The best traffic-free bike rides around Bard

The stone bridge of Lillianes, completed in 1733, represents a hydraulic work of exceptional value for the Lys Valley, being the only historic bridge in the region structured on four round arches. The choice of this configuration, supported by robust piers equipped with cut-water spurs, was dictated by the need to span a section of the Lys stream particularly subject to violent floods. The roadway, made with a characteristic donkey-back shape in local stone, hosts a votive shrine dedicated to Saint Roch in the center, historically placed to protect travelers against pestilences. A relevant anecdote concerns the complex financing of the work: the local community, in order not to depend exclusively on central subsidies, chose to heavily tax themselves through the "taglioni" system, a form of mandatory contribution based on land ownership. It is said that the families of the village contributed not only with money but also by providing labor and materials, as the bridge was considered vital for the economy linked to the chestnut trade and transhumance. Another curious detail concerns its incredible resistance: during past floods, while other wooden or lighter structures were swept away, the bridge of Lillianes remained intact, consolidating its fame as an indestructible monument and a symbol of unity for the entire valley population.

The historic center of Perloz constitutes an architectural nucleus of considerable interest for understanding the social and political dynamics of the lower Aosta Valley. The heart of the settlement is represented by the Casaforte Vallaise, a 14th-century quadrangular structure that served as the administrative and judicial center for the noble family of the same name. The building preserves medieval construction elements, including the coat of arms carved on the portals, a testament to the exercise of jurisdictional power over the territory. A short distance away stands the parish church of San Salvatore, characterized by a facade entirely frescoed with a representation of the Last Judgment dating back to the 17th century, a work that served as a tool for religious instruction for the local population. The monumental route continues with the Museum of the Resistance, housed in premises that recall the historical memory of the "Brigata Lys". Here, documents and artifacts related to the events of 1944 are preserved, when the village became a fundamental operational center for the partisan formations in the area. Walking through the narrow stone streets, one also notices the presence of numerous stone fountains and community ovens, symbols of the collective management of rural resources. This stratification of different eras, from medieval feudalism to contemporary history, makes the center of Perloz a relevant technical and cultural stop for those crossing the slopes of the Lys valley.

very beautiful hill with slopes around 10%

a little shade under the greenery, always welcome

While traveling along the Via Francigena, on the stretch from Arnad to Bard, you cross this characteristic three-arched pedestrian bridge. On the left orogr. area with a bench for rest.

Emarese is located on a beautiful plateau that is sunny all year round. The village has beautiful stone houses, many of which have been renovated respecting the original materials and architecture. On the walls of some of these houses, reproductions of period photos have been hung, showing the faces of the people who lived in the village in a past that is becoming increasingly distant.

Nice area to stop, with a magnificent view of the valley and Mount Avic.

Built between the 11th and 12th centuries and located at 656 m above sea level, overlooking the gorge carved out by the Dora Baltea, on a rocky spur that in Roman times was called Mons Jovis and is now bordered by the “Mongiovetta”, a stretch of the Strada statale 26 of the Aosta Valley carved into the rock, the castle of Saint-Germain is among the most strategic castles in the region, together with the fort of Bard and the Châtel Argent: in the past, its position made it easy to control and defend the village at the foot of the rocky udder and the central valley of the Aosta Valley. Located halfway between the municipalities of Verrès and Saint-Vincent, in visual connection with the Tour Chenal, the castle of Saint-Germain can only be reached from the north side of the Montjovet promontory. Today in ruins, the castle is among the largest fortifications in the Aosta Valley and although it shows signs of various eras, it reveals the typical primitive Aosta Valley fortification scheme, that is, a medieval castle characterized by a high central tower, 19 m high and 6 m on each side, surrounded by an imposing wall, to which other structures and walls were added in later eras. A Renaissance-style architecture is grafted onto this pre-existing structure. To reach the entrance, from the north side, it was and still is necessary to follow a path that is easily defended from above.