Col d’Arlaz Loop

The route starts at Verrès railway station and crosses the historic town centre, dominated by the medieval castle, before heading towards the entrance to the Ayas Valley. Before tackling the climb along Regional Road 45, it is well worth stopping at the Collegiate Church of Saint‑Gilles, a fine example of Romanesque architecture. The climb, about 4.5 km long and characterised by a series of hairpin bends, requires particular caution due to traffic.

On reaching Challand‑Saint‑Victor, a short detour leads to the non‑cyclable path to the Isollaz waterfall, which can be reached in about 20 minutes on foot. The route then continues through the village hamlets, where small chapels, old communal ovens and rural landscapes can be found, set in an area with a surprisingly mild climate. In front of the Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows grows an olive tree, a crop that may seem unusual in an alpine environment but is in fact increasingly common in the lower Aosta Valley.

From the hamlet of Nabian, where the communal oven is still in use, the climb continues along Regional Road 45 up to the Col d’Arlaz, a panoramic pass linking Montjovet with the Ayas Valley. From the pass, a restricted‑access dirt road runs alongside the Ru d’Arlaz irrigation channel, crossing a charming chestnut forest and leading to the Orbeillaz waterfall. Returning to the pass, the descent towards Montjovet begins, passing through historic hamlets and alongside the restored Arlaz watermill.

In the hamlet of Barmachande, the route finally turns towards Lake Villa, located within the nature reserve of the same name. From here, following Regional Road 45 once again, the ride returns to Verrès through the historic centre, completing the loop back at the railway station.