Valtournenche is a unique year-round resort in the Aosta Valley. Combined with Cervinia, Valtournenche is the highest ski resort in Italy with a maximum altitude of 3,899 meters above sea level (but Valtournenche 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 Valtournenche valley at an altitude of 2,050 meters and is connected by lifts to the Swiss Zermatt and the Valtournenche resort itself, as a result of which the skiing area becomes truly huge. In addition, both Cervinia and Valtournenche have many options for après-ski recreation, including various bars, discos, ice rinks, etc.

There are slopes of any difficulty, and for snowboarders Valtournenche is just a paradise. Most of the slopes are red. There is a single descent into the city. But for families with children and novice skiers, you will have to take a lift down.

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

In Valtournenche, located below Cervinia, there is a magnificent Congress Center, which hosts many events every year: congresses, seminars, various kinds of 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 closest airports to Valtournenche are located in Turin (Caselle 118 km), Milan (Malpensa 160 and Linate 180 km) and Geneva. From there, it is easiest to get there by bus, taxi or rented car. Transfers can be booked on www.europeantransfer.com and similar websites. You need to 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 Valtournenche lasts from October to May – during this period the snow cover in the ski 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 -6C, in February and March – from -6 to +1 C. Sometimes there are strong storm winds – on such days the upper lifts stop working.

Mount Cervino

A clearly outlined pyramid rises majestically above the other peaks of the mountain range and one of the largest ski areas in Europe with centers in the villages of Brei-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, Cervino (4478 m) was climbed from the Swiss side by Edward Whymper and his companions, four of whom tragically died during the descent. Just a few days later, a group of Italians led by Jean-Antoine Carrel climbed the Italian slope.

View of Valtournenche and the surrounding area

Valtournenche 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

This is where the most famous guides of Cervino come from. A memorial plaque on the main square of the village reminds us of them. The development of tourism in these parts is also connected with the history of mountaineering and began with the construction of a road around the end of the century before last; Until then, climbers and explorers had to travel on foot or on mules. In the Middle Ages, Valtournenche belonged to the Lords of Clé, and then became the property of the Duchy of Savoy.

Valtournenche

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 summer, there are numerous walks and excursions here. For example, the path to the village of Chenay is not particularly difficult, from where you can enjoy a magnificent view of Valtournenche and Mount Cervino. The trails are laid out among unusual landscapes, dense forests, rhododendrons and flowering pastures. Another popular excursion route is called “Le Gouffre de Busserrail”. This is a chasm 35 m deep and more than 100 m wide, cut into the rock by the waters of the Marmore mountain stream, which makes a ten-meter jump here.

Skiers in Valtournenche

Tracks, slopes, lifts

For skiing enthusiasts, there is a large ski complex in the village of Valtournenche, at the foot of the picturesque Grand Murail ridge. It is located between the mountains of Monte Roisetta and Gran Sometta, from where grandiose panoramas of Cervino open. At 2982 m on the Chime Bianca slope, the track begins, connecting the ski area with the Breuil-Cervinia and Zermatt complexes. 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 Mayen (6.5 km long) and Champléveux (3.3 km) trails.

If we look away from the Swiss Zermatt, the length of the Valtournenche and Cervinia trails reaches 150 kilometers (together with Zermatt – 350). Of the 58 trails, 57 percent are red, 23 percent are blue and 20 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 trails for cross-country skiing, and for snowboarders – a half-pipe, snowboard park, freeride trails, etc. It is in this skiing area that the longest trail is located, 22 and a half kilometers long, – from the Swiss Klein Matterhorn to the Italian Valtournenche.

Where to stay in Valtournenche

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

B & B A Pankeo

Set in its own garden, A Pankeo is a family-run bed and breakfast, just 1 km from the Valtournenche ski slopes. It offers 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, a TV and a private bathroom. Breakfast at A Pankeo is served daily in the rooms. You can choose between sweet and savoury dishes. Guests have discounts at several typical restaurants located very close by. A bus stop with links to the surrounding areas is 1 km from the B&B. Turin-Cassel Airport is less than 1.5 hours’ drive away.

Hotel Meublè Meridiana

Set in Valtournenche, Hotel Meublè Meridiana is 1 km from the ski slopes. It offers cosy rooms with wooden or carpeted floors, and is close to the local indoor swimming pool. The hotel offers ski storage and a ski boot dryer. Rooms are decorated in warm colours and feature wood-panelled walls. All rooms have a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with hairdryer. Some rooms have a balcony. Meublè Meridiana serves a buffet breakfast, and drinks can be enjoyed at the bar. It offers a ski boot dryer and free parking. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, and guests can also use the free internet terminal. The hotel is in the heart of Valle d’Aosta, 1 km from the centre. The hotel is also close to the Swiss border and just off the SR46 national road.

4478 Mountain Lodge

4478 Mountain Lodge is located on the outskirts of Valtournenche in the Aosta Valley. It offers modern rooms with traditional décor, free Wi-Fi and private parking. The lodge has a heated ski storage room on site. The rooms combine modern décor with Alpine-style elements. Each room has a private bathroom, a Smart TV, a minibar and a Nespresso coffee machine. The spacious bathroom comes with a shower. This family-run lodge is a 15-minute drive from Cervinia. The Salette Cable Car is 1.4 km from 4478 Mountain Lodge, while Turin Airport is 76 km away.

Chalet des Artistes

The Chalet des Artistes is a traditional Alpine-style guest house with modern furnishings, located 1 km from Valtournenche. Free WiFi is available throughout. The balcony offers mountain views, and the bathroom is fitted with a shower. The Salette Gondola is 2 km from Chalet Des Artistes. The Breuil-Cervinia area with its ski slopes, shops and restaurants is a 15-minute drive away.

Shopping

For shopping, tourists choose Cervinia, which is located nearby.

There are enough shops in Cervinia for a variety of shopping. For example, in the La Botecca store you can buy carved wooden souvenirs, original sculptures, books; in Re Mida Gioielli – gold and silver jewelry; in the Perron Gift Shop – 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 skiing accessories from the most famous brands.

Many tourists travel from Valtournenche to Milan or Turin for shopping. To do this, you need to rent a car in Aosta. Milan is 180 km from Aosta, and in good weather you can get there 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.