The Aosta Valley is dominated by some of Europe’s most celebrated peaks. Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa, the Matterhorn and Gran Paradiso create a spectacular setting for one of the Alps’ most varied ski destinations.
Tucked between France and Switzerland, the valley packs more than 800 kilometres of pistes into a surprisingly compact corner of north-west Italy.
There are big-name resorts, high-altitude skiing, modern lifts and two rather useful tricks: you can ski from Italy into Switzerland at Cervinia, and from Italy into France at La Thuile. Then there is the food . . .
Cervinia: Ski beneath the Matterhorn
In Breuil-Cervinia, the Matterhorn provides one of the great backdrops to skiing. The resort’s high slopes link directly with Zermatt and Valtournenche, opening up international ski area spanning 350km, with long runs and some of the highest skiing in the Alps. On a clear day, you can spend the morning cruising above Cervinia, cross into Switzerland for lunch and still have plenty of mountain left to explore.
Cervinia is high, snow-sure and extensive, with wide pistes that suit confident intermediates particularly well. But its real appeal is the setting. Few ski days begin with quite such an imposing mountain looming over the piste, and the Matterhorn seems to follow you wherever you go. Add the lively village atmosphere, Italian food and the sheer scale of the terrain, and Cervinia makes a compelling base for exploring both sides of the Alps.
Courmayeur: Life in Mont Blanc’s shadow
While Cervinia has established itself as an international ski destination, Courmayeur retains the character of a more traditional Alpine town. Its cafés, restaurants, aperitivo culture and cobbled streets bring a distinctly Italian feel to the town, all beneath the immense presence of Mont Blanc.
The resort sits on the Italian side of the massif, with spectacular views towards its glaciers and peaks, while the slopes of Chécrouit and Val Vény offer everything from relaxed cruising to more demanding terrain. Beyond the marked runs, the surrounding Mont Blanc range is a magnet for freeriders and ski mountaineers, with a sense of adventure that comes from being in one of the Alps’ great mountain landscapes.
It is the kind of place where a morning on the slopes can easily become a long lunch, with Mont Blanc looming above and the atmosphere shifting from ski resort to Italian mountain town.
Pila: From Roman streets to ski slopes
Pila is a purpose-build ski resort sitting above the Roman town of Aosta. It has one particularly advantage: skiers can take the gondola directly from Aosta and reach Pila’s slopes in about 18 minutes.
The skiing in Pila is varied enough for a full day, from wide, confidence-building pistes to more challenging terrain, while the views are a major part of the experience. Ski in the morning, pause for lunch with a mountain panorama, then take the cable car back down for an evening among Aosta’s restaurants, bars and historic streets. Few resorts make it quite so easy to combine proper skiing with Italian city life, good food and a dose of history.
Go big at Monterosa
Monterosa Ski is where things start to feel properly wild.
The interconnected Monterosa Ski area links Champoluc and Gressoney-La-Trinité and Alagna across three valleys beneath the Monte Rosa massif. There is plenty of groomed terrain, but this is also a favourite with experienced skiers looking for challenging and off-piste terrain.
The scenery is enormous, the valleys are quieter and the sense of being deep in the Alps is unmistakable.
Italy to France on skis
At La Thuile, you can ski across an international border before lunch.
The resort links with La Rosière in France to form the Espace San Bernardo, with more than 150 kilometres of pistes. One moment you’re skiing in Italy; a few lifts later, you’re in France.
La Thuile is made for skiers who like their days on the mountain long, varied and full of adventure. The Espace San Bernardo opens up a huge playground of wide pistes, steep descents and spectacular views, with plenty of terrain to keep confident skiers entertained. Add in reliable snow, tree-lined runs and a wonderfully unpretentious feel, and La Thuile makes a compelling alternative to the bigger-name resorts.
More than skiing
The valley’s appeal doesn’t stop at the pistes.
Aosta’s Roman heritage gives the region a cultural depth. Explore the castles, historic villages, Roman roads, city walls, bridges and archaeological sites or unwind in the thermal spas.
Lunch is not an interruption to the skiing here. It is part of the experience. Think Fontina cheese, cured meats, hearty mountain dishes and wines from local vineyards.
The Aosta Valley has the altitude, terrain and infrastructure of a major Alpine ski destination, but its character comes from the villages, the food, the history and the fact that France and Switzerland are just over the mountain.
More information: http://www.aosta-valley.co.uk/
