Church of Saint-Denis, from the Bourg de Chambave
Edited by:
Massimo Martini
Updated at: 26/04/2026
Access
Leave the motorway junction at Châtillon, turn left and continue for approximately 300 metres to the roundabout. At the roundabout, take the third exit and take Via Emile Chanoux. Drive along Via Emile Chanoux for 600 metres, crossing the historic centre of Châtillon, then turn slightly right onto Via Menabreaz. Continue for 450 metres to the roundabout with the "Matterhorn" monument in the centre and take the third exit to join the national road in the direction of Aosta. Follow the state road for 4.1 kilometres until you reach an elevated roundabout; take the first exit and, after 100 metres, turn left onto Via del Cimitero. After a short descent, go up the road until you reach the large free car park 🅿️.
Distance and travel time
🕒Travel time: 9 minutes
📏 Distance: 6.3 km
GPS navigation
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ℹ️ Important note
The indications given were verified on the date of the survey of the route. Before departure, it is advisable to check for any changes to the route. For up-to-date and detailed directions, we recommend the use of Google Maps or Apple Maps.
Introduction
Round-trip itinerary linking the bourg of Chambave with the parish church of Saint-Denis, climbing up the wine terraces and wooded slope of the Cote de Cly for about 240 metres in altitude.
The route crosses one of the most characteristic agrarian landscapes of the lower Valle d'Aosta: the Muscat de Chambave vines gradually give way to oak woods (Quercus pubescens), while along the way there is a small grotto (barma) that marked a landmark for the slope's historical visitors. An important hydraulic element is the Ru Chandianaz: its waters, drawn from the Matterhorn valley, feed the irrigation canals on the slopes of Chambave and Saint-Denis through a waterfall, and the structure of the ru is still in operation. The route also allows you to take a closer look at the ruins of the Cly Castle, which can be seen from below through the surrounding pastures.
The route is practicable from spring to autumn; autumn offers the best view of the grape harvest vineyards. Difficulty level 2, with no exposed sections or orientation problems.
.Description
[0h00'T1] 0.00km From the car park, go up Via del Cimitero until you reach Piazza Roncas and the beginning of Via Chanoux, where the Rouletta fountain is located 💧.
[0h02'T2] 0.12km Turn slightly to the left as far as the marker indicating the start of the path to Cly. Follow the signs for Saint-Denis by taking Rue de Cly, which climbs up alongside the Torrent de Chambave to a small concrete bridge.
[0h05'T2] 0.21km Disregard the path for Grenella and turn right as far as the hamlet of Barmet. Having spotted a yellow marker on the asphalt, turn left to enter the small hamlet. After a bend to the right, the path ascends the ridge on a wide paved road. Along the way, you will come across the itinerary information panels, flanked by panoramic benches. Continuing between some hairpin bends, a small cave (barma) is reached. The path, bordered by dry stone walls, joins the asphalt road to Clapey (560m), which is abandoned at a high-tension pylon and turned left. From here, first climb up a small road, then turn right onto a path that crosses the Muscat de Chambave vineyards to a small oratory. Continuing the ascent, one enters an oak forest (Quercus pubescens) as far as a small waterfall: this is the runoff water from the Ru Chandianaz, taken from the Matterhorn valley and used to irrigate the slopes of Chambave and Saint-Denis. A little further on is the start of the path , which runs along the ru uphill.
[0h25'T2] 0.71km Neglect the path , which branches off to the right, and continue straight on until reaching a small tarmac road, just after the village of Cuignon (678m). At the height of the square in front of the village, you will come across a signpost indicating the path to the right: take it, pass a hairpin bend and climb up a section bordered by a wooden railing without too much slope, with a view of Mont Barbeston, the Cima Nera and the Pointe Charmontane. Cross the pastures below the castle until you reach a small farm road, turn right and follow it on a slight incline until you reach the castle. At a signpost, the small road joins an asphalt road.
[0h35'T2] 1.03km Follow the path heading to the left, first crossing a meadow, then briefly entering an oak wood to join a small asphalt road. Take the little road and walk up it until you reach the regional road and, a little further on, the parish church of Saint-Denis (805m) [0h55'T2] 2.10km .
The return is along the same route as the ascent [0h30'T2] 4.29km .
.Points of Interest
Barmet
Cuignon