Fort Bard – Arch and Roman road of Donnas loop from Arnad

Hiking trails & Routes

Italy

Aosta Valley

Arnad

Fort Bard – Arch and Roman road of Donnas loop from Arnad

Hard

4.5

(4)

hikers

Fort Bard – Arch and Roman road of Donnas loop from Arnad

05:49

20.9km

390m

Hiking

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: September 23, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

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5.70 km

Church of San Martino

Highlight • Religious Site

Church has a unique style, all made of stone in Roman style, both inside and outside

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7.48 km

The Echallod bridge is a stone footbridge, one of the most picturesque in the Aosta Valley.

Restored several times over the centuries, it connects the hamlets of Echallod superiore and inferiore to the other villages of the municipality of Arnad, located on the left bank of the Dora Baltea river.

The symmetrical donkey-back structure rests on three arches supported by robust buttresses. On the right abutment, there is a small shrine to protect travellers.
You cross it on foot by following the Cammino Balteo hiking trail (stage 22), which here overlaps with the Via Francigena route.

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11.0 km

Vista sul forte di Bard

Viewpoint

11.8 km

Maison Nicole

Highlight • Historical Site

Since the 14th century, the building was known as the residence of the nobles of Jardanis. In the 18th century, the building was renovated by the then owners, Nicoles. The plasterwork on the facade still shows the marks of projectiles from the 19th century, when the city gate here, known as the Courlét, was demolished on Napoleon's orders.

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12.0 km

Fort Bard

Highlight • Castle

Bard is a pretty medieval village located at the entrance to the Aosta Valley. The Fort dominates the valley floor.

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12.1 km

Church of Saint Mary of the Assumption

Highlight • Religious Site

The Church of Santa Maria Assunta, equipped with a spectacular bell tower dating back to the thirteenth century, is located in the central square, next to the town hall and near the entrance to the fortress, the main attraction of Bard.
Source: visititaly.eu/it/luoghi-e-itinerari/cosa-vedere-a-bard-borgo-in-valle-aosta

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13.6 km

Arch and Roman road of Donnas

Highlight • Historical Site

The former Roman road led through the Aosta Valley and past Donnas. This road connected Rome with the Rhône Valley. Remains of this Roman road can still be seen today on the outskirts of Donnas.
Over a length of over 100 m, you can still see the tracks of the carts that have truly carved furrows into the rock.
On the rock wall you can see a column-like shape. These are the remains of a milestone. The carved Roman numerals XXXVI indicate the distance. The distance from Donnas to Aosta was previously given as 36 miles.

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15.2 km

The historic Via Vittorio Emanuelle II

Highlight (Segment) • Historical Site

Via Vittorio Emanuelle II is the village street of Bard and leads up to the fortress and the village church of Santa Maria Assunta. Here you turn right towards the fortress. Along the narrow village street there are numerous historic buildings and old drinking fountains, all of which still provide water today.
There are corresponding information signs on the numerous old buildings along the village street. Restaurants and small shops are also located along the street. All in all, a village street worth seeing, clean and above all historic and a nice entrance to the fortress.

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15.7 km

View of Fort Bard from the bridge

Highlight • Viewpoint

The origin of this bridge is uncertain, but it was most likely built as early as Roman times. The first documents in which this bridge is mentioned, however, date from the second half of the 13th century. From 1272, the bridge is called the Hôhne Bridge or Bard Bridge in Latin and then in Old French.

Apart from its history, the bridge is a beautiful photo point of Fort Bard.

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20.9 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types