La Thuile, Valle d’Aosta (Italy)
According to Vaultedwatches.com, the La Thuile ski resort is located at the foot of Mont Blanc at an altitude of 1441 m. It is adjacent to another popular Italian ski center Courmayeur . La Thuile is close to the Petit St. Bernard Pass which links Italy and France. Together with the French resort of La Rosier, La Thuile is part of the extensive ski area Espace Saint Bernard, offering 155 km of pistes of various difficulty levels, 40 km of flat pistes and 38 ski lifts. The highest point of the ski area is located at an altitude of 2642 m. The best pistes are in the Italian part of Espace San Bernard: here the most difficult pistes pass through the forest of La Suche, the longest piste with a length of 11 km and the only one in Valle d’ Aosta trampoline. In La Thuile there are opportunities for snowboarding, freeride and heliskiing. There are 3 equipment rental points, about 60 ski instructors and 10 snowboard instructors, 10 restaurants and a kids club at the service of vacationers. Neighborhood La Thuile very picturesque: a beautiful panorama of Mount Blanc and the Rutor glacier opens from here. You can appreciate the beauty of these places in the summer by going on a trip along the hiking trails.
Gressoney-Saint-Jean, Valle d’Aosta (Italy)
The Gressoney-Saint-Jean ski resort is located in the picturesque Gressoney valley at an altitude of 1387 m. It is part of the vast Monte Rosa ski region, stretching on the slopes of the Monte Rosa mountain range in the eastern part of the Valle d’Aosta. These are the “snowiest” places in Italy. In addition to the Gressoney Valley, the region also includes the Ayas Valley and the Valsesia Valley, located in Piedmont. The trails of the valleys are united by a common ski pass. The total length of the slopes is 180 km (17 slopes for beginners, 38 slopes for advanced skiers and 6 “black slopes”), 32 lifts.
The Gressoney Valley is a paradise for cross-country skiers. At Gressoney-Saint-Jean 25 km of flat tracks have been laid. From here you can also go to the slope of the Weissmatten mountain, where the famous “black” tracks are located. Just above Gressoney-Saint-Jean is the village of Gressoney-la-Trinite with many “red” slopes (among them – the longest route in the region with a length of 9 km), excellent “black” slopes and opportunities for heli-skiing. In addition, the Gressoney Valley is known for its sightseeing sites. Very interesting is the Museum of the Alpine Fauna, which presents the trophies of local hunters and a collection of weapons, villas of the 19th century, the medieval castle of Savoy with an alpine garden, and mountain villages inhabited by “walsers” – descendants of settlers from Switzerland who speak German.
In the Ayas Valley there are such resort villages as Champoluc, Brusson with an abundance of flat trails and Antagnon, which is more suitable for families. The Valsesia Valley (the center is the resort of Alanya) with its virgin snow fields is popular among fans of off-piste skiing. Here is the highest ski lift station in Monte Rosa (2971 m), from where a “black” track with a length of 6700 m descends.
Courmayeur, Valle d’Aosta (Italy)
Courmayeur is located in the northwestern part of the Aosta Valley at the foot of Mont Blanc at an altitude of 1224 m. This is the most famous resort in the region. Courmayeur has established itself as a resort with a first-class level of service, and as one of the most expensive and fashionable resorts in Europe. Since 1965, Courmayeur has been connected by a 12-kilometer tunnel to the French ski resort of Chamonix, where guests of Courmayeur can also ski with a ski pass. The tunnel runs right under Mont Blanc. To Courmayeur middle-level skiers and professionals love to relax. The total length of ski slopes is 100 km. Elevation differences – from 1224 to 2763 m. Ski areas are located on two slopes: Chekruit (more difficult tracks) and Vall Veni. 28 ski lifts deliver skiers to the slopes. From the small surrounding village of La Palyu, a cable car system begins, which leads to the top of Mount Punta Helbronner (3486 m). A trip here will be interesting not only for free-ride lovers, but also for those who want to be in the heart of the Alps and admire the bewitching mountain peaks, among which is the main European peak – Mont Blanc. Beyond the freeride in Courmayeur there are opportunities for heli-skiing. There are also 25 km of flat tracks laid here. The resort has a children’s park, 2 ski schools that have been operating since the 1930s, and 6 equipment rentals. Courmayeur ‘s main pedestrian street, Via Roma, is full of shops, bars and restaurants.
Popular with skiers, located 5 km south of Courmayeur , the thermal complex Pre-Saint Didier. This is a great place for rest and relaxation at any time of the year. The local thermal waters with a temperature of about +37 degrees, rich in iron, have been known since ancient times for their healing properties, they help in the treatment of rheumatism, skin diseases and diseases of the circulatory system. The thermal complex itself was founded in 1834. Today the complex offers three outdoor swimming pools overlooking Mont Blanc, baths, saunas, and a variety of treatments (massage, mud wrap, Charcot shower, aromatherapy).
In the summer, Courmayeur attracts hikers with about 280 km of hiking trails. Also in the summer around Courmayeur The Botanical Garden with an area of 7000 sq. m, which is the highest botanical garden in Europe (height 2173 m).
Just south of Courmayeur is the ski resort of La Thuile .
