Valtournenche

Valtournanche is a resort located at the foot of the Matterhorn, "the most beautiful mountain in the world."Because the residents' attachment to their territory is so strong, they definitely take care of their city, from alpine pastures to meadows to typical wood and stone pastures.The Matterhorn is certainly a magnificent peak, and the locals continue to appreciate it and offer their guests an unforgettable welcome.

What to see

• Parish Church of St. Anthony.Its bell tower is clearly visible from most of the town's hamlets, as it certainly stands out.The building dates back to the 15th century and was rebuilt in the 19th century.
• Maison de l’alpage. Housed in a large 17th-century building that also houses the Tourist Office, this museum spreads knowledge about traditional mountain pasture life and its products by organizing tours and activities.

Nature and sports

Returning to the square, looking at the rocks in front of the city council in the summer you can see climbers having fun on the via ferrata.Climbing as well as trekking: a little further than the via ferrata, for example, there is a nice flat walk that is also suitable for children.Or you can continue the journey to Lake Chinyana and to the Perucca-Wuillermoz mountain hut.Valtournanche is literally full of hikes, regardless of difficulty level.

Looking towards the raging Marmore stream, which a little further on breaks through the famous long and deep gorge of Gouffre-de-Buisseray, you can easily see the ski facility. This is the Valtournanche-Salette cable car, which also operates in summer for tourists and provides access to the ski resort.
After leaving the square, in a couple of hours you can reach Schenail, a tiny village without transport, from which you have a wonderful view of the Matterhorn and which is surrounded by dense forests, rhododendrons and flowering pastures: like in a fairy tale!

The village of Sheneil can be reached by car from the village of Barmaz in about 20 minutes on foot or by an inclined lift.A small lake is always visible from the square: this is Lake Maën, a beautiful corner of nature and silence both in summer and in winter.Once in Valtournanche, fans of winter sports can have fun at the extensive ski resort.Its 53 km of ski slopes of various difficulty levels have become 200 thanks to the connection with the slopes of Brai Cervinia and Zermatt in Switzerland.

You can also practice cross-country skiing on the Champlev plateau. There are three rings of varying difficulty and a total of 7 km of slopes, as well as a variety of snowshoe routes.Finally, the multifunctional sports center and the Associazione Oasi sports center in Pecu-Maen are open all year round.