Ayas: Hiking, Heritage and Mountain Landscapes

When choosing where to stay in Ayas, it is worth considering the themes you want to shape your trip. Champoluc lies in a broad, sunny basin, with glaciers defining the horizon at the head of the valley. There are also hiking destinations, historic buildings, and seasonal activities for winter sports and cycling. These different highlights can help you choose a destination based on the activities you want to focus on.

Hiking Trails and Landscapes

The Barmasc–Monte Zerbion route follows trail 105 via Col Portola to the summit, offering panoramic views of the central valley. The hike from Barmasc to Col Portola takes about an hour, is graded E – escursionistico, and has an elevation gain of 515 metres. Another route, Blanchard–Colle Superiore Cime Bianche, crosses the Vallone delle Cime Bianche and passes peaks such as Gran Tournalin, Monte Roisetta and Rocca di Veraz. This gives you different points of reference to choose from: a hike’s estimated time and elevation gain, a summit destination, or a route through a named valley.

Open sections of the Ru Courtod now form a scenic, history-rich walking route through extensive meadows and numerous alpine pastures. The irrigation canal is 25 kilometres long and was built in the Ayas and Brusson area by the “free men” of the Saint-Vincent hillside, using shovels and pickaxes. The walk thus brings together open landscapes and the history of the canal’s construction.

The Vallone delle Cime Bianche lies entirely within the municipality of Ayas. It extends about ten kilometres from east to west, as far as the watershed with the Valtournenche, and is a Special Protection Area (ZPS) within the European Natura 2000 network. Lago Blu lies at the foot of Monte Rosa. Snowshoes are required to reach it in winter; check local conditions before setting out.

Culture and Local History

In Antagnod, Maison Fournier in the historic centre hosts a permanent exhibition of traditional crafts from the Aosta Valley. The Museum of Sacred Art is housed in the cemetery chapel, which dates to the late 15th century and stands beside the parish church of San Martino. It preserves the Vierge Ouvrante, a rare statue from the mid-14th century that was found in the parish church of Antagnod. The main altar of the Parrocchiale di San Martino was created through work carried out between 1500 and 1800 and was consecrated on 29 May 1716.

Traditional wooden rascard houses remain in the village of Crest, where the original buildings have not been altered. The village is also associated with the traditional craft of making wooden sabots. In Barmasc, the Santuario di Notre-Dame du Bon Secours stands at an altitude of 1,828 metres. It was a destination for processions, and a spring beneath the chapel was believed to have miraculous powers. Local history is reflected here in different ways: in the preserved wooden architecture, in craftsmanship and in religious traditions.

Winter and Summer Activities

The Champoluc-Frachey area is part of the Monterosa Ski network, which links three Alpine valleys in one ski area. The slopes there have varying levels of difficulty, with options for everyone from beginners to experienced skiers. The Villy slope starts at the Champoluc car park. The Periasc slopes comprise four circuits; the two shorter ones are part of the longer circuit. As route details may be updated, check the information before planning your visit.

For summer activities, Ayas has numerous signposted mountain-bike routes. In Parco Pian Villy, Villy Bike Park features a pump track with earthen rollers and banked turns, as well as sections of varying difficulty for children up to 15 years old. Facility details may change; check the latest information before visiting. When planning your trip, you can therefore choose between the signposted mountain-bike routes available in summer and the ski activities described above for winter.

Plan Your Journey

Ayas is served by the “Verrès – Saint-Jacques” bus route. If you plan to travel by bus, check the timetable for your travel date. Together with specific destinations for hiking, culture or seasonal activities, this gives you a practical starting point for planning your stay in Ayas.

Discover more destinations: Challand-Saint-Victor, Verrand, Grand Brissogne, Challand-Saint-Anselme, Pré-Saint-Didier, Sarre, Quart, Donnas.

View the regional travel guide: Aosta Valley.