Aosta Valley

Introduction

The Aosta Valley, Italy's smallest region, nestled in the far north-west on the border with France and Switzerland, is an area where majestic Alpine peaks dominate the landscape. Among the highest peaks in Europe is Mont Blanc, the 'roof of the continent', flanked by giants such as the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa and Gran Paradiso. This mountainous land is not only a destination for mountaineers and skiers, but also a cultural and historical crossroads between Italy and France, with modern infrastructure such as the Mont Blanc and Great St. Bernard tunnels underlining its strategic importance in Europe.

Description

It is the smallest region in Italy, located at its north-western end, bordering France and Switzerland. Everything speaks of majestic peaks, in this predominantly mountainous territory, and especially of the highest peaks of the Alps such as the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa, Gran Paradiso and His Majesty Mont Blanc, which, at 4810m, has no equal in Europe: it is the roof of the old continent. Climbing is not everyone's cup of tea, but those unfamiliar with mountaineering can resort to the convenient and spectacular SkyWay cable car service, available just a few kilometres from Courmayeur, considered one of the most important ski resorts in the world. In the panorama of its imposing mountains and varied valleys, there is the oldest National Park, the Gran Paradiso, where it is still possible to meet animals in their natural environment: ibexes, chamois, eagles, marmots immersed in vegetation with different characteristics according to the surrounding environment. Historically, Valle d'Aosta is considered a land of contact and fusion between Italy and France, a characteristic reflected in its official bilingualism and its status as a special autonomous region. The large, modern tunnels of the Great St. Bernard and, above all, Mont Blanc, a masterpiece of engineering that leads into French territory, have increased its characteristic as a crossroads between Italy and the rest of Europe.

Information

Headquarters: Aosta
Area: 3,263 sq km
Minimum elevation: 300m
Maximum elevation: Mont Blanc (4810m)
Number of inhabitants: 126,806 (as of 30.11.13)
Name in dialect: Val d'Outa
Name in dialect: Val d'Outa
Inhabitants: Valle d'Outa
Communes: 74
Bordering regions: Piedmont, Rhône-Alpes, Valais
Institutional site: www.regione.vda.it