The best cycling routes around Lillianes

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 village is situated on a natural terrace offering a panoramic view of the Lys valley. An e-bike charging station is available.

The parish church of San Rocco, consecrated in 1661 in the center of Lillianes, is an example of 17th-century Alpine religious architecture built on a previous 15th-century chapel. The three-nave building with Baroque carved wooden altars is distinguished by its imposing stone bell tower that dominates the village near the Lys stream. The structure was the heart of community life, historically linked to the chestnut economy and livestock farming, serving as the main gathering point for the valley's population. A significant historical detail is the presence, in the immediate vicinity of the entrance, of a specific stone niche called Crierel. From this elevated position, the town crier or local authorities "shouted" resolutions, decrees, and sentences to the population gathered in the churchyard, ensuring the dissemination of rules in an era of low literacy. This custom transformed the area in front of the church into an operational public forum, where civil power officially manifested itself to manage the daily life of the village.

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.

Be careful, the old road that leads to Bard is blocked by a landslide, but they made a variant with a climb of about 100m with a gradient that reaches 30% (at least the Garmin reported this)

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

The Geosito archeologico di Bard, also known as Archéoparc, is an intriguing archaeological site in the Valle d’Aosta, located near the charming town of Bard