Balmas Chapel

Introduction

The Chapel of San Rocco at Balmas, Montjovet, is a small jewel set in the picturesque landscape of the Valle d'Aosta, along an ancient Roman route that links the region's millennial history. Balmas, whose name derives from the pre-Latin word 'balma' meaning 'shelter under a rock,' lies at the foot of an imposing rock face, which acts as a natural protection for the small village. Its overhanging position offers a privileged view of the Montjovet narrows, where architectural and infrastructural vestiges from different eras intertwine: from the consular road of the Gauls to the medieval village, up to the 18th century royal road and the modern railway and motorway infrastructure.

Description

The chapel, dedicated to Saint Roch, is located on the edge of the village, surrounded by an environment that breathes history. Originally a place of worship and prayer for the local community, every 25 March it hosted a long procession in honour of the patron saints of the countryside and vineyards, emphasising the importance of the link between spirituality and rural life.
The chapel's architecture, simple and austere, blends harmoniously with the surrounding landscape. The structure retains elements typical of Alpine architecture, with details that tell of the devotional practices of the local population. Around the village, traces of medieval walls and an old communal oven, now closed, can still be seen, representing a small open-air museum of daily life in the past.
Walking through the narrow, parallel lanes of the village, one encounters ancient inscriptions, monograms of Christ (I.H.S.), crosses and dates engraved on beams and lintels, which tell of the life and traditions of the inhabitants of the past. The oldest buildings, embedded directly in the rock, demonstrate man's extraordinary ability to adapt to the mountainous terrain.
Visiting the chapel and the village of Balmas is not only an opportunity to admire a perfectly preserved glimpse of history, but also to immerse oneself in an atmosphere that speaks of devotion, hard work and deep respect for nature and its resources. This place, where time seems to have stood still, invites one to reflect on the close connection between man and the environment, in a balance that has survived through the centuries.