Coumarial
Edited by:
Massimo Martini
Access
Leave the motorway at the Pont-Saint-Martin exit, turn right after about 100 metres and take the second exit at the first roundabout. Continue straight on to the second roundabout and take the third exit to enter the town of Pont-Saint-Martin. After a few hundred metres, turn right onto in the direction of Valle del Lys. Follow the regional road for about 10.2 km, passing the villages of Lillianes and Fontainemore. About 1 km after the centre of Fontainemore, turn right and follow the signs for Pian Coumarial. Cross the bridge over the Lys stream and take the municipal road uphill. Continue along the road for 7.3 km, passing the villages of Colombit, Pacoulla, Pianpervero, Jugeo, Chouchal, Pra Dou Sas, Cios, Challasc, Colla, Grange, Savaroy, Goy and finally Coumarial. Reach the large car park at the end of the road, near the picnic area where there is a fountain đ§ for filling up with water, as there are no other supply points along the route.
Distance and walking time
đ Walking time: 30 minutes
đ Distance: 18.9 km
GPS navigation
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âšī¸ Important note
The directions provided were verified on the date of the route survey. Before departure, it is advisable to check for any changes to the route. For up-to-date and detailed directions, we recommend the use of Google Maps or Apple Maps.
Introduction
Coumarial is a locality located in the municipality of Fontainemore, at an altitude of about 1,440 metres in the upper Lys valley, on the slopes of Mont Mars. Nestled among larch and fir forests, at the entrance to the Mont Mars Natural Reserve, it represents one of the most important naturalistic points of interest in the middle Aosta Valley. Pian Coumarial is easily recognisable by its broad plateau, a privileged starting point for many outdoor activities during all seasons of the year.
Description
From spring to autumn, Coumarial turns into a true hiking crossroads: from here, trails branch off to some of the most famous peaks in the Biellese Alps and the reserve, including Punta Sella, Mont Mars and Colle della Barma. The area is also the access point to the Anello del Mars, a high altitude traverse appreciated by the most experienced hikers. Marked trails, themed paths, the Health Route with open-air fitness stations and suggestive views also make Coumarial ideal for families and less experienced walkers.
In the winter months, Pian Coumarial offers a well-equipped cross-country skiing station with several Nordic skiing circuits suitable for all levels, as well as snowshoe trails that wind through the tranquillity of the reserve. The place is often used as a base for ski-mountaineering excursions and snowshoeing trips immersed in a silent landscape where it is not rare to spot typical fauna such as deer, roe deer or birds of prey. The area is equipped with a large car park, fountain and Bar Ristoro Coumarial, which serves as both a reference point for hikers and a local information centre. It is also possible to hire sports equipment and e-bikes for high-altitude itineraries on site.
The Coumarial environment is marked by great biodiversity. The forests surrounding the plateau consist of larch, spruce, stone pine and beech, with undergrowth rich in blueberries and rhododendrons. The landscape changes with the seasons, offering spectacular spring blooms and autumn colour variations. The place also takes on a particular cultural value in the traditions of the local population: the historic Oropa Procession begins here, an annual pilgrimage that reinforces the spiritual and social bond between the Aosta Valley and the Biellese area, and in recent years has also hosted events such as the chainsaw sculpture symposium, which decorates the area with peculiar wooden works.