The best cycling routes around Saint-Nicolas

Gressan is a municipality at the gates of Aosta, located on the right orographic side of the Dora Baltea and an access point to various climbs towards the higher altitudes of the valley. From here begins one of the most continuous ascents in the area, with regular hairpin bends and constant gradients.

Valley floor access point a few minutes from Aosta, located near the confluence of the Dora Baltea and the Buthier stream. Several ascents to the surrounding slopes start from here.

At the gates of Gressan, next to the Dora Baltea and along the cycle path that connects Sarre to Pontey, there is the splendid green area "Les Îles". Extending over a surface area of 38,959 m2, it is dedicated to the practice of traditional games and surrounded by a 1,028-meter cycle ring, which can also be used as a fitness trail, jogging track and roller skating track. The area is equipped with a children's playground, an artificial sports climbing gym, two fountains and numerous benches. Access is free, but in some periods of the year it may be partially limited to allow training and competitions of traditional local games such as rebatta, fiolet and tzan. In particular, from March 1 to May 31 and from September 1 to October 15, a part of the area and the related section of the cycle path are reserved for these activities. In the immediate vicinity there are bars, restaurants and a private sports center with a swimming pool and padel courts, both indoor and outdoor, with catering service. The entire area is connected to the Montfleury sports center in Aosta via a cycle/pedestrian walkway that crosses the Dora Baltea and is served by two convenient parking lots.

currently the railway line is interrupted but we managed to leave from Chatillon by bus loading the bikes towards Aosta, then take the cycle path along the Dora Baltea mostly downhill. we found some interrupted sections with diversions

The Mont Fallère Refuge, at 2,385 m, is located in the valley between Mont Fallère and Monte Rosso di Vertosan. It offers 50 beds in rooms with bathrooms, and has a restaurant with typical cuisine. Open in summer, it can be reached on foot or by mountain bike.

Good gravel path, you can do it with a MTB or Gravel bike

The regional capital is located in the middle of the valley of the same name. The city still has the layout of the old Roman castrum, and in the car-free centre several monuments recall the Roman period. Aosta was a lively religious centre in the Middle Ages. St. Anselm, the later Archbishop of Canterbury who died in 1109, was born here. Today Aosta is a busy tourist hub at the crossroads of the roads to the Great St. Bernard Pass and Switzerland.

The Torre del Lebbroso dates back to the 13th century and stands on the western corner of the old Roman city walls of Augusta Praetoria. The tower was originally built on the foundations of an earlier Roman tower. The tower was once owned by the noble De Friour family. Later it was used as part of the Hospice de charité and served as a residence for a leper named Pietro Bernardo Guasco. The tower is also famous for the book “Le lépreux de la cité d’Aoste” (translated as “The Leper of the City of Aosta”), written by Xavier de Maistre. Today the Torre del Lebbroso belongs to the Regione Autonoma Valle d’Aosta and is used as an exhibition space.