Historical tour – between medieval castles and Roman remains

The Aosta Valley, long a commercial crossroads and a borderland with France and Switzerland, offers a wide and varied historical heritage.
In the upper valley, at the entrance to the Gran Paradiso valleys, you can visit Sarre Castle (18th century and former royal hunting residence), the Sarriod de la Tour Castle — once home to the noble family of the same name — and the fairy-tale Saint-Pierre Castle (currently closed to the public but easily admired from the main road).

On the opposite side, you’ll find Aymavilles Castle — due to reopen to the public soon — and the road leading to the Cogne Valley. Along the ascent, a small side road takes you to the hamlet of Pondel and to the ancient Roman bridge Pont d’Ael: a Roman aqueduct-bridge over the Grand-Eyvia stream, an impressive structure built of stone blocks, about 56 metres high and over 50 metres long, dating back to 3 BC.

Once you cross the bridge, you can continue along the path just beyond for an easy 45-minute walk immersed in nature, reaching the small hamlet of Camagne.