The best cycling routes around Jovençan

Arvier is located in a small basin in the central valley, surrounded by terraced vineyards and crossed by the Dora Baltea river. The village preserves traces of its medieval past, such as the Castello di La Mothe and the Romanesque bell tower, and is one of the access points to Valgrisenche, from where various ascents to more alpine environments begin.

Pila is a mountain resort located at about 1,800 meters above Aosta, known for both winter sports and summer activities. Its position makes it a privileged panoramic viewpoint: on clear days, the view opens up over a large part of the Aosta Valley Alpine arc, from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn to Monte Rosa.

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.

An open-air museum 💪😀

Except for the valley lift, all lifts were closed. With the remaining lifts and the space, they could create a nice bike park, but I think they probably make enough money from their ski tourists that they're not even considering a proper development for bikers.

Lots of slopes but few people, guaranteed fun

The Torre de la Plantà, located between Gressan and Jovençan, stands alone in the plain like an austere witness to the past. Probably built between the 11th and 12th centuries, its origins are still shrouded in mystery: some hypotheses even link it to the Roman period. The name derives from the De Plantata family, to whom the original construction is attributed, but over time the tower passed into the hands of other noble families, including the Bardonanche and the Vallaise, until it became private property in the 19th century. From an architectural point of view, it has a square plan and massive walls, built in local stone with a regular technique. The structure was divided into several floors, with elevated doors probably accessible via wooden galleries and removable stairs, typical of defensive towers. The slits, narrow on the outside and wider on the inside, highlight the attention to the observation and defense function. Traces of other surrounding buildings now disappeared suggest a small fortified complex. Today the tower is in ruins and not accessible to the public, but it retains an intact charm, accentuated by its isolated position among vineyards and fields.

Immersed in the greenery of the Favret meadows, the small church of Santa Maria Maddalena dates back to the 12th century, when it was an autonomous parish dependent on the Chapter of the Cathedral of Aosta. Its apse and bell tower, characterized by an evocative "spur" that supports the structure, preserve intact the imposing sobriety of the primordial Romanesque. Between 1460 and 1463 the church experienced a second artistic splendor: the nave was enlarged and both the external part (facade) and the interior were decorated with a rich cycle of frescoes by Giacomino da Ivrea and his itinerant workshop. The façade features lively scenes: the Mass of Saint Gregory with the blood of Christ filling the chalice; Saint George facing the dragon; Saint Christopher ferrying the Baby Jesus; and, crowning all, Saint Martha, Saint Mary Magdalene and Saint Lazarus. Inside, in the apse, a majestic Christ Pantocrator is revealed surrounded by the symbols of the four evangelists, while on the side walls the twelve Apostles can be distinguished. Under the arch that divides the choir and the nave, fourteen panels tell the stories of Mary Magdalene. The works of the fifteenth century were commissioned by the noble De Villa (or La Tour de Villa), lords of Gressan, or by Giacomo dei Challant, lord of Aymavilles, whose family appears in the frescoed symbols. The building maintained the status of parish until 1786, when it was incorporated into Santo Stefano, thus becoming a simple chapel. In 1938, the church was the subject of passionate restoration: the paintings, covered with lime for centuries, were recovered and brought back to their ancient splendor.