Plan Puitz, from Saint-Rhémy

Access

Introduction

A route offering stunning views, not too strenuous, suitable for snowshoes and mountain bikes – and, if you wish, a circular route; below the summit, where unfortunately an unsightly pylon stands, tunnels and emplacements of the Cadorna Line have been excavated – the Plan Puitz batteries – which can still be visited. Should you ever wish to visit them, a sign warns of the risk of rockfalls. They were built between 1916 and 1917, when there were fears of a German invasion of Italy via Switzerland.

Description

Once you have parked your car, take the main road leading to the Great St Bernard Pass and, at the first hairpin bend, turn right onto the farm track, which is also part of theHigh Route No. 1 and the Tour de Combin. The road is very wide, closed to cars, but wide enough to allow authorised vehicles to pass; the gradient is very gentle, and we found no paths that would allow us to cut across the very long hairpin bends. The route is entirely shaded by conifers. At the first junction, leave the descent along the Via Francigena Aosta–Martigny on your right and continue to the left; there are further junctions ahead; as a general rule, stay on the main road, which is also the one that climbs steadily, albeit very gently. At the end of the road there is a clearing where the tunnels open out, and a small path that climbs up to the summit. Exceptional views over the final stretch of the road leading to the Great St Bernard Pass, over Col Champillon and Mont Velan, and opposite Emilius, Grivola, and the valleys of Flassin, Citrin and Serena (2 hours for the 7 km stretch...) Descent via the same route as the ascent; after the first few hundred metres, we found a path linking the hairpin bends, which saved us quite a bit of walking. It is possible from the summit to take a path that links up with the one descending from the Great St Bernard Pass to Saint-Rémy, and which then descends to the hamlet, allowing you to complete a loop.