Valtournanche is a unique year-round resort in Val d’Aosta. Combined with Cervinia, Valtournanche is the highest ski resort in Italy with a maximum height of 3,899 meters above sea level (but Valtournanche itself is located at an altitude of 1,524 meters). You can ski here almost all year round, as there is no shortage of snow even in July and August. Cervinia is located on the Italian side of the Matterhorn in the Valtournanche Valley at an altitude of 2,050 meters and is connected by lifts to the Swiss Zermatt and the actual Valtournanche resort, as a result of which the skiing area becomes truly huge. In addition, both in Cervinia and in Valtournanche there are many options for après-ski recreation, including various bars, discos, skating rinks, etc.

There are tracks of all levels of difficulty, and Valtournanche is a paradise for snowboarders. Most of the tracks are red. There is only one descent into the city. But families with children and beginner skiers will have to go down on the lift.

Another attraction of the resort is the ice grotto, which goes into the very thickness of the glacier. In addition to ski slopes, the resort has cafes and shops, a sports complex, a swimming pool, a sauna and a hammam.

Valturnanshi, located below Cervinia, has a majestic Congress Center, which annually hosts many events: congresses, seminars, and various meetings. The main attraction of the city is the ancient building Il Rascard d’Entreves, restored ten years ago, located in its center.

How to get there

The nearest airports to Valtournanche are located in Turin (Caselle 118 km), Milan (Malpensa 160 km and Linate 180 km) and Geneva. The easiest way to get there is by bus, taxi or rental car. The transfer can be ordered on the website www.europeantransfer.com and similar. Take the train to Châtillon / Saint-Vincent station and then take the Breuil-Cervinia Valtournenche bus line directly to the resort.

Climate and weather

Thanks to the mountain climate, the ski season in Valtournanche lasts from October to May – during this period, the snow cover in the skiing areas is almost perfect.

The best time for skiing is December, February and March, while January is considered quite cold. The average temperature in December is -6 C, in February and March – from -6 to +1 C. Sometimes there are strong stormy winds – on such days the upper lifts stop working.

Mount Chervino

A clearly defined pyramid majestically rises above the other peaks of the mountain range and one of the largest ski areas in Europe with centers in the villages of Brai-Cervinia (Italy) and Zermatt (Switzerland). Winter sports enthusiasts from all over the world come here.

View of Cervino from the Italian side

For the first time on July 14, 1865, Edward Whymper climbed Cervino (4,478 m) from the Swiss side, four of whom tragically died during the descent. Just a few days later, a group of Italians led by Jean-Antoine Carrel climbed Italian slope.

View of Valtournanche and surroundings

Valtournanche is located at 1,524 m above sea level. Residential buildings are scattered here and there in the lowlands, among large pastures and coniferous forests.

A little history, sights

The most famous guides of Cervino come from here. A memorial plaque on the main square of the village reminds of them. The development of tourism in these regions is also related to the history of mountaineering and began with the construction of a road around the end of the last century; until this moment, climbers and explorers got here on foot or on mules. In the Middle Ages , Valtournanche belonged to the lords of Cly, and then became a possession of the Duchy of Savoy.

Valtournanche

The parish church of Sant’Antonio, whose bell tower dominates the village, was built in 1856 on the site of a 15th century building. In the summer, you can take walks and excursions along numerous routes. For example, the path to the village of Chenay, from where a wonderful view of Valtournanche and Mount Cervino opens, is not particularly difficult. The paths are laid among unusual landscapes, dense forests, rhododendrons and flowering pastures. Another popular excursion route is called “Le Gouffre-de-Busserail”. This is a chasm 35 m deep and more than 100 m wide, pierced in the rock by the waters of the Marmore mountain stream, which makes a ten-meter jump here.

Skiers in Valtournanche

Tracks, slopes, lifts

For fans of skiing, there is a large ski complex in the village of Valtournanche , at the foot of the picturesque Grand Murail ridge. It is located between the mountains of Monte Roisette and Gran Sometta, from where grandiose panoramas of Cervino open up. At the mark of 2982 m on the slope of Chime-Bianca, the route that connects the skiing area with the Bray-Cervinia and Zermatt complexes begins. Thanks to the large number of routes, you can choose a new one every day, never repeating yourself during your vacation.

As for cross-country skiing, you can do it on the slopes of Mayen (6.5 km) and Champlevé (3.3 km).

If we deviate from the Swiss Zermatt, the length of the Valtournanche and Cervinia trails reaches 150 kilometers (together with Zermatt – 350). Of the 58 tracks, 57 percent are red, 23 percent are blue, and 20 percent are black. The number of lifts is 23 with a capacity of 40,881 people per hour. The highest point is Cervino peak (3883 meters).

In the summer months, only 5.5 kilometers of slopes are open. In addition, there are tracks for cross-country skiing, and for snowboarders – a half-pipe, snowboard park, freeride tracks, etc. It is in this skiing area that the longest track is located, 22 and a half kilometers long – from the Swiss Klein Matterhorn to Italian Valtournanche.

Where to stay in Valtournanche

The choice of places to stay in Valtournanche is quite large: apartments, high-class hotels with excellent service, campsites, bed & breakfast hotels or so-called mountain shelters with a wonderful alpine atmosphere.

B&B Pankeo

The family-run B&B A Pankeo is located in the middle of its own garden in a green and peaceful area, just 1 km from the ski slopes of Valtournanche. At your service is a varied breakfast and spacious suites with free Wi-Fi. All suites are decorated in an Alpine style with wooden furniture and tiled floors. Each room has its own heating system, TV and bathroom. Breakfast at the A Pankeo bed and breakfast hotel is served daily in the rooms. If you wish, you can choose sweet or salty dishes. Guests are offered discounts at several typical restaurants located very close by. A bus stop with connections to the surrounding areas is 1 km from this B&B. Turin-Cassel Airport is less than 1.5 hours away.

Hotel Meublè Meridiana

Hotel Meublè Meridiana is located in Valtournanche, 1 km from the ski slopes. It offers cozy rooms with wooden or carpeted floors, and there is also a local indoor swimming pool nearby. The hotel provides a ski storage room and a ski boot dryer. The rooms are decorated in warm colors and the walls are decorated with wooden panels. All rooms have a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a hairdryer. Some rooms have a balcony. Hotel Meublè Meridiana serves a buffet breakfast and drinks are available at the bar. A ski boot dryer and free parking are available. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and guests can also make use of the free internet terminal. The hotel is located in the center of Valle d’Aosta, 1 km from the center.

4478 Mountain Lodge

4478 Mountain Lodge is located on the outskirts of Valtournanche in the Aosta Valley. It offers modern rooms decorated in a traditional style, as well as free Wi-Fi and private parking. A heated room for storing skis is provided on the territory of the lodge. The interior of the rooms combines modern decor and elements in the Alpine style. The amenities of each of them include a private bathroom, a TV with Smart TV technology, a minibar and a Nespresso coffee machine. The spacious bathroom has a shower. This family-run lodge is a 15-minute drive from Cervinia. Salette Cable Car is 1.4 km from 4478 Mountain Lodge, while Turin Airport is 76 km away.

Chalet des Artistes

Chalet des Artistes is a guest house decorated in a traditional Alpine style and furnished with modern furniture, located 1 km from Valtournanche. Free Wi-Fi is provided throughout the territory. The balcony offers mountain views, and the bathroom has a shower. The Salette Gondola is 2 km from Chalet Des Artistes. The Bray Cervinia area with ski slopes, shops and restaurants is a 15-minute drive away.

Shopping

For shopping, tourists choose Chernivtsi, which is nearby.

Cervinia has enough shops for a variety of shopping. So, in the La Botecca store you can buy carved wooden souvenirs, sculptural products of author’s work, books; in Re Mida Gioielli – gold and silver jewelry, in Gift Shop Perron – valuable antiques and souvenirs, as well as fabrics; in the Mountain Shop – equipment for mountaineering and skiing. The Piera Sport Morange store offers a wide range of sportswear and accessories for skiing from the most famous brands.

Many tourists travel from Valtournanche to Milan or Turin for shopping. To do this, you need to rent a car in Aosta. Milan is a 180-minute drive from Aosta, and in good weather it can be reached in an hour and a half. During the sales season in Milan, you can buy clothes and shoes at prices several times lower than in domestic boutiques.