Rhêmes-Notre-Dame

Rhêmes-Notre-Dame is a town of 81 inhabitants located in the Val di Rhêmes, within the Gran Paradiso National Park. Its position and its small size make it an ideal holiday resort for those in search of tranquility and close contact with nature.

The wealth of this village stands out even more if we consider its difficult history. For six months a year, in fact, the country remained isolated due to the frequent and dangerous avalanches that occurred throughout the Saint-Georges valley. Only after the war did communication take place with the nearby hamlets through the construction of a carriage road; however, the links remained partial until the 1960s, when it was possible to keep the road open for most of the winter. Over the years, the municipality has excelled this obstacle with powerful investments in the road sector, which now guarantee simple and safe access to this small world to be discovered.

Today Rhëmes-Notre-Dame makes tourism its main resource. In winter, the village is a small jewel of tranquility and family fun. The cross-country trails of Rhêmes-Notre-Dame are one of the main tourist attractions of the valley during the winter season, which immerse the skier in an enchanting landscape, far from the confusion of the great ski resorts. There are also ski mountaineering trails that lead up to the highest peaks. The more daring can try their hand at ice climbing with Piolet-Traction, a sport that includes climbing with crampons and ice axes on spectacular ice falls. The little ones can enjoy the fun of the Fun Park, with rides and routes on donuts or sleds.

Its position at the foot of the majestic Granta Parey peak is in summer the ideal starting point for walks to discover nature and beyond. The excursions are innumerable: among these stand the Nature Trail, which passes by the characteristic villages of Oreiller, Chaudanne and leads to Lake Pellaud, a fairy-tale and suggestive place where to forget about everyday worries; the Path from Artalle to Chaussettaz, which passes through the protection forest of Artalla, which houses 41 specimens of Larix Decidua; the Path from Thumel to Col Leynir, which, passing through pastures and petraias, leads to the discovery of two lakes of glacial origin. In short, walkers will be spoiled for choice.

Hiking is not the only activity available in Rhêmes-Notre-Dame: horseback riding and mountain biking are a pleasant alternative for young and old. On the penultimate Sunday of July, a typical Aosta Valley craft fair is hosted, an opportunity to learn more about the history and traditions of the place.

After the activities, you can relax and recuperate by tasting the typical dishes of the Aosta Valley cuisine. Livestock farming has a predominant role in the region: in fact, the Aosta Valley cuisine finds its main inspiration in the use of meat and its derivatives. Cheeses (like Fontina), milk, butter and the like are often found in the typical dishes of Valle d'Aosta cuisine, often accompanied by fruits and vegetables typical of the area, such as turnips, leeks, onion, potatoes, chestnuts, apples and pears.

In a typical meal, you will find hors d'oeuvres such as fondue or cold cuts, including the characteristic Motsetta, dried muscle of cow muscle, and the Jambon de Bosses, a tasty-tasting ham. The first courses include the Valtellinese soup, the Valdostan crepes, while among the latter the Civet of chamois or roe deer, a veal cutlet stuffed with fontina cheese and cooked ham and fried in abundant butter, stands out.

BY CAR

• From Turin: A5 motorway to Valle d'Aosta (about 98 km), direction Aosta with exit at Aostaovest, then take the S.S. 26 in the direction of Courmayeur and at Villeneuve, leave the state road and follow the indications for Rhêmes-Notre-Dame.
• From Milan: A4 motorway towards Turin; take the junction to Santhià towards Aosta (about 164 km) with exit at Aosta Ovest, then take the S.S. 26 in the direction of Courmayeur and at Villeneuve, leave the state road and follow the indications for Rhêmes-Notre-Dame.
• From Courmayeur: A5 motorway towards Aosta with exit at Aosta Ovest, then take the S.S. 26 in the direction of Courmayeur and at the height of Villeneuve leave the State Road and follow the indications for Rhêmes-Notre-Dame or SS26 in the direction of Aosta and at the height of Villeneuve leave the State Road and follow the indications for Rhêmes-Notre- From me.

ON THE TRAIN

• Saint-Pierre train station

BY PLANE

• Aosta airport