The best traffic-free bike rides around Hône

The Castello di Suzey stands on an inaccessible rocky spur, in a position that in the 14th century guaranteed absolute control over the transit of the Lys valley. The structure is a classic example of a medieval enclosure castle, dominated by a massive quadrangular tower and surrounded by the remains of a fortified village now swallowed by vegetation. This stronghold was the headquarters of the lords of Suzey, a branch of the Vallaise known for their bellicose nature and independence from central powers. A famous anecdote concerns the family's determination to defend their privileges: it is said that the lords of Suzey imposed such severe transit taxes that they sparked fierce disputes with merchants and neighboring communities, turning the castle into a sort of armed customs post. A local legend also tells that the castle was connected to the other Vallaise properties in Perloz via a network of secret passages dug directly into the rock, used to move troops and riches away from prying eyes during sieges. Another popular tale describes the castle's end as a dramatic event: a devastating fire, which broke out during an enemy attack, would have marked the definitive abandonment of the structure.

Brusson is a renowned mountain resort, renowned for its tranquil atmosphere and Alpine landscapes. Its heart is the lake, an easily accessible body of water perfect for relaxing walks, picnics, and outdoor activities. In winter, the town becomes a hub for cross-country skiing.

A green lung with benches in the middle of a hill

Hill with gentle slopes and a short climb

The Col de Joux is a picturesque pass connecting the Ayas Valley to the central valley. The gradients to reach it, both from Saint-Vincent and from Brusson, are always manageable, but never negligible. The word Joux likely derives from a pre-Latin term meaning wooded hill. Others, however, maintain a Latin connection to the word Jugum, meaning yoke, and hence hill.

A very special Roman bridge with a beautiful view.

A beautiful mountain pasture overlooking Borgofranco di Ivrea, Montestrutto and Settimo Vittone. You can enjoy a beautiful view of the mountains and the valley floor, a dirt road that is easy to navigate technically speaking, and can also be traveled with Gravel bikes.

It is an imposing testament to the Romanization of the Aosta Valley. Its dating is uncertain: for some it would have been built around 120 BC, for others in 25 BC. The bridge Anchored to the living rock on both sides, it is 25 meters high and its single arch is 35 meters wide. At the base, carved into the living rock, the housings for the wooden scaffolding that formed the necessary framework for the construction of the stone arch are visible. At the end of the 19th century, some iron keys were placed to consolidate the structure. At the beginning of the 19th century, another wooden bridge was built a little further downstream, which was then replaced in 1876 by the current masonry structure. The legend Popular imagination has attributed the construction of the bridge to the devil. Legend has it that Saint Martin, Bishop of Tours, returning from Italy to his diocese, found himself blocked by the Lys river, which had swept away the only footbridge with its flood. The devil offered to solve the problem by building a solid bridge in a single night, but demanded in return the soul of the first one who would cross the bridge. The saint accepted, but the next morning, by throwing a piece of bread to the other end of the bridge, he ensured that the first to cross it was a hungry little dog. The devil, furious, disappeared into the Lys amidst flashes of lightning and puffs of sulfur, and the bridge remained for the population. The legend is still one of the fundamental themes of the Pont-Saint-Martin carnival, which concludes with the burning of the devil under the Roman bridge.