Pre-Saint-Didier - Courmayeur
All along the road to Courmayeur you can see a lot of castles, they were used above all
to keep an eye on the central valley, which represented a fundamental route.
Strategically
positioned on rocky outcrops and in view of each other, they made up an effective
observation and signaling system stretching throughout the whole valley.
You can still
admire some of them: Chatel-Argent at Villeneuve, Montmayeur at Arvier, Chatelard at La
Salle....
5km before Courmayeur you have to stop at Pré-Saint-Didier, to have a look at the huge
waterfall near the hot water spring (30°C).
It was an important military station along
the Roman road to Gaul and now its a nice village at 1000m ideal for tranquil holidays
and starting point for excursions around the Mont Blanc.
The parish church of Saint
Laurent, rebuilt in the 15th century, enlarged at the end of the 19th century, contains
a high altar of the 17th century, with a big crucifix of the 15th.
The bell-tower is one
of the most ancient of the valley, dating back to the 11th century.
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