• Culture

    CHURCHES

    spirituality and tradition

PLACES OF WORSHIP

Churches and chapels, many of which are significant from a historical and artistic point of view, are found in all the villages crossed by the Balteo Trail.

Religious devotion pervades this land, where crosses and shrines were built in the past, even in harsh and dangerous places, to invoke protection or to favour crops.

NOT TO BE MISSED

Sant'Orso

The cloister of the church of Sant’Orso in Aosta (stages 18-19) is considered among the highest expressions of Romanesque religious sculpture. The wooden choir, the ancient frescoes in the attic and the chapel of the Priorship are also noteworthy.

THE CATHEDRAL OF AOSTA

The Renaissance makes its entrance into Aosta with the shapes and colors of terracotta on the facade of the Cathedral. The wooden stalls in the choir, the floor mosaics, the Ottonian frescoes in the attic and the museum of treasures are also worthy of …

THE shrine OF MACHABY

Above Arnad, along stage 4, there is an ancient shrine dedicated to the Madonna of the Snow. A hostel built in a 17th-century fort and a holiday farm serving snacks based on local products offer their hospitality.

SAN MARTINO CHURCH

In Arnad (stages 4 and 22) the stone shows the sacredness of the building, a precious pearl of history and beauty. The structure (11th century) in the Romanesque style and the 14th- and 15th-century frescoes are noteworthy.

MADELEINE CHAPEL

In Gressan, a few steps off the route (stage 18), the Romanesque church of Sainte-Marie-Magdeleine de Villa is known as the "Madeleine Chapel". The apse, the 12th-century bell tower and the frescoes by the painter Giacomino d'Ivrea are outstanding.

SAINT-VINCENT CHURCH

The church, in the welcoming pedestrian center of Saint-Vincent (stage 7), stands on the remains of a Roman building dating back to 300-400 AD.

CHURCHES ALONG THE TRAIL

Churches and shrines
Among the vineyards

Parish church of the Conversion of Paul the Apostle

Introd

The construction date of the parish church is unknown, it is situated in the chief town dedicated to the conversion of Saint Paul. During the course of the years it was subject to changes and extensions.

Churches and shrines
The Saint Gratus chapel

Chapels

Issime

Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows It is located in Mühni, at an altitude of 2006 meters, at the bottom of the valley of San Grato, where the path that leads to the Colle del Dondeuil begins. Built as an ex-voto by the Chouquer brothers, who survived an …

Churches and shrines
Small chapels with paintings of the Mysteries of Jesus

Saint James parish church

Issime

The first reliable documents regarding the parish church of Saint James of Issime date back to a Papal bull in 1184, in which it appears among the churches dependant on the Collegiate of Sant’Orso. The parish of Issime, which also included Gaby and the …

Churches and shrines
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Chapel of Saint-Suaire

Issogne

This chapel is situated near the bridge that links Issogne to Verrès and it was built by the count Renato of Challant who, as the representative of the House of Savoy in Chambéry, was the custodian of the Holy Shroud prior to its transferral to Turin. …

Churches and shrines
Chiesa di Issogne

Parish Church of Santa Maria Assunta

Issogne

During the Middle Ages the building was leaning up against the facade of the castle, but during a pastoral visit in 1528, the bishop, subject to an agreement with Renato di Challant, ordered that the church be built elsewhere. Two centuries passed before …

Churches and shrines
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Saint-SolutorChapel

Issogne

Saint-Solutor Chapel on an external wall has a series of hanging arches that allow us to date it back to the 12th century, the facade has frescoes attributed to the same painter of the church of San Martino of Arnad and which date back to 1427. The …

Churches and shrines
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Notre Dame de la Neige in Vieu chapel

La Magdeleine

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 …

Churches and shrines
In winter

Saint Mary Magdalene parish church

La Magdeleine

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 …

Churches and shrines
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San Rocco in Messelod chapel

La Magdeleine

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 …

Churches and shrines
The Cheverel chapel

Chapel of Cheverel

La Salle

Dated 1636, it is dedicated to Saint Bernard (celebrated on 15 June). The facade is frescoed entirely with the figures of the saints Bernard, Anthony the Great, Cassian, Cristopher and Gratus. The coat of arms of the Savoy household also appears on the …