Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting There & Around
Up to seven buses run daily to/from Cogne and Aosta (50 minutes). Cogne can also be
reached by cable car from Pila.
Valley buses (up to 10 daily) link Cogne with Valnontey (€0.90, five minutes) and
Lillaz (€0.90, five minutes).
WORTH A TRIP
FORTE DI BARD
Shakespearean in stature and gazing down over a poetry-inspiring valley, the Bard of Aosta is a large,
imposing fortress set on a rocky escarpment at the jaws of the Valle d'Aosta. Plucky Italian soldiers,
outnumbered 100 to one, fought off Napoleon's army from its lofty battlements for two weeks in
1800. The French emperor was so piqued he razed the fortress to the ground. The contemporary Forte
di Bard ( www.fortedibard.it ; 10am-6pm Tue-Fri, to 7pm Sat & Sun) thus dates from the
1830s and was completely restored in 2006. Replete with history and punctuated with epic views, it
makes a great day out from the standard Aostan skiing or hiking trips (it's 70 minutes from Aosta by
regular bus). Entrance to the main fort is free. To reach the inner sanctum, perched high above the val-
ley, ride up a series of super-modern elevators. For no cost you can admire the seductive Alpine views
and gain access to the Valley culture rooms , which offer interesting nuggets of information on
Aosta's history and culture. To enjoy a full day out it is worth investing in a ticket for the Museo delle
Alpi (adult/reduced €8/6) , a clever, interactive museum that takes you on an educational journey
across the entire Alps. The standout feature is the Flight of the Eagle cinema section, which simulates
the feeling of flying over valleys, villages, lakes and snow-capped peaks. Also worth a visit are the
fort's prisons (adult/reduced €4/2), which were still in use right up until the end of WW2. There's a
handy on-site cafe and restaurant, and various shops scattered around the fortifications. Music con-
certs are held here in the summer.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Valtournenche
One of Europe's most dramatic mountains, the Matterhorn (4478m) frames the head of
Valtournenche. Byron once stood here and marvelled at 'Europe's noble rock'. Today he'd
also see one of the Alps' ugliest ski resorts, Breuil-Cervinia. However, Cervinia's ski fa-
cilities are second to none; you can hit the snow year-round up here and even cross into
Zermatt, Switzerland.
Activities
 
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