A Place... for Kings
Tour with snowshoes in Valsavarenche
- Trail Conditions: On foot,
- Interest: Wildlife, Panorama, Hystory
- Departure: Fraz. Eaux Rousses in Valsavarenche
- Arrival: Casa reale di caccia a Orvielle (2m)
- Duration: 2.00-2.30 hours
- Difference in height: 520m
The ancient hunting lodge of the Savoy family was one of Vittorio Emanuele's favorite places for his beatings. Now it has been transformed into the Park Keepers hut and into a support structure for the research activities carried out in the Park.
At about 50m before the Hotel "A' l'Hostellerie du Paradis", a signpost marks the beginning of the trail crossing the meadows in front of the hotel and entering a wonderful woodland sometimes interrupted by clearings and terraced fields. The trail, gradually going uphill with hairpin bends, gives the opportunity to enjoy beautiful views of the underlying valley, when the look can penetrate among the winter larch branches without needles.
You will find the ruins of Alpe Rondzegou, and then you will see, in an underlying basin, the summer mountain pastures of Carré and Rujaz, evidence of the historical economy of these alpine valleys depending on cattle breeding and the use of pastures at various altitudes according to the season, as wildlife still do.
The itinerary crosses the meadows above the grazing lands – here be careful in case of not settled snow – before reaching the larch and Swiss pine woodland leading you to the entrance of the wonderful basin housing the Park Keepers hut.
You will have the opportunity to meet a series of animals populating the woodland in winter, like chamois, squirrels, woodpeckers, tits, and various particular birds like robins and crossbills, thanks to the lack of leaves on the trees.
You can return downhill following the outward itinerary or going down towards Alpe la Ruya and, from here, to Creton country hamlet.
Main features:
- PNGP Visitor Center and Degioz Ethnographic Museum
- The library "Maison de la montagne"
- Well-preserved examples of the characteristic architecture of Valle d'Aosta in Creton
- Ancient water sawmill in Maisonnasse
