Pont Moretta

Pont Moretta – Bridge over the Lys stream

The two sides of the lower Lys Valley have been connected since ancient times, possibly already in the pre-Roman era, by a crossing located at the Moretta gorge. This is where the scenic Chemin de la Paroy once ran, an ancient path carved into the rock linking the village of Tour d’Héréraz to Perloz, the historic center of the valley.

Surrounded by a captivating atmosphere, the bridge is tied to legends passed down through the centuries: it is said that a fearsome dragon once terrorized travelers and was defeated by Gran Vignal using a clever trick — a loaf of bread skewered on his sword. The monster died after swallowing it, but the hero also lost his life, poisoned by the dragon’s blood. Even today, the sinuous shapes carved into the rock are believed to be the traces of this mythical creature.

Set in a spectacular location where the Lys cuts through steep cliffs, the site was also crossed by the ancient Salassi route linking Canavese and the Aosta Valley. Rebuilt several times in wood, the bridge was constructed in masonry in 1721 by the master builders Jean-Baptiste Gaydoz and Pierre Ferro. At the center stands an elegant frescoed oratory, still visible today.