モンヴァレザンのおすすめツーリングルート

A great Aosta Valley classic; the climb itself isn't particularly difficult, but be careful not to underestimate the wind that often blows strongly from France, making the 12 km from La Thuile to the pass much more challenging than the steepness suggests. The landscape is beautiful and evocative: from the iconic eight hairpin bends that allow you to leave Pré-Saint-Didier behind, you enter the cool valley that leads to La Thuile. After passing the ski resort, you quickly gain altitude with long straights, then enter the forest and conclude the climb in a vast alpine meadow.

The Forte della Ridotta della Traversette is located at 2400 m in a dominant position on the French side of the Colle del Piccolo San Bernardo. A fort already existed in the seventeenth century when Savoy and Valle d'Aosta were united in the possessions of the House of Savoy. The transfer of the royal seat from Chambéry to Turin transformed what is now Haute-Savoie into a province of secondary importance and at the end of the century fortifications began to be built on the border of the territories of the Savoy, separating regions that until then had shared the same traditions, culture, religion and language. The current fort was built in 1891 on the ruins of the old fort destroyed during the French Revolution, taking advantage of its strategic position for the military surveillance of the national borders. Initially it was occupied only in the summer period and later throughout the year to train the troops in the difficult mountain conditions. In the 1930s, the fort was equipped with shooting ranges, radio equipment, and equipment for the troops and their supplies in response to the great defensive project, the Alpine Wall, desired by Mussolini. On June 10, 1940, Italy declared war on France and began a massive mobilization on the borders. On June 21, an air and ground attack kept the brave soldiers stationed at the fort, led by Lieutenant Desserteaux, busy for 4 days. The fort was occupied by Italian troops, then German ones, and liberated after fierce fighting in April 1945. Today, in ruins, it is located directly on the slopes of the Piccolo San Bernardo International ski area that connects the resorts of La Thuile in the Aosta Valley and La Rosière in Haute-Savoie.

The pink roads lead to the station... But their gradient is rather full-bodied red.

Splendid loops to or from La Rosière. The other route to the Col du Petit Saint-Bernard is via Montvalezan.

Don't hesitate to go to the Italian side: the coffee is much better.

Great view over Auvernge-Rhône-Alps

Great for identifying mountains

Great view from the parking lot