wealth of the owner: this was the purpose of the castle of Fénis and the castle of Issogne. Castles with breathtaking views, roads, footpaths or horsetrails.

Castello di Fénis

Frazione Chez Sapin, 1, 11020 Fénis AO, Italie

Castello di Issogne

Piazza Castello, 11020 Issogne AO, Italie

Castello di Verres

Localita' La Tour, 11029 Verrès AO, Italy

Castello di Baraing

11026 Pont-Saint-Martin, Aosta Valley, Italy

Castello di Aymavilles

11010 Aymavilles, Aosta Valley, Italy

Castel Savoia

Località Belvedere, 11025 Gressoney-Saint-Jean AO, Italy

Fortezza di Bard

Via Vittorio Emanuele II, 85, 11020 Bard AO, Italy

Castello Reale di Sarre

Loc. Lalex, 11010 Sarre AO, Italy

Castello di Verres

Localita' La Tour, 11029 Verrès AO, Italy

Castello di Ussel

11024 Châtillon AO, Italy

Castello di Saint-Pierre

SR22, 11010 Saint-Pierre AO, Italy

Castello Sarriod De La Tour

Via del Piccolo S. Bernardo, 20, 11010 Saint-Pierre AO, Italy