Hermitage de Saint-Grat, from Pila

Access

Leaving the motorway at the Aosta Est exit, take the state road and continue in the direction of the capital. Once in Aosta, follow the signs for Pila until you reach the locality of Pont-Suaz: from here, having crossed the Dora Baltea, continue in the direction of Charvensod. Go up the entire regional road until you reach Pila, at the first parking area near the arrival point of the Aosta-Pila cableway.

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Introduction

Every year, between 6 and 7 September, the Ermitage de Saint-Grat (hermitage of Saint Grato) is the destination of a procession called La route des jeunes, a procession that starts from the church of Pila and arrives at the hermitage.

The itinerary proposed here is a pleasant walk through the cool woods of the envers. Once at the hermitage, several information panels tell the story of the building and the saint to whom it is dedicated.

Description

0h00' Leaving the car park, cross the road and, near a fountain 💧, follow the signs for the start of the hiking trails up the steps leading to the clearing in front of the gondola exit. Turn right onto a dirt road and walk along it for about seventy metres until you come to the signposts indicating the main hiking routes in the area.

0h05' Turn left and start walking along the road following the signs for the signpost. After leaving the last buildings in Pila, cross a ski slope and after enjoying the splendid view of the Grand Combin, enter the forest. The almost flat road cuts across the slope and soon reaches a fork in the road.

0h25' Take the road on the left, descending a very short distance before reaching the Ermitage de Saint-Grat (1787m) 0h30' .

The return is along the same route as on the outward journey 0h30' .