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Perched on a rocky spur at 656 meters above sea level, overlooking the gorge carved by the Dora Baltea River, Saint-Germain Castle is one of the largest and most strategic medieval fortifications in the Aosta Valley. Its main axis is perpendicular to the valley, almost as if to visually emphasize its primary purpose: to block the passage and control the trade routes that ran at its feet. The first construction dates back to the 11th-12th centuries, the work of the De Mongioveto family. The castle then followed the typical feudal trajectory of the Aosta Valley: it passed to the Savoys towards the end of the 13th century, then to the Challants in 1295, and again to the Savoys in 1438, when a military garrison was stationed there that remained active until 1661. In that year, Charles Emmanuel II ordered its dismantling, and the castle began its long decline. Architecturally, the complex displays signs of various eras: the original core is typical of a medieval Aosta Valley castle, with a 19-meter-high central keep surrounded by an imposing wall. This is complemented by Renaissance architecture, visible in the massive bastion spanning the longest side. The walls do not feature arrow slits, but rather actual gunports, a sign of their adaptation to firearms. From the plateau on which the ruins stand, the view of the central valley is extraordinary.

Just beyond the hamlet of Ruelle, along the path that climbs toward Chenal Castle, lies the Pian dou Lai plateau, home to this field dedicated to the practice of tsan, one of the four traditional sports of the Aosta Valley protected by the Fédérachon Esport de Nohtra Téra. The term tsan means "field" in Aosta Valley patois, and that's no coincidence: the origins of this team game, vaguely reminiscent of baseball, are rooted in the region's agro-pastoral culture, when shepherds played it in the meadows and mountain pastures during long breaks from tending their livestock. Even today, it is played in two seasonal championships, one in the spring and one in the fall, with teams of twelve players competing on a trapezoid-shaped field at least 135 meters long. The batter uses a bat to hit a small boxwood ball—the tsan—balanced on a slanted pole; The defending opponents try to intercept it on the fly with wooden boards, called boquets, and when they succeed, the characteristic crisp snap is heard, marking the batter's out. The Pian dou Lai is a perfect location for this ancient sport: an open, sunny plateau nestled in a landscape of vineyards and chestnut groves typical of the Montjovet hillside, with the ruins of Chenal Castle as a backdrop.

Perched on a spur of serpentine rock, overlooking a system of vertical faults, Chenal Castle silently dominates the surrounding area, as it did in the 13th century, when the lords of Chenal had it built for a specific purpose: to monitor and block the connecting road that ran through the depression below. Not a castle of ceremonial importance, therefore, but a pure military outpost, designed for control and defense, always in close visual dialogue with the more imposing Château de Saint-Germain, to which it was ancillary. Its history was early intertwined with that of the powerful Challant family: in 1261, Alexia, the last descendant of the lords of Chenal, brought the castle as a dowry to her husband Ebalus the Great, incorporating it into the vast feudal system that the family controlled on behalf of the House of Savoy. After centuries of military function, the castle was partially dismantled around 1540 and from then on it slowly decayed, leaving behind the ruins that can be visited today. All around, the site also preserves an extraordinary prehistoric heritage: rock carvings, cup-marked stones, and medieval crosses make this place a layer of overlapping history, from the most remote origins to the Middle Ages. And according to local legend, a mysterious sorceress caused the pasqueflower—the delicate purple anemone that still colors the rock in spring—to bloom here to protect the farmers from the wolves that infested the area.

The hamlet of Le Bourg can be easily reached by bicycle, passing under the highway overpass. The village is worth a visit for its characteristic keeled-arch windows, frescoes, and ancient signs that tell the story of the town. Also not to be missed is the church of San Rocco, perched on a rocky outcrop and offering a panoramic view of the valley.

Brusson is a renowned mountain resort, renowned for its tranquil atmosphere and Alpine landscapes. Its heart is the lake, an easily accessible body of water perfect for relaxing walks, picnics, and outdoor activities. In winter, the town becomes a hub for cross-country skiing.

very beautiful hill with slopes around 10%

Always interesting glimpses😜

While traveling along the Via Francigena, on the stretch from Arnad to Bard, you cross this characteristic three-arched pedestrian bridge. On the left orogr. area with a bench for rest.