Sport Itineraries: Donnas

Holds are mostly crimps and jugs but there are also backhand and vertical holds, everything you need for an athletic and technical climb. Bolting is good with resin pitons in crags and fixes on vertical routes. Be careful of the exposed natural ledge at the base.

The activity requires technical experience. Alpine guide assistance is recommended.

Descent: Stops have chains and belays and climbers abseil down on 60 meter cords.

Difficulty from 5c to 8c, average 7b. Average length is 25 meters with a minimum of 18 and maximum of 27 meters.

Total number of routes: 31

Via Ferrata delle Peredrette

It climbs up along the rock ridges above the terraced vineyards. Going up, the view opens out onto the entire valley, to reach a spectacular blade of rock overlooking the Dora Baltea. For the more daring, a short variant presents an extra emotion.

Shortly before the end of the Via Ferrata there is the virtual "log book"; by reading the QR code with your smartphone, you can connect to the web page to register your passage.

The iron-cabled path ends on a spectacular natural balcony among small potholes carved into the rock.

On the way back, follow the Preles valley among chestnut trees, large boulders and the characteristic “barme”, agricultural and pastoral shelters close to the rocks.
The iron-cabled path can be covered in about 90 minutes and the descent takes 45 minutes.

The equipped path does not present any particularly technical difficulties (EEA - PD); the most exposed passage is avoidable, but if followed, it must be done with suitable equipment: harness, hooking-up kit and helmet.

Falesia delle Ciliegie (Cliff of Cherries)

This is located at the top of the via ferrata, accessible by following the path along the deep Preles valley in about 50/60 minutes with a charming hike in the woods. The exposure is sunny, ideal to be done in spring and autumn.

The base of the cliff is wide and spacious, ideal for groups and families (however, be careful to keep an eye on the little ones given the presence of steep rock faces nearby).

There are 18 routes from 15 to 22 meters in length with levels of difficulty between 4b and 6a. Climbing on leaning rock faces and on sub-vertical ones.

Pomerou Pyramid

This is a small rocky structure located at the end of the first ridge of the Ferrata delle Peredrette (Iron-cabled route); it can be reached via a short path through the woods of Pomerou (10/15 minutes). The woods is strewn with boulders, which once served as a roof for the “barme” - the characteristic shelters of woodcutters and shepherds - and are now the playground for boulderers.

Eight routes between 12 and 19m in length are equipped, difficulty levels from 4a to 5c.
Climbing on a leaning rock face, facing north; the position still guarantees a good degree of sunshine.

At the base the area is spacious; however, it is necessary to keep an eye on the little ones so that they do not approach the edge of the mountainside below.

Masso di Reisen (Boulder of Reisen)
Surrounded by vineyards, in the Reisen area, this huge block of rock broke away from the walls of Preles years ago, coming to a stop among the vineyards.
The four faces allow for climbs of very different types and difficulties.
The south face has 5 remarkable lines about 10 m high with a difficulty between 5b/6b on a tended sub-vertical wall.
The east face is equipped with three 10/12m lines between 6b and 7a, vertical.
The north face has three lines of 6/7 m with a difficulty of 5b/c on a vertical scaled wall, while the west face is reserved for medium/high difficulty with two lines of grade 7c with rounded slab following the line of the boulder.
The surrounding flat area among the vineyards is ideal for families. Do not park cars in the spaces adjacent to the boulder (they are private).

N.B. – The cliffs and the iron steps are periodically checked and maintained, however, since these are routes on rock in a natural environment exposed to atmospheric and hydrogeological agents, they can undergo alterations in their state leading to dangerous situations.. Pay attention to the condition of the trails, the walls and the on-site equipment.
Those who follow the paths and equipped routes of the Balteo Climbing Park implicitly and consciously accept the risk inherent to the practice of these sports activities in a natural environment.

The itinerary departs from Donnas village along a roman road and passes under the roman -arch, to then rise sleeply, a stepped area, under the climbibg wall. It continues through a chestnut wood and, after a brief detour, the marmitta dei giganti (giant basin) comes into view.

The itinerary next arrives to the village the barma Cotze, a military post in past times. Visibles are still the old village oven and the fountain. The itineray continues through a dense larch wood after which one arrives at Peredrette. The area of Peredrette is surrounded by standing stones which mark its perimeter.

When you get to Pramotton, a hamlet in the municipality of Donnas which is reached via the Donnas-Grand Vert road, cross the village towards the east, then go along a flat section of the trail and enter the woods. You now start the climb up a lovely paved mule track that takes you to a small house buttressed against the rock wall. Continue along the trail to the right of the construction and you come to a small plateau, level with a small stone wall. Turn left here, and when the vegetation allows, climb up to the right onto a steep slope until you come to a breach in the boundary wall of Pramotton Tower.

This circular itinerary covers in part the paths of the Alta Via no. 1, of the Via Francigena and of the Cammino Balteo (part of “stage 4”: /en/database/7/cammino-balteo/-aosta-valley-/donnas-arnad/2951 “Donnas - Arnad” and of “stage 23”: /en/database/7/cammino-balteo/-aosta-valley-/pontboset-pont-saint-martin/2946 “Pontboset - Pont-saint-Martin”). One section is on an asphalted road.

Park your car in Donnas in the square near the Roman road.
After going through the medieval hamlet of Donnas, take the path indicated by the yellow signpost number 7 for Albard (the same indications as the Cammino Balteo- stage 4 - towards Arnad). The first stretch runs alongside the Bellet stream on the main road, but at the first bridge, turn left and the trail crosses a picturesque area of vineyards on dry stone walls.
The wine-growing in Donnas has very ancient traditions. Here the steep slopes are overcome by the secular terraces held back by walls up to 4 meters high. The processing is hand-done and distributed over all the months of the year, and the main grape is Nebbiolo.

Once you arrive in Prèle where, on the right, you come cross a chapel, the path begins to climb steeply to overcome the walls that overlook the plain, frequented by climbing enthusiasts who find the “Climbing Park Balteo” here. This area is very hot and dry, an ideal environment for reptiles such as whip snakes, vipers and lizards, and for the birds of prey that feed on them, such as the short-toed snake eagle, a large migrator similar to an eagle with a wingspan that can reach about 2 meters. Its coat is very light-colored in the lower parts, with wide brown stripes.

In about 30 minutes you climb up in height until you meet the asphalted road again which after a few meters reaches Albard, a charming hamlet of old stone and wooden houses.
From there the vegetation changes and we find ourselves on the uphill side of a small valley, formerly used as a fruit chestnut grove. In the past, chestnuts represented an important food resource for local populations.
Continuing on foot along the roadway you begin to descend into this ancient world, almost frozen in time. Stone hamlets and old farmhouses frame this ancestral landscape: a hidden, forgotten Valle d’Aosta, surrounded by centuries-old chestnut trees and pastures for goats.

At the end of the descent, turn left towards the central valley, always remaining on the paved road, and at the end of this, take the steep path that leads down to Bard at the foot of the fortress of the same name.
The Bard Fort is a fortified complex that was rebuilt in the 19th century by the House of Savoy on the rocky outcropping overlooking the village of Bard. It currently hosts prestigious temporary exhibitions of art and photography and is also the permanent home of interesting museums such as the Museum of the Alps and that of fortifications.

Walking in the cool of the ancient medieval hamlet, you go up in the direction of the parish church of Santa Maria Assunta (following the trail signs for stage 23 of the Cammino Balteo). The walls of the fortress overlook the hamlet and give an idea of the strategic position of this place. Indeed, you pass along ancient trails used in days gone by as they are used today by the pilgrims of the Via Francigena but also by the modern athletes of the Tor des Geants, an epic ultratrail race.

Continuing downhill along the road towards Donnas you return to the Roman road of the Gauls with its stone arch, which once you have passed under it, like a time machine, you are taken back to the starting point.

Watch the videos:

• vineyards of Donnas
• walls of the Balteo Climbing Park
• chestnut groves
• Bard fort in autumn
• Roman road in Donnas

Start from the locality called Rosa (Donnas) and follow the entire vineyard path up to the Mission Cross. While walking, you can enjoy the view of the topie (pergolas) that support the vines and expoe them to the sun’s rays that enhance the scents and colors they offer.

The walk, about half an hour long, is mainly flat and sunny; along the way you can meet the barmet, which are cellars created under a large boulder. In this room, purely underground, in a tank collects rainwater, which is useful to the vigneron (winegrower) for his work. One of the common features is that the temperature is always stable and particularly suitable for storing wine.