• 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
Santuario del Miserin - Champorcher

Miserin Sanctuary

Champorcher

Built in 1658, however the current building is the result of reconstruction work in 1881, based on an initiative by the parish priest Jean-Baptiste Danna and the abbot Pierre Chanoux, and the subsequent resurfacing work, the last of which took place in 20 …

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Churches and shrines
Parish church of San Nicola

Parish church of San Nicola

Champorcher

The parish church is the result of the reconstruction of the previous church (which dates back to 1532 and which was probably built on an older church), which was carried out in 1728 by the Valsesian architect Jean Fer (or Ferro) as well as the …

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Churches and shrines
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Church of Santa Colomba

Charvensod

The parish church of Santa Colomba, dating back to 1622, was raised and enlarged in 1830-1831. Its main altar, in gilded and carved wood, probably dates back to the 18th century, like the two side altars, dedicated to the Rosary and to Saint Anthony. …

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Churches and shrines
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Madonna delle Grazie Sanctuary

Châtillon

Located to the far west of the Roman bridge over the Marmore, it was entirely rebuilt in the XIX century. Some votive offerings are found inside. The traditional blessing of the children takes place each year to mark the feast day of the sanctuary on …

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Churches and shrines
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Parish Church of San Pietro

Châtillon

Even if tradition wishes for its establishment to be an ancient one, in fact dating back to the passage of St. Peter during his mission to evangelise the Gauls, it is documented from the XII century onwards. Very little remains of the primitive …

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Churches and shrines
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Saint Francis of Assisi Chapel

Châtillon

The Capuchin’s chapel holds centuries of history; in 1626 the Baron Paul Emmanuel of Challant, with an act dated March 22nd, ceded a building to found a monastery to the religious order. In 1633, after renovation works, the first Capuchin monks settled …

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Churches and shrines
The chapel of Albard

The chapel of Albard

Châtillon

Dedicated to the Saints Fabian and Sebastian, the chapel was founded with an act dated 6 December 1751.The beam is dated 1893. The rectangular-shaped chapel has its bell-tower to its west side. The interior features a 19th c. gilt wood altarpiece …

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Churches and shrines
Chapel of Promiod

The Chapel of Promiod

Châtillon

Dedicated to the saints Anthony and Bartholomew, this rectangular-shaped chapel sits in the centre of the village, its bell-tower to its right.The roof ridge bears the writing “1750” and the statue of Saint Anthony is placed in a niche on the façade. The …

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Churches and shrines
The belltower

Sant'Orso parish church

Cogne

The parish is placed under the protection of Sant’Orso, a priest from Aosta Valley who lived between the 7th and 8th century. Popular tradition affirms that he is said to have been the saint who reclaimed the area, which was originally uninhabitable. The …

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Churches and shrines
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Churches of Saint Margaret parish in Entrèves

Courmayeur

In 1964 Entrèves, Courmayeur’s hamlet, established its own parish, including the parish church and the chapel of the same name village, as well as the chapels of San Grato in La Palud, of Meyen, Planpincieux and of Notre-Dame in Pont. Saint Margaret …

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