Mont Avic and Mont Emilius

An area of 30.000 hectares at over 1.600 m in altitude, on the right orographic slope of the Dora Baltea, shared by 15 municipalities, from Cogne to Donnas. The eye sweeps over the valleys of Urtier and Grauson, to the borders of the Gran Paradiso National Park, to the valleys of Comboé, Laures and Clavalité, the Mont Avic Natural Park and finally to the Legna valley.
The wide variety of vegetation offers woods of red fir and larch, Scots pine in the Mont Avic Park and beech in the lower valley. Peat-bogs shelter rare or almost-extinct alpine species; among the many floral species, you will find the notable Limnea borealis, the alpine Columbine, the Crowfoot, set next to the better-known and representative alpine environment species such as the very beautiful Edelweiss.
The area consists in a Special Protection Zone (ZPS), a perfect shelter for many species of birds, such as the Eagle, the Chough, the Bearded Vulture, the Black Woodpecker, the Eagle Owl, the White Grouse and the large-headed Owl. In this setting within the municipality of Saint Marcel, you will also find the mining Park of Chuc and Servette, of great historical and scientific value, which still today preserves testimonials of mining extractions from the Roman and Mediaeval times to the 16th century. Here you will find the cupriferous pyrite mines of Servette and Chuc, the mining factories of Eve-Verda, abandoned since 1957, in the vicinity of which you can discover a curious spring of green water and the manganese mine of Praz-Bornaz.
The Mont Avic and Mont Emilius ZPS is similar to a treasure chest, with marvelous and intact landscapes, dotted only by a few huts and stables, witnessing the ancient agro-pastoral activity which in the past livened the high-altitude woods and pastures. Those who wish to journey back in time must not miss this location which symbolizes authentic wilderness.

Activites

  • Hiking

    All itineraries are described in the TRAILS section.

Discover the site

The best months to immerse oneself in this environment are summer months. The trails at a lower altitude can also be used in late spring and autumn. The vastness of the territory and its wide variety of activities allow everyone to enjoy the riches of this site: from school groups – to which it is recommended to visit in small groups, under the guidance of our expert personnel – to families with children and to more demanding hikers. The trail network, with its different levels of difficulty, can satisfy all mountain lovers’ demands. It is however compulsory to follow the marked paths, without ever abandoning the trails, be it on foot, or especially on mountain bikes or horses.


Behavioural conduct rules

We remind you that you can contribute to the preservation of these sites by following these simple rules:

visit the site on foot, with skis or snowshoes; avoid using motorized vehicles, boating equipment, hang-gliders, para-gliders or similar; mountain bikes and horseback riding are permitted only in specific authorized areas (external to the site): please respect hikers;

please stay within the marked trails, as trampling can ruin the fragile grass and undergrowth areas; in winter, please follow the recommended trails so as not to disturb animals which are fighting against hunger and cold;

please observe wild animals from a distance, do not capture them, do not disturb them nor feed them, and do not photograph occupied nests;

keep your dog on a leash and on the marked trails;

do not pick minerals or flowers;

do not make fires;

please bring your garbage back to the villages, where you will find many recyclable waste-collection points;

camping is permitted only for nightly bivouacs at an altitude of over 2500 meters; take care not to wash your dishware in springs or stagnant ponds of water; campers and trailers must be parked outside of the park, in specific authorized areas.

How to get there

By car

L’area è facilmente raggiungibile dai comuni di: Cogne, Charvensod, Brissogne, Saint Marcel, Fenis, Chambave, Pontey, Chatillon, Montjovet, Champdepraz, Issogne, Champorcher, Pontboset, Donnas.

By bus

Linea Aosta – Pila
Aosta - Saint-Marcel - Fénis - Pontey - Châtillon
Aosta - Saint-Marcel - Nus - Fénis
Grand Brissogne - Villair de Quart
Aosta – Fenis
Aosta – Cogne
Navette Cogne
Aosta-Ivrea, fermata al ponte di Champdepraz; dal ponte di Champdepraz a mezzo navetta si giunge sino al Capoluogo di Champdepraz.
Hone-Bard-Champorcher
Circolare Verres – Champdepraz – Issogne (solo feriale)
Circolare Donnas - frazioni di Vert (solo feriale)
Circolare Collina Montjovet (solo feriale)
Aosta - Fénis - Arlier - Chambave - Pontey – Châtillon (solo feriale)
Aosta-Pollein- Neyran-Brissogne.

Per Pila: telecabina Aosta – Pila.

Accessibility codification of sites

VIVA has chosen to supply everyone – youngsters, adults, the elderly and the disabled – with all the sites’ information so as to allow the visitor to choose a destination in an autonomous way.
An “Accessibility Codification”has thus been defined.


Mont Avic and Mont Emilius

Information to reach the site 1
Accessibility from main roads 1
Parking for the disabled 0
Accessible restrooms 0
Information panels 0
Slopes (max 8%) 0
Trail width (min 90cm) 0
Road surface 0
Resting areas approx every 10 m 0
Safety and protection of trails 2
Periodic maintenance 2

GENERAL INDICATIONS – ASSESSMENT VALUES (0 ÷ 3):
0 corresponds to ABSENCE of the indicated parameter;
3 corresponds to the PRESENCE of the indicated parameter, in optimal condition;
1 – 2 are INTERMEDIATE VALUES: in general, they indicate the presence of the parameter which must however be improved (1 = sufficient, 2 = close to optimal)

Paths

More paths :

VIVA suggests:

Short path

Tour delle miniere

  • Elevation gain : 775 m
  • Travel time: 5h
  • Signposting: 3-3A-3C-3D-4

What to see:

Period:

Short path

Chamolé - Comboé

  • Elevation gain : 256 m in discesa.
  • Travel time: 2h45
  • Signposting: 19-19A-19B-19C-20-102

What to see:

Period:

Long path

Colle della Rosa dei Banchi

  • Elevation gain : 770 m
  • Travel time: 4h
  • Signposting: 7-7A-7B-7C-AV2

What to see:

Period:

Long path

Pila - Comboé - Rifugio Arbolle - Chamolé - Pila

  • Elevation gain : 690 m
  • Travel time:
  • Signposting: 14-16-19-19A-20-20A-102

What to see:

Period:

Average path

Lac de Vercoche

  • Elevation gain : 1.000 m
  • Travel time: 2h45
  • Signposting: 3C, 4, 4F, 5, AV2

What to see:

Period:

Average path

Lago delle Laures

  • Elevation gain : 1.930 m
  • Travel time: 5 h
  • Signposting: 1-1B-3-4-6-10

What to see:

Period:

Average path

Clavalité, Grand'Arp, Col d'Echélé, Lac Medzove, Lac Marguerite, Clavalité

  • Elevation gain : 1.223 m
  • Travel time: 9h
  • Signposting: 2-4-4A-5-102

What to see:

Period:

Easy trails: routes that present no major technical difficulties or too challenging slopes. They can be covered in full or in small sections, allowing in both cases to come into contact with unspoilt nature, discovering its pace and balance …

Medium difficult trails: routes that can be covered in a day, varying considerably in terms of height differences and technical difficulty; the benefit is in being able to reach wildlife destinations of great impact.

Long trails: excursions lasting several days which provide for stopover places and catering along the route.

cartina Mont Avic and Mont Emilius

SIC SIC IT1202020

Municipality: Cogne, Charvensod, Pollein, …

Surface: 31.544 ha

Altitude: 1.050 ÷ 3.557 m s.l.m.

Responsible forest station:
Aymavilles, Aosta, Nus, Châtillon, Verrès, Pont-Saint-Martin

Activities

In cammino verso Roma

In cammino verso Roma
La via Franchigena, un itinerario di grande fascino, dichiarato dal Consiglio d'Europa “Grande Itinerario Culturale Europeo”.

Having fun with miners-actors

Having fun with miners-actors
An open-air theatre.

Discover the surroundings

  • Cogne
    Visitors Centre of the Gran Paradiso National Park
    Paradisia Alpine Botanical Garden
    Waterfalls of Lillaz
    The mines of Cogne
    Champlong Geosite
    Geological Park
    Mining Museum of Cogne
    Maison de Cogne Gérard-Dayné Ethnographical Museum
    Permanent exhibit Les Dentellières de Cogne (The lacemakers of Cogne)
  • Valley of Laures
    Brissogne Castle
    “Les Iles de Saint Marcel” Wetlands Natural Reserve
  • Valley of Saint Marcel
    Plout Sanctuary (958 m), dedicated to "Notre Dame des Hermites"
    Equipped picnic area in Les Druges, at an altitude of 1.600 m
    « Les Iles de Saint Marcel » Wetlands Natural Reserve
    “La Valdôtaine” Distillery (Saint Marcel)
    Mining Park of Chuc and Servette
  • Valley of Clavalité
    Fénis Castel
    MAV – Museum of Val D’Aosta craftsmanship (Fénis)
  • Champorcher
    “Lou Dzeut” Cooperative
    Hemp Ecomuseum
    Champorcher Castle
    Miserin Sanctuary
    Mont Avic Regional Park
  • Pontboset
    Bridges
    Cupelled stones (Hône)
  • Donnas
    “Vallet Piero e figli & C” cheese factory
    “Caves Cooperatives de Donnas” winery
    Pramotton Tower
    Roman arch and road
    “Laiterie de Tréby” Ecomuseum
    Vineyard and Wine Museum