Visiting the Southern Hill above the City of Aosta

This complete Area which includes 5 Commons, can be visited with a course of one or various days, noting that "Envers" means the less exposed to the sun and vice versa. On the second day, leaving from the Commons of Quart or Grand Brissogne, it takes the "Envers" through Pollein and then climb to Charvensod up to Pila Basin and, after descending to Gressan, continue towards Jovençan until Aymavilles, now at the entrance on Cogne Valley. This area "du Sud Envers" starting from Quart or Grand Brissogne progressively reach the Communes of Pollein, Charvensod, Gressan, Jovençan up to that of Aymavilles at the gates of Cogne Valley. If the first stage we have not made the return with the opportunity returning from Quart to Aymavilles Commons with his Castle along the "Via de l'Envers" beyond the Dora Baltea and towards the Municipalities of Pollein, Charvensod, Gressan and Jovençan. Nearby the Pont Suaz Hamlet with a stone bridge, whence in Aosta, in this we travel back this way. If instead we have already traveled this route from the bridge of Pont Suaz (564m), on the outskirts of Aosta, climb directly in Pila Basin, which also comes from Gressan starting with an alternative Regional Road, while in Jovençan you can explore the wooded area below the "Pera" or Pointe de la Pierre, now on the border with entrance on adjacent Cogne Valley.
Let's see in detail: from the Municipality of Quart (546/56m) to leave the National Road No. 26, crossing the bridge over the Dora Baltea in locality Villefranche of Quart (557m), immediately to the East; reach a roundabout you leave momentarily the Regional Road along the course of Dora Baltea going instead to the South in the direction of the Municipality of Grand Brissogne (906/19m). A brief and "winding" descent through a small road Municipal reports on Regional Road to the Municipality of Pollein, passing the village of les Ayettes (849m) to those of Chaney, Château and Petit Pollein (557m). Continuing to the West, it passes the Villages of Grand Pollein (547m), Prefieur, Tharençan reaching Pollein Commune (546m). A brief digression in the Southwest to reach the Hamlet of Chenaux (656m), at the entrance of the Dard Gorge, while a connecting road to reach, passing over the Torrent de Comboé, those of Roulaz and High Félinaz (591m), now in Charvensod Common. With short descent on Regional will reach the Fraction of Pian Felina (565/8m) , above which you will come to Pont-Suaz (564m). From this point, a choice must be made: A)- or continue, the same street and the same direction along the Dora Baltea, gradually reaching the Municipalities of Gressan, Jovençan, Aymavilles. B)- Otherwise momentarily abandon this and go back to the Municipality of Charvensod (610m) and immediately above the trail n° 14L Sanctuary of Santa Colomba (924m; 0h'50/1h'00), below the wide Basin Pila. In the latter case extends the stage half-day but making the same certainly more "rich" and suggestive. Continuing from the common to the East you reach the junction 951 metres, where a small deviation with Municipal Road in asphalt leads to the Pastures of Reverier or Rayer "du Tzat" and just above Reverier Dessous (1042m). Returning to the Regional is beyond the small Villages Vagères, Bondine (1018m; here also from Santa Colomba Sanctuary with the path n° 14D; 0h'15), Roncogner, Lexeret, Reverier Marendet and Dessus, la Rochette, Saint Salò, Plan de Sérémont 1382m), Peroulaz and Les Fleurs ((1414m) small Villages. *** Here comes another Regional Road alternative by Gressan, then useful for our descent from Pila). Passing at the next Chacot, Large Cerise, Eaux-Froides, Charémoz (1662m); fountain), Rossellin, Mozod, in order to expose, Chacard you reach Pila-Resort ((803m; 18km from Pont-Suaz). From Pila-Center you can with the path-farm road to the East n° 14I reaching fhe famous and renowned Hermitage San Grato (1787m; 0h'45); by other paths n° 20/102; 19, 14/16/19A to Comboé (2114m; 1h'15/1h'30), right at the Western foot of Becca di Nona (3142m) and of the wide Monte Emilius (3559m) Group.



An expanded area at the Northern feet of Monte Emilius with various votive Chapels ancient Towers & Castles,

by Osw 2015/16

Vediamo nel dettaglio: partendo dal Comune di Quart (546/56 m) si abbandona la Strada Statale n° 26 attraversando il ponte sulla Dora Baltea in località Villefranche (557 m), subito ad Est; giunti ad una rotonda si lascia momentaneamente la Strada Regionale lungo il corso della Baltea salendo invece a Mezzogiorno in direzione del Comune di Grand Brissogne (906/19 m). Una breve e "tortuosa" discesa tramite una Stradina Municipale riporta sulla Strada Regionale per il Comune di Pollein, passando dal Villaggio di les Ayettes (849 m) a quelli di Chaney, Château e Petit Pollein (557 m). Continuando ad Ovest si oltrepassano i Villaggi di Grand Pollein (547 m), Prefieur, Tharençan raggiungendo il Comune di Pollein (546 m). Una breve divagazione a Sudovest permette di raggiungere la Frazione di Chenaux (656 m), all'imbocco della Gorgia del Dard, mentre una strada di collegamento permette di raggiungere, passando sopra al Torrent de Comboé, quelle di Roulaz ed Alto Félinaz (591 m), ormai nel Comune di Charvensod. Con corta discesa sulla Regionale si raggiunge la Frazione di Pian Felina (565/8 m), oltrepassata la quale si perviene al Pont-Suaz (564 m). Da questo punto una scelta s'impone: A)- o continuare, stessa strada e stessa direzione lungo la Dora Baltea, raggiungendo progressivamente i Comuni di Gressan, Jovençan, Aymavilles. Oppure B)- momentaneamente abbandonare questa e risalire verso il Comune di Charvensod (610 m) ed appena al di sopra con il sentiero n° 14L al Santuario di Santa Colomba (924 m; 0h'50/1h'00), sottostante la Conca di Pila. In questo secondo caso si allunga il percorso ma rendendo la stessa sicuramente più "ricca" e suggestiva. Continuando dal comune verso Oriente si raggiunge il bivio 951 metri, dove una piccola deviazione con strada in asfalto conduce agli Alpeggi di Reverier o Rayer "du Tzat" e Dessous (1042 m). Rientrando sulla Regionale si oltrepassano i piccoli Villaggi di Vagères, Bondine (1018 m; qui anche da Santa Colomba col n° 14D; 0h'15), Roncogner, Lexeret, Reverier Dessus, la Rochette, Saint Salò, Plan de Sérémont (1382 m), Peroulaz e Les Fleurs (1414 m). *** Qui arriva anche un'altra Strada Regionale alternativa con partenza dal centro del Comune di Gressan, utile poi per la nostra discesa da Pila). Passando presso i successivi Villaggi di Chacot, Grande Cerise, Eaux-Froides, Charémoz (1662 m), Rossellin, Mozod, Perchu, Chacard si giunge a Pila ((1803 m; 18 Km dal Pont-Suaz). Da Pila é possibile con il sentiero-poderale ad Est n° 14I al rinomato Eremitaggio di San Grato (1787 m; 0h'45) e da questo o con altri sentieri n° 20/102; 19, 14/16/19A al Comboé (2114 m; 1h'15/1h'30), ai piedi della Becca di Nona (3142 m) nonché dell'esteso Gruppo del Monte Emilius (3559 m).



Grand Brissogne, Pollein, Charvensod, Gressan & Jovençan Municipalities all below Monte Emilius Group

by Osw 2015/16