COURMAYEUR, AMPHITHEATER OF MOUNTAINS AND GLACIERS
One ticket to experience two unique emotions
Courmayeur extends at the foot of the Mont Blanc massif, in a verdant amphitheater surrounded by coniferous forests, mountains and glaciers.
Despite being a tourist resort of international importance, Courmayeur retains an authentic alpine atmosphere, which is felt both walking among the shops in the center and in the villages that surround the main town and which go as far as the head of the central valley, where the Dora della Val Veny and the Dora della Val Ferret flow into the Dora Baltea.
The alpine atmosphere is also found in hotels and other accommodation facilities - from luxury hotels to alpine huts and campsites -, in the historic cafés in the center and in the restaurants on the slopes: in Courmayeur, hospitality, love for tradition and respect for local architecture are treated in detail.
In the elegant city of Courmayeur we can see:
- Sanctuary of Notre-Dame de la Guérison : located at the entrance to Val Veny, literally at the foot of the Brenva glacier, this little church – tradition says – has been the scene of miraculous healings since the 1600s. In the current building, from 1867, the walls are entirely covered with votive offerings, crutches and gifts brought by the miraculously cured faithful.
- Parish church of Saints Pantaleone and Valentino : its bell tower, probably built between the 11th and 12th centuries, has a cusp, modified at a later time and a very rare example in the Aosta Valley, in the shape of a of the popes' stay in Avignon. The temple, dating back to the eighteenth century, houses, all from the eighteenth century: an interesting high altar in black marble, a canvas depicting the martyrdom of San Sebastiano and a singular ex voto canvas, which is inspired by the invasion of the Valley by French troops d'Aosta, an invasion that spared Courmayeur.
- Duca degli Abruzzi Alpine Museum : to learn about the great feats that have marked the history of mountaineering, a visit to this museum, inaugurated in 1929, is a must. Documents, relics and climbing equipment are collected here. The Courmayeur Alpine Guide Society, founded in 1850, is the oldest in Italy.
A privileged place that includes two side valleys that flow into a large basin at the foot of the Mont Blanc massif, Courmayeur is a natural setting of spectacular and varied landscapes that allow for sporting, relaxing or adrenaline-pumping activities, both in summer and in winter.
Whoever says Courmayeur says Mont Blanc. Conquered the summit of the mountain in 1786, Courmayeur is one of the historic capitals of mountaineering and mountain hiking. Even today, the walls of the white giant are the most sought-after destination for mountaineers from all over the world. Nowadays, however, Mont Blanc is not a prerogative of mountaineers alone. In fact, anyone can approach its peaks thanks to the futuristic Skyway cable car.
From the 1,300m of Entrèves you first reach the 2,173m of the Pavillon du Mont Fréty, where the Saussurea alpine botanical garden stands, and then the 3,466m of Punta Helbronner.
The two side valleys are natural paradises and enclose different landscapes, which change over the seasons. In summer, for example, Val Veny offers very varied landscapes from Entrèves to the Col de La Seigne, on the border with Savoie. Skirting the Brenva glacier, the valley appears narrow, wild and rugged at the entrance, and then turns into a large flat basin. A small lake has formed on the front of the glacier, enclosed by its moraine. From the body of water you can watch the movements of the glacier which occasionally drops blocks into the water forming small icebergs. Even the twin valley, Val Ferret, offers unforgettable experiences, such as simply walking or cross-country skiing in the presence of the magnificent Grandes Jorasses.
In winter the Courmayeur alpine ski area is frequented by skiers from all over the world. The Chécrouit-Val Veny domaine, dominated by the Mont Blanc chain, extends over 100 km between traditional and off-piste slopes. Of the latter discipline, the descent on the Toula glacier and the descent of the Vallée Blanche , which crosses the Mer de Glace glacier to reach Chamonix, on the French side of Mont Blanc, are exceptional.
However, there are countless snow sports that can be practiced in Courmayeur, such as fat bikes or dog sledding , given that the raw material is never lacking!
Festivals and traditions:
- Celtic : Courmayeur and the splendid setting of the Peuterey wood, in Val Veny, welcome this international festival of Celtic music, art and culture, the highest in Europe.
- Foire de la Pâquerette : on Easter Monday, the town center is invaded by stalls displaying local handicrafts, whether they are objects of daily use for the home, sculptures, decorative objects.
In summer as in winter, the entertainment possibilities for children are countless. Needless to say, on the slopes of this resort children can learn the classic mountain sports, but also snowboard, telemark and off-piste, accompanied by the instructors of two ski schools. The Dolonne Fun Park, suitable for children and adults, is a very popular attraction both for its strategic position next to the cable car and for the services offered. During the winter season it is a playground in the snow which has a ski field for beginners, sled and donut runs, carousel, inflatables, as well as a rental of snow bikes, bobsleds, as well as restaurants and bars. In the summer, however, it offers trampolines, inflatables, a donut track, a ball pit, a mini climbing wall, a Tyrolean pulley, an Indian camp, a sandbox and other games of balance and agility. Even the Club des Sports playground , in the sports area of the same name in Val Ferret, is a paradise for children. In winter, there are bobsleigh tracks with steering wheels and sledges and it is possible to rent snowmobiles and fat bikes. In the summer there are trampolines, mini golf, archery facilities, table tennis, table football, swings, slides, a small climbing wall and it is possible to hire mini quads and electric scooters and bikes of all kinds . For teenagers there is paintball .
Another exclusive attraction of the summer Courmayeur is a heated swimming pool located at 1,750m, in the green meadows of Plan Chécrouit, reachable on foot or with the ski lifts.
In this locality it is also possible to practice horse riding thanks to CheVal d'Aoste Mont Blanc .
Skyway Mont Blanc
The unforgettable emotion of a climb in the heart of the Mont Blanc massif, a breathtaking view that allows you to admire its perennial glaciers: SkyWay is the new cable car, a futuristic engineering jewel that with a 360° rotating cabin and the panoramic views allows you to approach the summit of the roof of Europe, at an altitude of 3500 m, immersed in a unique alpine scenery. In the summer season it is also possible to visit Saussurea, the highest botanical garden in Europe.
Mont Blanc Wellness
Warm waters that flow from the heart of the mountain as they did 1,000 years ago, wood and natural stone for the saunas and pools, luminous atmospheres from other times, for a total remise en forme. Inaugurated in 1838, the Pré Saint Didier spas today offer a journey with over forty sensory practices.
The best way to combine the best of this location? Here is a tailor-made package for those who want to venture to the highest peak in Europe while also indulging in a little pampering for mind and body: A single ticket to experience two unique emotions
Ascent to the highest point in Italy with the futuristic SkyWay Monte Bianco cable car, up to the 3,462 m of Punta Helbronner, where you can admire a unique 360° panorama of the highest peaks of the Alps;
A 5h escape entry to the Pré Saint Didier Thermal Baths, regenerating yourself in places of other times, immersed in the soft warmth of the waters, for a total remise en forme.
It is possible to purchase the package on site at the ticket office of the activity you wish to carry out first. From the moment of purchase, the two tickets are valid for two consecutive days. The two activities must be carried out on two consecutive days from the issue of the ticket.
We inform you that entry to the spa is subject to reservation and can be made online on the website www.termedipre.it by following the "book" option.
We also remind you to book the ascent to SkyWay on the website www.montebianco.com
L'ARMADILLO WINE – FOOD – MUSIC: A cuisine made of excellent raw materials and by the extraordinary hand of chef Sato who offers exquisite dishes, mixing elements of local tradition and refinements of the best Japanese cuisine. Here each dish is an experience to be accompanied by the extraordinary wines of the natural wine cellar built over years of research, passion and genuine love for wine. Ask for advice, the patron and sommelier Luciano is there to put his expertise at your disposal, you won't regret it. It is not for nothing that Armadillo is among the ten best wine bars with small kitchen in Italy. A place that is a treasure chest, warm, welcoming, an experience not to be missed.
Open Wednesday to Saturday from 18.00 to 24.00
Sunday from 12:00 to 14:30
Strada la Palud 27, 11013, Courmayeur
Telephone: +39 349 4059820
LA TERRAZZA RESTAURANT: whether you are looking for something typical or something unconventional, this is the restaurant for you. The cuisine is constantly evolving, they offer both local dishes and Italian Mediterranean dishes following the seasonality of the raw materials, always guaranteeing excellent quality.
PIERRE ALEXIS 1877 RESTAURANT: the Pierre Alexis 1877 restaurant is located in the center of the beautiful town of Courmayeur. The kitchen will offer you delicious dishes from the Aosta Valley tradition and creative dishes prepared with seasonal products. The cellar will offer you a wide choice of local and non-local wines. The best satisfactions in life come from the simplest aspects: wine, olive oil, fresh bread and good company. Perhaps, after all, nothing more is needed. Yet achieving simplicity, going beyond the perfection of things, is not an easy job. As in all the arts, cooking also favors knowledge, experience and love for the work in which one believes. Finding the balance, sense and harmony of flavors is the essential combination to achieve an excellent result. Nothing more and nothing less. The products that are used, for their quality, freshness and originality, combined with a wise dose of craftsmanship, will be ... in your opinion ... a guarantee of success.
Open every day from 12:30 to 14:00 and from 19:30 to 21:00 - Closed on Mondays
Via Marconi 50/a, 11013 Courmayeur
Telephone: +39 0165 846700
Email: restaurant@pierrealexiscourmayeur.it
LA LUGE BEER & BURGER BAR: informal place perfect for an alternative dinner to the local cuisine. It's a burger joint, with excellent high-quality burgers, prepared on sight, a place that offers products from the Valley, and a cocktail bar where you can taste excellent aperitifs or a great after-dinner drink!