Plaisirs de culture
19 September 2026 - 27 September 2026
In conjunction with the “European Heritage Days”, Plaisirs de culture offers a series of activities to promote and enhance the heritage and cultural traditions of the Aosta Valley region.
A rich and varied calendar invites you to discover, or re-discover, numerous archaeological sites, cultural heritage, museums and collections distributed throughout the region, some of which are normally closed to the public or subject to work and research.
During the whole period, tickets to lot of exhibitions, castles and cultural sites are free or reduced.
An excellent opportunity not only to appreciate a precious heritage, but also to enjoy the splendor of late summer in the Aosta Valley mountains.
Opening event
Plaisirs de Culture 2026 opens on Friday 18 September with Echi Francescani, an immersive experience that uses images, music, words and luminous apparitions to evoke the lost Church of San Francesco in Aosta. The performance brings the memory of the monument back to the square and invites the audience to reflect on the values of hospitality, dialogue and fraternity.
9.00 pm, Aosta, Piazza Émile Chanoux: free event, duration: one hour, outdoor event. In the event of bad weather, the performance will be moved to another venue. No booking required (accessible to people with reduced mobility).
Cultural venues, museums and sites with free admission from 19 to 27 September 2026
Castles
Opening hours: 9.00 am-7.00 pm
- Aymavilles Castle
- Fénis Castle
- Gamba Castle in Châtillon, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
- Issogne Castle
- Royal Castle of Sarre
- Castel Savoia in Gressoney-Saint-Jean
- Verrès Castle
- Sarriod de La Tour Castle in Saint-Pierre
Archaeological sites
Opening hours: 9.00 am-7.00 pm, unless otherwise specified.
Aosta
- Roman Theatre
- Early Christian Church of San Lorenzo
- Forensic Cryptoporticus
- MAR, Regional Archaeological Museum
- MegaMuseo, Contemporary Archaeological Museum, open from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm
- Roman Villa della Consolata, open only on Saturdays and Sundays from 9.00 am to 1.00 pm
Aymavilles
- Pont-d’Ael Roman Aqueduct Bridge
Exhibitions
Aosta
Church of San Lorenzo, open from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm and from 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm
Rosalie D’Hérin Seris (1871-1956), the first woman photographer in the Aosta Valley
Regional Archaeological Museum, open from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm
Marc Chagall. Between Poetry and Spirituality
MegaMuseo, Contemporary Archaeological Museum, open from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm
Under the Starry Sky. A Constellation of Art, Science and Cultures
Châtillon
Gamba Castle, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, open from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm
Under the Starry Sky. A Constellation of Art, Science and Cultures
Saint-Pierre
Sarriod de La Tour Castle, open from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm
Diálogos
Gressoney-Saint-Jean
Castel Savoia, open from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm
A Queen among the Walser People. Exhibition of the Traditional Headdress Worn by Queen Margherita
Museums with reduced admission fees
MAV, Aosta Valley Museum of Traditional Crafts
Fénis, 86 Chez-Sapin hamlet
An ideal journey into the world of traditional crafts, exploring memory, materials, shapes, gestures and beauty. Visitors are invited to look beyond the symbolic object and discover the variety of forms, gestures and creative vision that represent the essence of craftsmanship.
Open: from Saturday 19 to Sunday 27 September
Closed: Monday 21 September
Opening hours: 10.00 am-6.00 pm
Information: +39 0165 1835120; museo@lartisana.vda.it
Duca degli Abruzzi Alpine Museum
Courmayeur, 2 Strada del Villair
The museum tells the story of the Courmayeur Alpine Guides and their important role in the exploration and promotion of the mountains. Through documents, photographs, equipment and memorabilia, the museum traces the development of mountaineering and mountain tourism.
Open: from Saturday 19 to Sunday 27 September
Closed: Tuesday 22 September
Opening hours: 9.00 am-12.30 pm, last admission at 12 noon; 4.00-7.00 pm, last admission at 6.30 pm
Admission: €3.00
Information: +39 0165 842064; info@guidecourmayeur.com
Advance booking by telephone is recommended.
Efisio Noussan Regional Museum of Natural Sciences
Saint-Pierre, Saint-Pierre Castle, 5 località Tâche
Housed in the picturesque Saint-Pierre Castle, the museum uses sensory and interactive experiences to introduce visitors to the beauty, nature, culture and biodiversity of the Aosta Valley. Free guided visits for up to 20 people are available every day. Advance booking is recommended.
Open: from Saturday 19 to Sunday 27 September
Closed: Monday 21 September
Guided visits: at 11.00 am and 3.30 pm
Opening hours: 10.00 am-7.00 pm, last admission at 6.00 pm
Information: +39 0165 862500 or +39 0165 95931; museoscienze@regione.vda.it; museoscienze.vda.it
Beck-Peccoz Alpenfaunamuseum
Gressoney-Saint-Jean, località Predeloasch
The museum houses the valuable collection associated with the history and traditions of the Beck-Peccoz family. The many trophies of non-European origin and the notable examples of different forms of bone malformation are of considerable historical and scientific interest and are enhanced by the museum’s graphic and exhibition design.
Open: 19, 20, 26 and 27 September
Opening hours: 10.00 am-1.00 pm and 2.00-5.00 pm
Information: +39 0125 355406; beckpeccoz@regione.vda.it
See also
Note - this information is not directly connected to the Cammino Balteo path but it is part of the Aosta Valley tourist offer.