Valpelline

Introduction

A mid-mountain municipality located north of Aosta, in a valley that branches off from that of the Great St Bernard Pass, commonly called 'Coumba Freida' (cold valley). Although located on the road axis leading to the Collon pass, Valpelline was long difficult to reach: a proper road was only built in 1865.

Description

Certain information on the village is only available from medieval times, when the area was enfeoffed to the De La Tour family of Valpellina, who built a house-fort next to the present parish church (10th-11th century). The seigniory then passed from family to family. Testimony to this is the 'Tornalla', a round tower with a beautiful spiral staircase, built in the 15th century by the lord of the manor. In the history of the village, the year 1846 is also sadly remembered, when after days of torrential rain, landslides and mudslides occurred, causing several casualties: the same circumstances occurred again on 15 October 2000, but this time, fortunately, no human casualties were reported.
 The economic life of the municipality was of an exclusively agricultural nature, and a number of large landowning families played an important role here, who have handed down to us significant examples of rural architecture: the houses of Constantin Ansermin and Jean-Pantaléon Gachet, both dating from the 18th century, are noteworthy. Today, there is also a focus on tourism, both winter (cross-country skiing) and summer, as the village is an excellent starting point for numerous excursions.
 Finally, it should be noted that in July, the patron saint's festival of San Pantaleone is celebrated, with an adjoining festival of the 'Seupa à la Vapelenentse', the soup that has become one of the most famous dishes of Valdostan regional gastronomy.

Information

Area: 31.45 square km
Altitude: 964m
Maximum elevation: Punta Fiorio (3332m)
 Number of inhabitants: 659 (31.12.13)
Name in dialect: Valpeleunna
Inhabitants name: valpellinesi or valpellinois
Patron Saint:St. Pantaleone (27 July)
Internet site: www.comune.valpelline.ao.it
Webcam:
Bordering municipalities: Doues, Ollomont, Oyace, Quart, Roisan, Saint-Christophe
 Villages and hamlets: La fabrique, Chez-les-Chuc, Bovet, Les Moulins, Arliod, Cumet, La Moule, La Forge, Chef-lieu, Prailles, Vignettes, Cheillon, Frissoniaz dessous, Frissoniaz dessus, Chez Cailleur, Chozod, Sémon, Lavod, Thoules, Thoules dessous, Lo Berrio, La Clayvaz, Les Ansermin, Gonté, La Veulla
 Alpeggiations: