Courmayeur
Courmayeur lies at the foot of the Mont Blanc massif, in a verdant amphitheatre of coniferous forests, mountains and glaciers.
Although Courmayeur is an internationally renowned tourist resort, it retains an authentic alpine atmosphere, which can be felt both when strolling through the shops in the centre and in the villages surrounding the main town and reaching as far as the head of the central valley, where the Dora of Val Veny and the Dora of Val Ferret join the Dora Baltea.
The alpine atmosphere can also be found in the hotels and other accommodation facilities – from the luxury hotel to the alpine hut and campsite -, in the historic cafés in the centre and in the restaurants on the slopes: in Courmayeur, hospitality, love of tradition and respect for local architecture are taken care of in every detail.
Things to see
Sanctuary of Notre-Dame de la Guérison
Situated at the entrance to Val Veny, literally at the foot of the Brenva glacier, this little church – according to tradition – has been the scene of miraculous healings since the 17th century. In the present building, built in 1867, the walls are entirely covered with ex-votos, crutches and gifts brought by the miraculous faithful.
Parish Church of Santi Pantaleone and Valentino
Its bell tower, probably built between the 11th and 12th centuries, has a spire, modified at a later date and a very rare example in Aosta Valley, in the shape of a tiara in memory (it seems) of the popes’ stay in Avignon. The church, which dates back to the 18th century, houses paintings from that century: an interesting high altar in black marble, a painting depicting the martyrdom of Saint Sebastian and a unique ex voto painting, inspired by the invasion of the Aosta Valley by French troops, an invasion that spared Courmayeur.
“Duca degli Abruzzi” Alpine Museum
A visit to this museum, inaugurated in 1929, is a must if you want to learn about the great enterprises that have marked the history of mountaineering. It contains documents, memorabilia and climbing equipment. The Courmayeur Mountain Guide Society, founded in 1850, is the oldest in Italy.
Nature and sport
A privileged location comprising two lateral valleys that converge into a wide basin at the foot of the Mont Blanc massif, Courmayeur is a natural setting of spectacular and varied landscapes, that allow relaxing or adrenaline-filled sports activities, in summer as in winter.
Who says Courmayeur says Mont Blanc. Having conquered the summit of the mountain in 1786, Courmayeur is one of the historical capitals of mountaineering and mountain hiking. Even today, the walls of the white giant are still the most popular destination for mountaineers from all over the world.
Skyway Monte Bianco
Nowadays, however, Mont Blanc is not just for mountaineers. Anyone can get close to its peaks thanks to the futuristic Skyway cable car. From the 1,300 metres of Entrèves, you can first reach the almost 2,200 metres of the Pavillon du Mont Fréty, where the Saussurea alpine botanical garden is located, and then the 3,466 metres of Punta Helbronner.
The two side valleys are natural paradises and contain different landscapes that change with the seasons. In summer, for example, the Val Veny offers very varied landscapes from Entrèves to the Col de La Seigne, on the border with Savoie. Skirting the glacier of Brenva, the valley is at the entrance narrow, wild and rough, and then turn into a wide flat valley. A small lake has formed on the front of the glacier, enclosed by its moraine. From the lake you can watch the movements of the glacier, which occasionally drops blocks into the water, forming small icebergs. The twin valley, Val Ferret, also offers unforgettable experiences, such as walks or cross-country skiing in the presence of the magnificent Grandes Jorasses.
Courmayeur ski area
As for the cold season, the Courmayeur ski-mountaineering area is frequented by skiers from all over the world. The Chécrouit-Val Veny domain, dominated by the Mont Blanc chain, extends over 100 km of traditional and off-piste slopes. Of the latter, the descent on the Toula glacier and the Vallée Blanche descent, which crosses the Mer de Glace glacier to reach Chamonix, on the French side of Mont Blanc, are exceptional.
Other sports
In any case, there are countless snow sports that can be practised in Courmayeur, such as fat bikes (mountain bikes with ‘fat’ tyres) or sleddog (sled dog rides), as there is never a lack of material!
A perfectly equipped resort for all sports, Courmayeur has, for example, a sports hall with a skating rink accessible all year round. There is also a sports-recreation area in the open air of Val Ferret, accessible in both summer and winter.
Festivities and traditions
Celtic
Courmayeur and the splendid setting of the Peuterey forest in Val Veny welcome this international festival of Celtic music, art and culture, the highest in Europe.
Foire de la Pâquerette
On Easter Monday, the town centre is invaded by stalls displaying local handicrafts, with everyday household items, sculptures or decorative objects.
For the little ones
In both summer and winter, there are countless opportunities for children to have fun. Needless to say, on the slopes of this resort, children can learn classic mountain sports, but also board, telemark, freestyle and off-piste, accompanied by the instructors of two ski schools.
Playgrounds
The Fun Park Dolonne, suitable for children and adults, is a very popular attraction due to its strategic location close to the cable car and the services it offers. During the winter season, it is a snow park with a beginners’ ski slope, toboggan and doughnut runs, merry-go-round, inflatables, as well as a snow bike and bobsleigh rental, and restaurants and bars. In summer it offers trampolines, inflatables, a donut track, ball pool, mini climbing wall, Tyrolean pulley, Indian camp, sandpit and other balance and agility games.
The Club des Sports playground in the sports area of the same name in Val Ferret is also a paradise for children.
Other leisure activities
In winter, there are bobsleigh and sleds runs and it is possible to hire snowmobiles and snowbikes. In summer, there are trampolines, mini golf, archery facilities, table tennis, table football, swings, slides, a small climbing wall and it is possible to hire mini quads and electric scooters and bikes of all kinds. For teenagers there is paintball.
Another exclusive attraction of summer Courmayeur is a heated swimming pool located at 1750 metres, in the green meadows of Plan Chécrouit, which can be reached on foot or by cable car from Dolonne.
It is also possible to go horse-riding here, thanks to CheVal d’Aoste Mont Blanc.
The main town and its hamlets have several playgrounds. In Courmayeur there are also two playrooms/mini clubs.
