|
|
|
Avise |
Avise: a bridge over the past
Who knows how many stories would tell the Dora Baltea river which in
1953 was crossed over by the impressive bridge connecting the two
sides of Avise. The river was there long time before, when the three
castles (Cré, Blonay and Avise) were built.
It was there when the
road of Gaul was created. It attended the cooking of plain bread in
the village oven, it knows well the taste of the roast chestnuts and
the flavor of the cream named “fiocca”, whipped in the icy natural
cave.
The Dora Baltea has seen the colors of autumn, has carried
the dry leaves, shining in the sun, has melted the snow to its
waters. So many things the river knows! If you are able to listen to
it, you may be told its secrets about streams and peaks. Prick up
your ears…
Avise: here history passed by
The Avise family settled here in the 12th century. The village grew
up around the castle Blonay, residence of the feudal family. The
church, dedicated to San Brizio, and its bell-tower, dated to the
15th century, are still standing right near the castle.
|
In the same
century, in order to strengthen the control of the village, the
family built the Avise castle, of which you can admire the façade
decorated with twin windows.
|
The origins of the village go back to
the roman era as it was a strategic point on the road to Gaul. Here
the Romans made their way through the rocks in order to reach the
Mont Blanc, in the hamlet Runaz they carved the trail named Pierre
Taillée still evident today.
In Runaz is also located the Fortress
of Mosse with its beautiful windows in gothic style and the
interesting main door. The fortress belongs today to the regional
administration and is the seat of the regional association of audio
archives. Several expositions take place in summer and throughout
the year (booking is required in low season).
In the village center
take a look at the wash-house, where ladies still meet for a chat,
observe the meridian and the frescos of the town hall and the
medieval bridge in Le Pont.
When all secrets are discovered let’s
plunge into the peace of the pic-nic area named Lo Crou on the road
to Cerellaz, take an easy walk to the falls of Frenay (30 minutes)
or reach the village to see signs of our traditions: mills, ovens
and dairies.
|
|
Further up is the green Vertosan valley, surrounded by
the peaks of Château Blanc, here every summer the traditional cow
fights take place. Are you fond of gastronomic events? Do not miss,
at the end of June, the Fiha de la Fiocca, a traditional whipped
cream made in an icy cave at 1800 meters a.s.l.. The event takes
place in Baulin; you need to drive to Planaval, in Valgrisenche, and
follow signs for La Clusaz. Plenty of chapels are located all over
Avise.
|
|
THE HORNS´ QUEENS
Two cows in calf enter the arena and compete for the title of queen:
we talk about one of the most important traditions in Aosta Valley
which has been handed down from generation to generation.
The fight
named "bataille des reines" is between the most aggressive and
struggling cows in calf, the best cattle of the bovine race in the
Valley. Each year, up in the mountains, the fights take place from
March till October. Every queen returns home showing the bouquet
fasten to her horns with colored ribbons. At the end of October the
queens challenge to a final duel in Aosta and the winner has the
pleasure to be applauded by nine thousand celebrating people.
|
|
Monuments |
| |
Castle of Avise |
| |
Loc. Capoluogo |
| |
The first
building you meet on the left side of Arvier is the castle:
a construction on three floors with a square tower. Very
interesting are the ornaments with embrasures on the tower
and the wonderful geminate windows with decoration of
overturned keels. The castle was built at the end of the
15th century by Rodolfo d’Avise. After the extinction of the
dynasty, it had many different owners and now it is a
private residence. |
| |
Castle of Blonay |
| |
Loc. Capoluogo |
| |
The castle of
Blonay is situated nearby the church of Avise. It is
composed by a square tower of the 12th century and a main
body of the 15th century with beautiful window bars. The
castle was the residence of the powerful D’Avise Family
until 1645. Then it became a property of the Blonay Family
and it changed its name. The ancient tower was called “des
prisons”, of the prisons: still in 1787 Filippo de Blonay
laid claim to jail the criminal inside! The tower was then
sold to other families and the main body was alienated by
the Blonay Family. |
| |
Chapel |
| |
Loc. Cerellaz |
| |
Not far from
Saint-Pierre, it is possible to visit San Teodulo, a little
church of the eighteenth century. Inside, you will find a
beautiful painting which represents the Deposition of Jesus,
two bishops, Saint Rocco, Saint Barbara and Saint Grato. |
| |
Fortress of Mosse |
| |
Loc. Runaz |
| |
The D’Avise
Family built this fortress nearby the roman road of Gaul,
which crossed the village of Runaz from east to west. At the
end of the 15th century, the seigniory of the D’Avise was
divided into four brothers. Jean le Jeune became lord of
Runaz and, probably, he was who transformed the fortress in
a residence. In fact, the beautiful windows in gothic style
with sash of Villeneuve’s stone have the typical
architecture of the beginning of the 16th century. The main
door is also very interesting. The fortress belongs today to
the regional administration and is the seat of the regional
association of the sonorous archives. |
| |
27/06-29/09: H 10.00-12.30 / 14.30-19.00 (for every day) -
Openings with reservation. |
| |
Parish church |
| |
Loc. Capoluogo |
| |
The parish
church of Avise was built on the rests of an older
construction of which we see today only the bell tower. The
tradition says that the old church, destroyed by the army
around the 10th century, was situated between the two
villages of Runaz and Pierre Taillée. The new one, dedicated
to San Brizio, was erected on the other side of the river,
where the risk of military incursions was not so high. |
| |
Remains of the castle of Cré |
| |
Loc. Capoluogo |
| |
At the exit
of the village, to the limit of a promontory rises the
castle of Cré. This fortress was probably built in the 10th
century. It belonged to Pierre d’Avise, official of the
Savoia Family in Aosta Valley. Around 1450, it was sold to
Bonifacio Ducrest, a Savoyard ducal official. The Family
Ducrest disappeared at the beginning of the 18th century. |
| |
Remains of the road of Gaul “Pierre Taillée” and of
fortifications (17th-18th centuries) |
| |
S.S. N. 26 |
| |
Strategic
point of the roman road of Gaul, Pierrée Taillée took its
name from the cut that Roman did in the stone to create the
passage. They who went to the Gaul or came in Augusta
Praetoria (Aosta) were compelled to pass through Pierre
Taillée. That’s the reason why this point had an enormous
strategic and military importance. For example, it helped
the inhabitants of Aosta Valley during the French invasions
of the 18th century. Still today it is possible to see, over
the tunnel of the Mont Blanc’s road, the remains of
fortifications.
Courtesy of the
AIAT Gran Paradis; more... >>> |
(c) 1997-2008 E. Massetti
TangoItalia - Food Wine Travel in Italy - Home
|
