The lower Lys Valley: from Pont-Saint-Martin to Fontainemore
Resort: Fontainemore, Lillianes, Perloz, Pont-Saint-Martin
For the opening time and tips on how to visit the places indicated, please consult the corresponding links
How: by car.
Recommended duration: one day.
Recommended period: all year round.
Length: about 18 km.
An itinerary to discover the lower part of the Lys Valley, ancient domain of the lords of Vallaise between Piedmont and the Aosta Valley.
Pont-Saint-Martin
At Pont-Saint-Martin which the first village that you encounter when you enter the Aosta Valley, you should visit the Roman bridge, it is 36.65 metres long and 5.82 metres wide and dates back to the 1st century B.C..
The village holds a historical carnival which reproposes the ancient legend of the ‘Devil’s bridge’ and that of the ‘Nymph of the Lys river’, with historical events that witnessed the conflict between the Salassi and the Romans to gain control over the region.
By going up in the direction of Perloz, you will reach the old cemetery of Fontaney with the annexed chapel that was built on the orders of Baron Pierre de Vallaise during the late 16th century as a reproduction, on a small scale, of Aosta Cathedral. Along the road rises up the elegant Baraing Castle, which was built in the late 19th century in neo-Gothic style and has recently been restored. It is currently the headquarters of the Mountain Community.
Going on for about a kilometre, after the park area Bousc-daré, you can appreciate the remains of the Pont-Saint-Martin Castle, which is also known as Castellaccio or Castello vecchio (Old Castle), whose original keep (donjon) dates back to the 11th century with subsequent additions and reconstructions that can be dated between the 13th and the 14th centuries.
Following the regional road to Gressoney-Saint-Jean (hamlet of Ivéry, hamlet of Holay) you can reach the Holay Pond Nature Reserve.
Perloz
At Perloz you can admire the Sanctuary of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde, which dates back to the 12th century and within the hamlet you can admire some interesting buildings that belonged to nobles and were built between the 14th and 15th centuries, including Vallaise Castle and Charles Castle. Just outside the administrative centre, in the hamlet of Tour d’Héréraz, stands the tower of Héréraz, the only evidence of the original castle that bore the same name and which now has been transformed into the bell tower of the village parish church. In the hamlets, interesting examples of rural architecture stand out, such as rascards (old wooden houses), mills, chapels and bridges.
In mid-July, Perloz hosts the Fehta dou pan ner (Black Bread Festival), a traditional rye-bread baking event.
Perloz also preserves an important historical and cultural heritage, linked both to the Resistance movement and to the valley’s traditional rural way of life.
Brigata Lys Resistance Museum
Located in the village centre, the museum houses memorabilia, photographs and documents relating to the III Brigata Lys and the partisan struggle in the area. Nearby runs the Chemin de la Liberté, a historic mule track between Plan de Brun and Marine used during the Second World War by Nazi-Fascist troops during operations against local partisans.École d’Autrefois
Housed in the attic of the former school in Marine, this exhibition faithfully recreates an early 20th-century classroom with original furnishings, objects and documents.Glacières Mill
A restored historic mill where visitors can see the original millstone and the rooms once used for traditional bread making.Chemp Village
An outstanding example of traditional mid-mountain rural architecture. Sculptures by Angelo Bettoni and other artists scattered throughout the village have transformed it into a unique open-air museum that continues to evolve.Chemin de la Vallaise
A moderate walk of about one hour linking Perloz to Tour d’Héréraz. Along the route, visitors discover buildings and landmarks that tell the story of the local community and its former lords.Grehe (or Gra) Trail
An itinerary connecting Perloz and Lillianes, dedicated to the ancient chestnut-drying buildings. The preserved structures illustrate the importance of chestnut cultivation to the local economy over the centuries.
Visitor information: Municipality of Perloz, tel. +39 0125 807974 (Monday to Friday).
Lillianes
From Perloz, the road continues up the Lys Valley to Lillianes, a picturesque village known for its remarkable late-18th-century four-arched stone bridge, unique in the Aosta Valley, connecting the village centre to the parish church of San Rocco. Visitors can also admire the historic fountain and washhouse set beneath characteristic stone arches.
Chestnut growing remains an important part of local identity. In Lillianes, visitors can explore an ancient chestnut dryer and the Chestnut Museum, dedicated to the traditions, culture and economy associated with this emblematic mountain fruit.
Fontainemore
Continuing along the regional road one arrives at Fontainemore. There are two theories for the origin of its name: according to the first, it derives from an old fountain called ‘Fontaine de Saint-Maur’,(Fountain of Saint Maur) the other version recounts that the presence of arsenic in the water transformed the name of this spring into ‘Fontaine de la mort’ (Fountain of Death). When you enter the village, one’s attention is captured by the late Medieval bridge that bridges the River Lys with a single span measuring 22 metres. Of interest is the Church of Saint Anthony, for the valuable entrance portal in carved wood, the presbytery with a semicircular apse from the 15th century and the ribbed vault with the emblem of the Vallaise family.
In the village you will also find the Visitor Centre of the Mont Mars Nature Reserve, which is the largest in the region. In the territory of this municipality lies the natural boundary between the Latin world (franco-provençal) and the German world (walser), marked by the Guillemore Ravine, which indicated the clear separation between the district of the Vallaise and those of Issime and of Gressoney, and which consists of a deep and narrow cleft in the rock where the Lys river falls in a cascade: a dam collects the water that is channeled and brought to the water station of Pont-Saint-Martin. From the bridge which connects the two banks of the river, the ravine can be admired in all its spectacular beauty.
Set within an area of outstanding natural beauty, Fontainemore offers many opportunities to discover the valley’s natural, geological and rural heritage.
Mont Mars Nature Reserve
A protected area featuring forests, alpine meadows, wetlands, lakes and rocky landscapes. At the Visitor Centre, visitors can explore the exhibition The Fauna of the Mont Mars Nature Reserve and the Oropa Procession and book guided excursions within the reserve.Mid Mountain Ecomuseum
Located in the hamlet of Pra dou Sas, this open-air museum introduces visitors to the traditional architecture and lifestyle of the Aosta Valley’s mid-altitude settlements.“Le Pietre del Lys” Geological Garden
Situated along the banks of the Lys, this educational trail presents nine different rock types found in the area, accompanied by bilingual interpretation panels.Farettaz Mill and Community Oven
In the charming village of Farettaz, visitors can discover a restored watermill still operating for demonstration purposes and a traditional communal oven preserving historic bread-making tools.
Information and bookings for visits and excursions:
Mont Mars Nature Reserve Visitor Centre, tel. +39 0125 832700, or Municipality of Fontainemore, tel. +39 0125 832121 (Monday to Friday).
Along this itinerary you can visit
Note - this information is not directly connected to the Cammino Balteo path but it is part of the Aosta Valley tourist offer.