Sport Itineraries: Torgnon

Chambave is a place famous for its wines. From here you take the road for Saint-Denis, where the Castle of Cly (11th century) is located and where mediaeval pageants are held in the summer. You continue uphill along the road which crosses the Col de Saint-Pantaléon, leading to Torgnon.
Torgnon is an ancient village with numerous scattered hamlets that still retain the features of Alpine architecture. The village lies in a sunny position with splendid views of the Matterhorn. From here you go downhill towards Antey-Saint-André from where you can reach La Magdeleine or continue on as far as Breuil Cervinia. The descent, on the other hand, continues down as far as Châtillon, a village, which extends over a vast hollow on the slopes of the Valtournenche.

Places you go through on the route:
- Chambave (520 m )
- Saint-Denis 4 km (830 m)
- Petit Brusson 8.3 km (1140 m)
- Col San Pantaleone 16.4 km (1,650 m)
- Torgnon 19.7 km (1530 m)
- Antey-Saint-André 26.1 km (1,045 m)
- Covalu Hydro-electric power station 30.2 km (780 m )
- Chatillon 33.6 km (530 m)
- Pontey junction 35.7 km (460 m)
- Chambave 38.6 km (520 m)

From Pont-Saint-Martin, after admiring its ancient Roman bridge, travel along the valley floor to Châtillon from where you will then climb along the Matterhorn Valley. At Antey-Saint-André you will find the crossroads for Torgnon. From Torgnon you will then pass the panoramic pass of San Pantaleone (Saint-Pantaléon) from which you can reach Verrayes by choosing between two different routes: passing through Lozon (nature reserve) or through Semon (municipality of Saint-Denis). From Verrayes you reach the valley floor again and arrive at Nus from which you climb towards Saint-Barthélemy where another exceptional panorama opens up. The route ends with the descent towards Nus.

TORGNON: RURAL ARCHITECTURE AND PANORAMA
Torgnon lies in the heart of those who visit it not only because of its privileged location, in the middle of the valley of the Matterhorn, at an altitude of 1489 m, but also for its numerous hamlets which retain their characteristic Alpine architecture. Among these the hamlets of Etirol and Triatel, whose buildings host the ethnographic museum Petit-Monde about the history of the area, its production cycle and its social organisation, stand out.
The view from the Saint-Pantaléon pass is definitely stunning and the gaze takes in the whole Valtournenche valley, encircled by the Grandes Murailles and the Matterhorn, and the Central Valley.

SAINT-BARTHELEMY, TO THE STARS
The Saint-Barthélemy Valley, initially tortuous and very steep, in the Lignan area at 1,633 meters above sea level, opens up into a vast plateau from which you can admire a splendid panorama. The astronomical observatory of Saint-Barthélemy, very important for scientific research, is one of the most suitable places for astronomical observations, thanks to favourable conditions, mainly due to low light pollution.
Excellent local wines are produced in the municipality of Nus: Nus Rouge and the aromatic Malvoisie, an enological preciousness produced from dried grapes.

Leave the car in the parking near the “Chantorné” chairlift (open in in the winter season), take the dirt road near the restaurant Les Montagnards and follow the path also called Tour des alpages.
The first part is fast flat through a prairie, then into the wood until a very panoramic point with wonderful view on the valley and on the village of Torgnon. At the end you will see some alps, the first is called Les Chavannes, then Arpeilles and then at the top you will see Chatelard. In some panoramic points you will find benches and pic-nic tables.
It is possible to go further on for around 2500 metres and you will reach the Lodetor swamp or you can leave the path and walk up for around 20 minutes to the Gordzà lake.

From Chaté, one of the last hamlets in Torgnon, which can be reached by car, take dirt road No. 9, which goes up to Alpe Chatelard Dessous.. From here, continue along the trail to reach Alpe Chatelard Dessus. Turn left onto the private road that leads to Alpe Chantorné and which ends near Alpe Fonten. When you get to the end of the road, take the path (still No. 9) which goes up on the right to Col Fenêtre , where you turn left onto the panoramic crest to reach Mont de la Fenêtre, followed by Becca d’Aver.

From Chantorné you will leave your car at the parking of the gondola arrival station open during the winter season. You will go further on the flat farm road behind the Restaurant La Montanara. When you will reach a clearing before an alp you will turn on the left and follow the road going up in the wood (trail sign n° 9 or 105) until you will reach the small Gordzà lake, ideal place to relax where you will also find some benches. The lake is also sport fishing and it is run by the near restaurant. To return back you will take the path n° 15 (winter ski slope) through the wood leading the departure point.
Near the path you will find the Summer Park playground area for children normally open during some week-ends and every day from mid July until the end of August.

From Etirol (1598 m) take the dirt road (n. 107 / 7) that goes into the valley upwards, walk by the summer pastures Tsantsevella and go on to the little lake (n.105), cross the torrent and continue along another dirt road (n.1) as far as the Beutsòlo pastures. Follow the private road (no.1), and leave it on the left to take the path that leads to the ruins of Hospice de Chavacour. At the crossroad near the ruins, take itinerary 5 on the right, which soon leads you to Alpe Château. Cross this road and continue along itinerary 5 until you come to another crossroad. Here, ignore the branch on the right which leads to the Rivolta bivouac, and follow the branch on the left which, after crossing the dirt road again, takes you to the pasture of Crô di Loy. From here, continue along trail 3 towards the Tsan bivouac. Before getting to this bivouac, take the right branch at a crossroad (route 3), ignoring route 4 on the right. Continue in the direction of Alpe Erbion and from here, to Cima Bianca.

From Etirol (1598m) take the dirt road (n. 107 / 7) that goes into the valley upwards, walk by the summer pastures Tsantsevella and go on to the little lake (n.105), cross the torrent and continue along another dirt road (n.1) as far as the Beutsòlo pastures. Just after the houses, take the dirt road to the left that leads first to the summer pastures of Alpe Courthoud di Meiten (Cortod), then Alpe Crot des Labies (Crô di Labie) and finally to Alpe Chomioi, where the itinerary continues on route 6 taking you to Col Chomioi.

Hiking itinerary without technical difficulties as far as Alpe Chomioi.
Itinerary for expert hikers (EE) from Alpe Chomioi to Col Chomioi.

From Etirol (1598 m) take the dirt road (n. 107 / 7) that goes into the valley upwards, walk by the summer pastures Tsantsevella and go on to the little lake (n.105), cross the torrent and continue along another dirt road (n.1) as far as the Beutsòlo pastures. Follow this dirt road (no.1) and leave it on the left to take the path that leads to the ruins of Hospice de Chavacour. At the crossroad near the ruins, take itinerary 5 on the right, which soon leads you to Alpe Château. After crossing the dirt road continue along itinerary 5 until you come to another crossroad. Here, ignore the branch on the right which leads to the Rivolta bivouac, and follow the branch on the left which, after crossing the dirt road again, takes you to the pasture of Crot de Loup (Cro du Loï). From here, continue along trail 4 towards the Tsan bivouac. Before you get to the bivouac, take the branch on the right at a crossroad (still route 4), ignoring the left-hand branch for Cima Bianca signposted as 3. From the bivouac, walking almost parallel to Lake Tsan, you come to Alta Via 1(AV1), which you should take on the left until you come to Fenêtre de Tsan.

From Etirol (1598 m) take the dirt road (n. 107 / 7) that goes into the valley upwards, walk by the summer pastures Tsantsevella and go on to the little lake (n.105), cross the torrent and continue along another dirt road (n.1) as far as the Beutsòlo pastures. Follow the private road (no.1), and leave it on the left to take the path that leads to the ruins of Hospice de Chavacour. At the crossroad near the ruins, take itinerary 5 on the right, which soon leads you to Alpe Château. Cross this road and continue along itinerary 5 until you come back to the dirt road. After a few metres you come to a crossroad, where you take the left-hand branch, which follows the trail (still no. 5) and reaches Alpe Grand-Drayères, visible from afar, owing to its characteristic vault shape, then goes on to the Rivolta bivouac.
The last section of the trail is very demanding.

At the last right-hand bend before the municipal seat of Torgnon, take route 13 on the left, which leads to Maisonnet, then Col Saint Pantaléon. At the church, take route 2 on the left which rises gently to the sanctuary of Saint-Evence.
Panoramic itinerary with wide view over the Valtournenche valley.
In order to shorten the route it is also possible to reach the Saint-Pantaléon pass by car and then walk easily the last 2.500 meters in the wood.