| ASIC 2009 Eighth Annual Summer Interdisciplinary Conference |
Valle d’Aosta Orientation:
The map given here will help orient the first time visitor:
The Valle D'Aosta region is made up of about 13 lateral valleys which extend off of the main valley. One enters the Valle d Aosta on A5 E25 (from Milan to the east and Torino to the southeast). Let us consider the valleys in order as one encounters them driving into the valley on the road A5 (also Rt 26) which goes through the Aosta Valley until it reaches the Mt Blanc Tunnel (to France and Chamonix). The road goes NW from Ivrea to Chatillon/St. Vincent and then roughly W to Morgex/St. Didier and then NW to Courmayeur and the Mt. Blanc (Mt. Bianco) tunnel. The elevations along the main road and valley floor rise from 224 m at Ivrea to about 500 m at Aosta and then more sharply to 1224 m at Courmayeur. There are high peaks surrounding the valley, the highest being Mt. Blanc (French)/Monte Bianco (Italian) at 4810 m. The 13 Valleys go either to the north or south of the main road (A5). After each valley name we give in parens whether the valley is to the north or south, the (very) approximate distance in km from Ivrea to the city at which one leaves A5, and the name of that city (Ivrea is about 100 km from Malpensa Airport). For each valley we give the highway or road number (if there is one) the approximate distance driving to the final destination in the valley, and the approximate location with respect to major mountains and tunnels. Some photographs are included to whet the appetite.
1. Gressoney Valley: (North, 17 km, St. Martin): Road 505 ends in 34 km at
Gressony la trinite, south of Monte Rosa (4634m).
2. Champorcher Valley: (South, 22 km): A road leads about 15 km to
Champorcher. Ends east of Monte Della (3186m)
3. Ayas Valley: (North, 26 km, Verres): Road 506 ends in 28 km at
Champoluc/San Giocoma, south of Breithorn (4165m).
4. Valtournenche: (North, 35 km, Chatillon, Saint Vincent): Road 406
ends in 20 km at Cervinia (Monte Cervino), south of the Matterhorn
(4478m).
5. Val Pelline: 12 km N from Aosta to Valpelline and then NE 24 km
to Prayayer. In the midst of a range of mountains from Matterhorn to the
NE to Mt. Blanc de Cheilon (3795m) to the NW.
6. Great St. Bernard Valley: E27 and 27 lead from Aosta to the St Bernard
tunnel to Switzerland (Martigny). The tunnel entrance is reached in about
23 km, to the SW of Grand Combin (4314m).
7. Cogne Valley: (South, 70 km, Sarre):Road 507 leads 24 km SE to Gollie,
north of Gran San Pietro (3692m).
8. Valsavarenche: From Villeneuve head south 25 km to Gran
Paradiso (4061m, and the National Park).
9. Rhemes Valley: From Villeneuve head S/Sw 23 km to Thumel, near
Grande Traversiere (3496m).
10. Valgrisenche: (South, 78 km): Drive S/SW 18 km to Useleres, to the west
of Grande Rousse (3607m).
11. Little St. Bernard Valley: (South, 99 km, St. Didier): Old 26 and N90
head SW through and switchbacking over many mountains to the Little St.
Bernard pass, to France.
The A5, E25, and SS26 Direct all lead on past Courmayeur to the Mt Blanc
Tunnel, topped by Mt. Blanc (French) or Monte Bianco (Italian) (3782m).
12. Val Ferret: From Courmayeur drive NE 21 km to Refugio Elena, NE of
Grande Jorasses (4208m)
13. Val Veny: From Courmayeur drive SW 20 km to the lake and glaciers,
below Auguille des Glaciers ((3816m).
You will note mention above (see 7. and 8.) of Gran Paradiso National Park. This park is famous for fauna and flora, and wonderful views.
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