A DAY IN PARAGLIDING, MOUNTAIN BIKE, E-BIKE AND HORSE
Feelings of absolute freedom
About 15 minutes by car from the hotel you can reach Chamois, one of the first ski lifts in the Valtournenche valley. At 1,815 meters above sea level, reachable only on foot, by bicycle or by cable car, Chamois is the place for you, where the crisp air that descends from the Matterhorn valley will make you forget the heat and stress of the city.
Although back in 1955 the theme of environmental sustainability was not yet a popular concept, the village of Chamois did not succumb to the flattery of the road system and chose the cable car as a means of connecting the village with the valley floor. The cable car was a fast and direct means of transport which at the same time avoided the construction of roads and consequently the emissions of noxious gases and traffic noise.
Although the descriptions of travelers at the beginning of the century already identified the success factor for the future tourism of the "splendid health resort" in the construction of a carriage road, as reported by Sylvain Lucat in 1908, the population of Chamois did not choose this solution which would necessarily changed the surrounding landscape. The presence of the cable car has in fact characterized the urban planning choices of the place: the small stone streets that run between the renovated houses have remained unchanged, preserving the charm of the area unchanged.
Since then, various modernization interventions have been carried out to make the cable car safe and comfortable.
The journey by cable car is always an emotion: you fly over the Valtournenche up to a height of 250 meters above the ground, and you can frequently admire from above the chamois grazing placidly among the grassy ledges and along the steep mule track which from Buisson reaches in Chamois.
The Buisson-Chamois cable car is open every day of the year (with the exception of short periods of maintenance) from 7 to 22.30, with trips every 30 minutes (15 in case of heavy traffic). During the summer the opening hours are extended on Saturdays and Sundays, in the period of August 15th as well as in case of events or exhibitions.
Extraordinary rides are also guaranteed on the evening of December 31st to be able to attend the evocative traditional end-of-year torchlight procession.
From the town of Chamois it is also possible to go further up the mountain with the chairlifts and reach splendid places such as Lake Lod, where there is a picnic area and refreshment points, for a pleasant break or as a starting point for various excursions or, in winter, to reach the ski slopes.
The fittest can walk up to Chamois following the old mule track that still connects the town to the valley floor or from the municipality of La Magdeleine along a path suitable for everyone, which can also be traveled on by mountain bike.
In Chamois it will be possible to practice a tandem flight with a paraglider that will allow you to immerse yourself in another world. Fully trust the experience of your instructor who will accompany you, and let yourself be carried away by a feeling of absolute freedom. Fans de Sport has a certified paragliding school of the Aeroclub d'Italia that can introduce you to flying and prepare you to face the state exam to obtain the patent.
Possibility of making flights even in summer, in various locations in the Cervino Valley and in the Aosta Valley.
Do not miss the fabulous flight that takes off from La Magdeleine and lands in Antey-Saint-André, where there is an equipped airstrip and an information point.
In Breuil-Cervinia, during the winter season flights are normally made from the arrival station of the Pancheron chairlift above Plan Maison.
Restaurants:
CHEZ PIERINA RESTAURANT: the intertwining of stone and wood fits perfectly into the alpine environment and the warmth and family welcome make it the ideal place for all mountain lovers. The products used are carefully selected by local producers to guarantee their customers freshness and authenticity. In accordance with the tradition handed down by grandmother Pierina, the polenta is cooked on a wood stove in classic cauldrons. Its unmistakable flavour, typical of home cooking, makes it the dish that no one can give up.
Open every day
Fraz. Corgnolaz, 58
11020 Chamois (AO)
Telephone: +39 0166 47 126
Internet: info@chezpierina.it