Official website for tourism in the Aosta Valley
The Bull issued by Innocent on the 12th May 1207 mentioned the parish church in Diémoz as a dependent of the Vicarage of Verrès. However, since 1665, Diémoz was entrusted to lay priests and under the direct dependence of the bishop.
The parish church of Diémoz was entirely renovated in 1804, however, a century later, in 1904, became too small to host the entire population and was extended. The bell-tower was also rebuilt.
The first historical document that mentions the parish of Verrayes is a Papal Bull by Pope Lucius III dated 7 May 1187, where the parishes depending on the collegiate of Sant’Orso in Aosta are listed.
The current church of Verrayes was built at the end of the 19th century. On the walls of the bell tower the traces of the old church are still visible. It was a very low building with three naves divided by large brick pillars. The main nave was covered in cross vaults divided up by protruding ribs. This Church was demolished in 1873 and was replaced by the current church, the plans for which are by the architect Lancia. In 1877 the building was completed and was consecrated by Monsignor Duc on 11th November 1887.
Notice: from 8 February 2025 temporarily not visitable
The chapel lies on a panoramic promontory to the west of the Marseiller hamlet.
Built during the first half of the XV century and consecrated on 4th May 1441, this chapel is one of the oldest in the municipality of Verrayes. It was commissioned by the Saluard family, coming from the French region of Tarentaise, who served the Seigneurs of Cly.
The frescoes decorating its entire walls were realised by the painter Giacomino d’Ivrea, a well-known artist of the epoch who painted many other churches in the Aosta Valley. In 1845, when some extension works were done, the frescoes were almost completely covered.
Thanks to some subsequent restoration works the majority of the original paintings were finally restored. They represent some of the most meaningful episodes of the Christianity, such as the Last Judgement, the Adoration of the Kings, the Massacre of the Innocents, the Flight into Egypt and Saint Michael Weighing Souls.
Close to the entrance there is a representation of the notary Saluard together with his wife and, in the door opening, a peasant with some tools in his hands.
Visit the chapel by booking with the “Open door churches” app: once you have downloaded the app you must register. When on site at the selected time, just frame a QR code to open the chapel door and to start the “narrator voice”, combined with a lighting system of the artistic details. At the end of the visit, the door closes automatically.
See the 360° image of the interior here
Rising up on rocky outcrop that gives control over the entire valley in an area that saw settlements dating back to prehistoric times (Bronze Age and Iron Age), this castle is fully part of the category of so-called ‘primitive castles’ by virtue of its mighty donjon, that dates back to the first thirty years of the 11th century, and the military chapel dedicated to Saint Maurice, a jewel of Romanesque architecture.
The castle belonged to Cly branch of the Challant family and was the legal seat of a vast estate that included the territories of Verrayes, Diémoz, Saint-Denis, Chambave, Antey, Torgnon, up to the entire area of Valtournenche. Following dramatic events it passed on to the House of Savoy who kept it until 1550. In the 17th century the building was purchased by the Barons Roncas who distmantled many materials for the construction of their palace in Chambave.
The residential buildings and the guardhouse, located in the southernmost part of the castle, are now reduced to a state of ruins.. Guided visits in summer periods.
The Bull issued by Innocent on the 12th May 1204 mentioned the parish church in Saint-Denis as a dependent of the Vicarage of Saint-Gilles. In 1754 the parish was left to the free collation of the bishop.
The current church in Saint-Denis was rebuilt during the mid XVIII century and consecrated on the 3rd June 1794 by Mons. François De Sales. In 1963, due to numerous cracks, the building was declared dangerous and the regional council took on the work of reinforcing and restoring the building. In 1984 it was re-opened to the public.
After going through a stretch of the old road leading to Valais, you will reach a green valley where, at 2084 meters, there are the enchanting ruins of the hospice of Chavacour, which is supposed to have been the point where merchants on their way to Switzerland via the Col Collon and Arolla glacier received hospitality and food.
The ruins form a square structure with its front facing North and cover an area of 480 m2. Its walls are not dry-stone built, as those of the surrounding mountain pastures, but using stones thoroughly cemented with mortar and sand.
It seems that the building was rather impressive, so much that one wonders if it was a hospice that welcomed merchants, travelers and pilgrims or rather a fortress designed to control and defend the territory. From a documentary point of view, there is little information about it, and the phrase “hospice de Chavacour” itself is in use only after 1800.
According to tradition, Col Collon was a crucial pass for people carrying wine, wheat and other products from Italy to Switzerland, such as for shepherds from Aosta Valley bringing their animals to the fair in Evolène and, in the opposite direction, to lead the cows from Val d’Hérens to the yearly held fair in Valpelline. This pass had also a strategic role for the Challant and Cly families, who had possessions and various interests in Val d’Anniviers and in Sion, territories bordering the Valtournenche, while for the counts of Savoy, who took possession of Cly feud in 1367, this pass had a secondary function, since their transalpine properties were more easily accessible from Little and Great Saint Bernard passes.
It is certain that at the end of 1700 the hospice of Chavacour was in ruins: canon Frutaz suggests that some of its stones were reused in the construction of the nearby mountain pasture Château, dating from 1780.
How to get there
From the houses in Etirol, follow the beautiful trail entering the valley and go on until crossing the river; continue up on the private road n. 1 until you leave it on the left to take the path that allows you to reach the ruins of the Hospice de Chavacour.
Text and drawings freely taken from “Il labirinto della memoria”
By the Scientific Committee of the Musée Petit-Monde
PARISH CHURCH (Side door half moon) - the year of construction is unknown. It reappeared in 1975 during renovations on the plaster and was restored by the Piedmont painter Pirlato.
HOTEL PANORAMIQUE - in the hamlet of Mongnod m.1,500. Year of construction 1985. Authors R. Anselmi and A. Carlon.
The oldest historic news dates back to 1413, however the current construction in Neogothic style dates back to 1868. The facade presents the most recent decorations inside tondos and mullioned windows. They depict: the Virgin with Child, with two angels in the pointed arched hollows and Jesus Christ in the middle. The side facade represents Pope John. The wooden doorway is overlooked by spires. The bell-tower to the right is in Romanesque style, however it was built in 1773, with lowered arch access and a bell chamber on two floors and mullioned windows. The left side includes a sundial. Inside, there are three naves marked by columns and furnished in Neogothic style, except the marble altar, which once had wooden panels.
The walls are decorated with paintings by G. Stornone from Ivrea, on tondos and canvas. The stained glass, which comes from Abbot Pron’s factory (Pont d’Ane in France) on the southern wall date back to the time of construction, while the stained glass on the organ is more recent.
The central nave of the church hosts a large, sixteenth-century triumphant crucifix, which is definitely one of the most impressive works on show in the region: hugely dramatic, it appears to come from a German workshop, since the sculpture reflects the result of expression sought by the greatest German painters of the early sixteenth-century, such as Grünewald.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception, with an octagonal layout in Neo-Gothic style, is linked to the parish church. The segmented vault is decorated with pictures from between 1863 and 1868 which depict four stories of the life of the Virgin Mary interspersed with tondos of saints and a small, reniform window: The walls depict the Weeping Mother, the Adoration of the Wise Men and Jesus in the garden of Getseman.
Berzin
Dedicated to St. James and built in the XV century by the notary Aymonod. The choir loft dates from 1868 and perhaps on that occasion the facade was modified which no longer hosts the alcove where the statue of St. James was supposedly held. Inside, there is an eighteenth-century altar in gilded wood, statues of which are now displayed in the Parish Museum.
Champagnod
Dedicated to St. Fabian and Sebastian and dated to before 1660, the date of its first restoration. Having fallen to almost ruin, it was rebuilt by the parish priest Borine who blessed it on the 23.11.1734. Inside, the chapel presents decorative vaults and an eighteenth-century, painted and gilded altar which was once decorated with wooden statues that have since unfortunately disappeared following a robbery in 1981.
Chaté
Thanks to a donation from Rosalia Chatrian in 1868, the chapel was built between that year and 1871. It is named after St. Joseph. The name of the donor is also recalled on the highest beam on the ceiling.
Chatelard
Dedicated to St. Gratus and already existed during the second half of the XVII century. It was rebuilt in 1719 by the parish priest Borine at the expense of the municipality.
Chatrian
Founded in 1773 following a donation left in Marie Anne Chept’s will. It was erected in 1785, but was only open to followers in 1805. In 1870 it fell in poor state and was then renovated and blessed again in 1891. It is dedicated to Our Lady of Carmelo.
Fossemagne
It was built in the Désert district of Vallone di Chavacour in 1764 by the notary Fronçois Jérome Frutaz and blessed in 1774. It was renovated in 1889 (date on the facade in front of the initials V.G.). It is dedicated to Our Lady of Oropa.
Gilliarey
It is located on a daring, rocky headland that overlooks the valley bed at Buisson level. It was founded in 1866 and blessed on the 21.7.1867 by Can. Luigi Gorret, whose family were landowners in the Alps since the XVI century. The area surrounding the chapel is covered in stone slabs placed at a regular distance that support certain suggestions, even if guessed, relating to the use of these stones as prehistoric menhir to form a sundial on the land.
Mazod
Dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes whose construction dates back to 1873 under the parish of Diemoz. Giacomo Antonio Chatrian originally from Torgnon, even as early as 1840, was left the sum of 2000 Lire by J.L. Engaz in his will for the building, however his legacy was used for the oratory and the remainder used for a school for girls.
Nozon
Dedicated to the Visitation, was built in 1853 (the date is engraved on the beam over the door) by the parish priest Perruchon, even if news of legacies for its construction date back as early as 1735.
Ponty
Dedicated to Our Lady Of Pity, was built between 1720 and 1730 in a position lying against the overhanging rocky wall. The sacristy, which slightly projects towards the road, has a strange opening with a small, wooden channel that tilts and which was used to allow followers to give their offerings, grain in this case.
Saint-Évence
Built in a rather panoramic position, about half an hours walk from Colle di San Pantaleone, it existed as early as the XIII century and formed part of Sant’Orso church. Still today this recently rebuilt chapel is the destination of pilgrims who call upon the spring rain.
Colle San Pantaleone chapel
It dates back to the years 1845-1847, however there is mention of an oratory preceding the chapel that was probably built after the plague of 1630. It is located just under the Colle, on the slope of the Municipality of Verrayes. The facade, which is now very disfigured by graffiti, depicts decorative paintings between panels by the painter Avondo.
Triatel
Dedicated to St. Theodule and St. Rocco, dating from the sixteenth-seventeenth century. Children who had died before baptism were traditionally brought here, in the hope they would show some sign of life to be baptised.
Valleil
The construction of the chapel of St. Nicholas and Our Lady of the Snow dates back to 1745-1749.
Vesan Dessous
Dedicated to Our Lady of Grace, dating back to 1852 (beam dated 1854 with the initials BVM) even if as early as 1761 the first donation was made by M. Hiblet to build the church.
Torgnon inhabitants are cheerful, lively and friendly. In a word, Sargaillon, as they came to be known by the residents of neighbouring villages. This nickname inspired the foundation in 1969 of the folk group “Les Sargaillons de Torgnon”. The group uses old work tools and various wooden implements devised and assembled by some of its members to accompany accordions in playing melodies and dances that evoke the local people’s everyday life and feast days. The participants costumes are simple and bright and are lovingly cherished as mementos of former times.
The museum, situated in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, communicating with the San Martin parish church, offers different interesting details:
The territory known as Petit-Monde includes the two villages of Triatel and Étirol, that have maintained the typical inhabited mountain landscape.
In the village of Triatel there is an interesting ethnographical museum located inside traditional rural buildings.
A racard, or granary which is to find nowhere else in the Valley, a grandze, or rural building and a hayloft, built between 1462 and 1700, restored and displayed in a very original fashion, bear witness to a past that might otherwise be forgotten.
The tour begins on the bottom floor of the granary, with the permanent exhibition entitled “The Labyrinth of Memory”, which tells the true story of Man, the origin and evolution of the village, the life and social organisation of the inhabitants of this little corner of the past.
The texts of the exhibition, accompanied by Francesco Corni’s drawings, summarise the local history, and are easy to follow even for children.
As visitors take a look around the numerous inside rooms, the “tsé” and “tzambron”, they can build up a realistic picture of the hard lives led by the local people in the past, governed by the slow rhythm of the work in the fields. The silence brings memories and imagination alive, and visitors can almost hear the ancient sounds of the village, smell the hay and the wheat and the animals. Every day in the summer, the museum “square” is filled with visitors chatting away just like the local mountain folk, and the museum becomes no longer a place to recall the past, but a lively, bustling present.
The tour ends with a visit to the mill, just a short distance away on the Petit Monde torrent.
How to get there
In order to fully appreciate the place, the museum and the surrounding nature, it is advisable to walk to the museum, so you can admire the splendid views over Torgnon, the Valtournenche and the Matterhorn.
The place can easily be reached on foot, although it is also accessible by car, along the same narrow asphalt road, popular with walkers, about 1.8 km long.
Ancient aqueduct at the top of the hamlet of Navillod that can be reached from the hamlet of Grand Moulin by following pathway no. 105.
Dating from 1716. The facade hosts frescoes depicting St. Peter, St. Andrew and the Cross.
Inside, the wooden altar with a crucifix and candlesticks from the nineteenth century.
It is dedicated to the Visitation of Mary. It was erected in 1837 by the villagers, after the previous one - dedicated to S. Rocco - went into ruins. This Saint is still depicted on the facade, together with San Giorgio, the Madonna and the Eternal Father. The altar is adorned with a gilded wooden statue of the Virgin Mary, donated by the Cathedral of Aosta together with six gilded wooden candlesticks.
Dedicated to Santa Barbara. The date of 1890 can be read on the beam, but the date of construction of the chapel dates back to 1722. On the facade there are the frescoes of Our Lady of the Hermits, Santa Barbara and San Grato.
Built in 1726, it was originally dedicated to the Madonna Madre del Buon Consiglio, but later the patron saint became San Pietro in Vincoli. On the facade, paintings attributed to Zanone depict Saint Peter and the Good Shepherd. Inside, the wooden altar is surmounted by a background canvas depicting the Virgin of the Good Council in a 19th century frame.
Dedicated to Madonna of Lourdes and St. Lucia and St. Gratus, as results from the three, beautiful frescoes on the front.
The old chapel probably dates back to the XVI century. The chapel fell into ruin towards 1878 and was rebuilt in 1886 with the cooperation of the entire population of Cerian. The magnificent altar comes from Antey church: it is an old altar of Our Lord’s Nativity, which was renovated and gilded by the artist Aguettaz of Verrayes.
Buisson
Dedicated to Madonna di Oropa and built in 1748.
The stone altar has a gilded, wooden tabernacle by Joseph Meynet, dating from 1910; it is completed with six candlesticks and a crucifix.
It is named after Saint John the Baptist and stands under the village that once belonged to the Parish of Torgnon. This chapel already existed in 1637, but in 1844 it was enlarged and the choir was built. It has a tall and soaring bell tower and for the position in which it stands, very panoramic and with a view of the Matterhorn, it is portrayed in many postcards. Unfortunately the thieves who stole the statues of saints that were kept there.
Its considerable size suggests that it once served as a parish church. It is dedicated to the Addolorata, which a fresco by Curta, dating back to 1863, represents on the facade, above the entrance door. Inside, there is a noteworthy colored wooden altar with twisted columns.
The church, dedicated to Saint Andrew, dates back to the mid XV century; it originally only had one nave, while the aisles were added in the XVII century. The belltower stands alone at the foot of the church door; tradition identifies it as a donjon (tower) of a fortified house, mentioned in a document from the XV century.
Worth noting, the worked stone doorway and the walnut door, created in “diamond shaped” carved panels and other Baroque decorations.
The museum gives the possibility to discover the way of life in ancient times, when human being used to share the same room with animals, in order to warm naturally the place in which he lived.
In the kitchen we see a mother with her daughter doing housework, while the father and his son take care of calf, sheep, goat, hen and rabbit in the cowshed.
It is also possible to see the tools used in the past for agriculture works, now replaced more and more by modern and technological objects.
The excavations begun in 2003 to identify the protohistoric settlement located at the foot of the rocky pyramid of Mont Tantané were followed by six search campaigns - until 2010 - and are still far from being complete.
Interesting legendary traditions refer to this site, locally known as Le Reparé du Tantané.
The settlement of Mont Tantané is made up of two different and contiguous groups of huts, separated by a short slope. The upper group (“morena” [moraine], 2441 m above sea level), presents a series of 25 adjoining huts, aligned roughly north-south direction, and has a valley bordered by two moraine ridges at the foot of the scree slope of Mont Tantané. The lower range (“abitato” [settlement], 2425-79 m above sea level) is placed on a large terraced hillside sloping down to the north. Excavations so far have revealed 10 huts on the terraced summit of the town and 3 huts on the terrace immediately below. It is estimated that the whole of the town could include about fifty huts, a much larger number than the higher group of the moraine. On the whole it’s a very considerable settlement, because of the altitude of its location.
The huts were built in dry walls, using elongated blocks of about 60 cm. Their shape is very variable, from square to rectangular, oval, circular, polygonal. They are usually adjacent, to form small groups or arrays. It is not yet clear the type of their coverage, which was probably wooden.
The archaeological remains found in the huts include pottery, tools made by ollare stone, iron, bronze and some Celtic coins. There are also wooden objects and abundant testimonies of edible seeds (cereals, legumes). These remains allow us to date the abandonment of the settlement to the first century BC, which is the final phase of the Iron Age, while at the present state of research, the period of its foundation is not known yet.
However, the biggest question about this high altitude seasonal settlement is about its function, apart from those of mountain pasture; some economic activities have probably developed in relation to the resources on the site, but military-strategic, land control or shelter functions cannot be excluded.
The mills of La Magdeleine still preserve a great charm, reminding us of ancient times, when mills were the hub of country life.
In the hamlets of Brengon, Clou and Messelod, aligned by a small stream of water that comes from a source underneath Monte Tantané, there are eight mills; seven of them have been renovated and three, like they did a long time ago, are today able again to grind grains, that in the past were harvested on the sunny slopes of the hills that surrounded the town.
The origins of these buildings were lost during the centuries, but they are certainly very old, just like the first human settlements in the hamlets of the current municipality of La Magdeleine.
The importance of mills in rural economy is confirmed also by the fact that frequently, the right to use windmill for a certain period of time was transferred with the ownership of a field or portion of land.
The peculiarity of mills is also the fact that they were placed in a “chain” form, in order to better use the little water available at the time: this evidently also conditioned the “technology” used: these watermills have a horizontal hydraulic wheel without gears or other mechanisms, as opposed to millstones.
Furthermore, in order to better use the little water available, it was necessary that all eight mills carry out their activities almost at the same time: following this method the result was basically that of multiplying by eight the working capacity of water. Therefore precise “Mill user’s regulations” were set whereby methods and operational timing were established in addition to the rights of participants or owners.
According to a diffused custom, also the mills of La Magdeleine had names that derived from their location, the owners or from the families who let them build.
Starting from the mill on the highest position, the names that were found thanks to the memories of town elders are the following: moulin hatu, moulin d’Arfonse, moulin of Tonne, moulin of Chioset, moulin de la Place, moulin of Mule and moulin of Messelou.
During the summer are open the first three mills to discover with free visits. For groups and school groups it is possible to organize guided tours, contact the qualified tourist guides of the Aosta Valley included in the “regional lists”.
In three of the five hamlets there are public ovens. They belong to the municipality and may be used by following a few simple rules.At Messelod the oven is located on the road a bit before the Chapel of S. Rocco.The oven basically comes with a nice recently renovated rascard and maintains all aspects of an age-old Valdostan oven thanks to a skilful renovation.The opening or “mouth” of the oven has a triangular shape and was made by using a stone for each side of the triangle; on the floor, directly below the mouth a slot was made to gather the embers.On a stone the date 1889 is engraved.Going towards the upper villages, there is a two-storey stone building in the heart of Vieu:a modern renovation of the oven was carried out making it more convenient and functional.The oven is located on the ground floor, whilst an iron and wood staircase leads to the upper floor, where the kneading and leavening room for bread was made.Another recently restored oven is in the hamlet of Artaz, close to the rustic fountain that, going up towards the other villages, is located on the left.Also in this oven, just like the one of Messelod, there isn’t a room dedicated to the kneading and leavening of bread.Long ago, for the self-sufficient characteristics that distinguished the life of a small community like the one in La Magdeleine, in each of the five villages there was certainly one or more private and group ovens.It was tradition that each family would bake the bread that they needed for an entire year in only one occasion, starting from the first days of December.The bread was therefore preserved on wooden racks known as “ratéle” and broken only when it was consumed with a special tool:the “copapan”.The passing of time and lesser use of this tradition have considerably reduced the number of ovens.Those that still work come in different sizes but all have the same building characteristics.You can particularly notice how the front part of the oven guarantees a good shelter against rain or snow.The space used to gather the ashes was always very large. In fact, the ashes were never thrown away but used for “fae bouya”: the household laundry.
This chapel dating from 1739 and created thanks to the will of Anna Maria Vittaz Dujany, isdedicated to Our Lady of the Snow.
Built on a rather sloped land, often requires maintenance work to raise the structure. We recommend a stop at the old churchyard surrounded by stone walls, all lying in the shadow of leafy trees. Access is via a steep, stone stairway that has become worn over time: the panorama before your eyes is splendid both in terms of beauty and serenity.
The fairly bare inside is decorated with a piece depicting the Virgin Mary with Child with a saint and Saint Gratus at her feet.
A few meters away, on the mule track leading to Antey-Saint-André through Herin, one can admire the oratory dedicated to Notre Dame de Tout Pouvoir, built where the plague of 1630 stopped, thereby saving the “magdeleins”.
La Magdeleine was part of the parish of Antey-Saint-André up to 1789. However, as early as 1774 the parish church was erected and dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, which also inspired the name of the municipality.
Already in 1795 the parish priest Joseph Grange had an embankment built around the church to treat the humidity that crawled along the walls. In 1816 the floor were raised by 1.80 metres and resulted in the construction of a 12 step entrance.
Other transformations took place, from the visit of the appointee to Mons. Duc, F. Marco Benchod, who mentioned the restoration work and an extension facing the mountain. In fact, the choir was moved to the east and the nave became more spacious. The work was carried out in 1886, while the current portico dates from a few years ago.
It is the oldest chapel of the village, dedicated to Saint Rocco. Notary documents date its foundation back to the 7th June 1672 on an initiative by Michele Messelod. The building is fairly small in size.
The external facade has three paintings: on the left Saint Rocco with the dog which, according to legend, gives him bread, in the middle Jesus on the Cross and on the rightside Saint Sebastian pierced with arrows. Over these, the symbol of the Divine Trinity and the inscription “year 1827” (an age corresponding to significant restoration works).
Inside, there is an altar piece dated 1673 depicting the Virgin Mary with Saints Rocco and Sebastian to the sides. A large, wooden crucifix is located right in the centre of the chapel, supported by a chain from a beam, in which Jesus is bleeding over his entire body, in line with the usual devotions of that time. Two small wooden and partially gilded statues representing unidentifiable saints complete the sacred furnishing of the chapel.
La Magdeleine in miniature, the embossed plastic in 1:87 scale illustrating faithfully every little detail of the village of the Matterhorn Valley can be admired at the Town Hall.
Its creator, Mario Castelli, “ a retired-artist, has chosen to live in La Magdeleine in 1990, after working for a long time as a glassmaker for prestigious French and Belgian companies. For about twenty years he’s been working four or five hours a day in a room of the town hall to realize a miniature masterpiece, the model of La Magdeleine with its five villages.
Everything has been reproduced: the parish church, the 200 buildings, the town hall, the green areas, roads, mills, streams, even the Magdeleins and holidaymakers (some have recognized themselves, leaning out from balconies, while chatting with each other or walking with the dog…).
La Magdeleine's costume is based on the holiday clothes used by the peasants belonging to the house of Cly, branch of the noble feudal Challand family.
On the apron are depicted, intertwined, five flowers that symbolize the villages of La Magdeleine: the gentian for Messelod, the daisy for Clou, the anemone for Brengon, the scrub rose for Vieu, the edelweiss for Artaz. The costume is completed by a white wool shawl and a cap on which only the flower relating to the village to which the costume refers is embroidered.
