The best traffic-free bike rides around Fontainemore

The Forte di Bard seen from the bridge over the Dora Baltea river offers one of the most iconic and photographed views in the Aosta Valley. This spectacular perspective captures the imposing, craggy fortress that dominates the village below and the river waters.

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.

The Serra d'Ivrea allows us, the inhabitants of the plain, to enjoy climbs and descents and woods, both on road bikes and mountain bikes. A truly enchanting place

A green lung with benches in the middle of a hill

Beautiful bridge connecting Hone to Bard. Magnificent view of the fort.

Caos Pub is a great choice for a relaxing break after a bike ride, where you can enjoy a coffee or an aperitif in a welcoming environment. Perfect for a moment of recovery, the place offers simple and tasty dishes, along with a selection of beers. Its informal atmosphere makes it ideal for those looking for a place to relax with friends after a bike ride. More info on: https://www.facebook.com/CaosPub/?locale=it_IT

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.

The Roman road of the Gauls, built to connect Rome with the Rhone Valley, has in the Donnas section one of its most characteristic and spectacular points, carved into the living rock for a length of 221 meters. At a place where in antiquity the rocky promontory plunged into the waters of the Dora, the Romans launched a real challenge to nature by carving a living rock on which they could draw perfectly vertical walls and in whose womb they carved the roadbed. Exciting and unusual, here the Via delle Gallie gives its best by offering the spectacle of a vaulted passage 4 meters thick, 4 meters high and almost 3 meters wide which eloquently illustrates the amount of rock removed and shows all the refinement of a road engineering that has never been reached again until viaducts and modern tunnels. In the Middle Ages it served as the gate of the village, which was closed at night; the other defenses were natural: on one side the mountain and on the other the river. A fundamental road, which has been used a lot over the centuries, as evidenced by the deep ruts left by the passage of carts and the wear of the walking surface which has been patched and repaired at various points over time. A little further on, on the right, we recognize the excellent profile of a milestone, also spared in the rocky bank, which informs us of the distance to Augusta Praetoria (the current city of Aosta): XXXVI miles (about 54 km).