Liès

Introduction

Liès, also known as Liex, is a small and charming Alpine village located in the municipality of Antey-Saint-André, at an altitude of 981 metres above sea level. Like many settlements in Valle d'Aosta, its origin dates back to periods when the population migrated in search of new land to cultivate. The hamlet currently has 29 dwellings, with the oldest nucleus located upstream from the main road, and 25 resident inhabitants. 

Description

The ruins of the old bakery are still visible in the village, testifying to the importance that small towns attached to common structures and community life. The history and very existence of Liès are closely linked to the forest that stretches above the village. This natural environment not only represented a source of materials and resources, but also continues to protect the village from the dangers of rockfalls, a widespread phenomenon in this Alpine area.
The relationship between Liès and the forest synthesises that between man and nature that characterises the Alpine valleys: a deep and necessary bond. In the past, in an isolated socio-economic context with few external exchanges, mountain villages like Liès depended almost exclusively on the resources of their territory. The forest was an essential resource, providing timber for construction, firewood for heating, pasture for livestock and, above all, natural protection against landslides, rockfalls, avalanches and floods.
This awareness of the importance of protective forests is reflected in historical documents: as early as 1200 AD, edicts and local regulations imposed strict restrictions to preserve wooded areas with a protective function.