Valsavarenche

Introduction

This is the name given to the entire valley located between the Cogne and Rhêmes valleys; the municipality (chief town Dégioz) has about 200 inhabitants.

Description

It is the narrowest and most recessed valley in the region, which results in poor sunshine in the valley floor: about 4 hours near the winter solstice and 8 hours in summer. The steep mountain slopes so close together have always caused landslides and avalanches, forcing the residents to carefully study the location of villages. What made the valley famous was King Victor Emmanuel II, a passionate hunter, who from 1850 onwards elected this territory as his personal reserve and equipped it at high altitude with a network of mule tracks that are still largely passable today. A refuge on the Gran Paradiso peak (the only 4000 m peak entirely on Italian territory) is currently dedicated to the Hunter King.
 The ancient agricultural economy, already poor due to the climatic conditions, is now largely supplanted by that linked to tourism, which has fortunately never reached 'mass' characteristics. Thanks to the presence of the Gran Paradiso National Park, which has supplanted the royal reserve for almost a century, a considerable number of people visit this valley every year, especially in the summer. In the winter, it is cross-country skiers who rule, although a couple of ski lifts still guarantee the thrill of the descent for children and beginners.

Information

Area: 139.03 sq km
Altitude: 1540m
Maximum elevation: Gran Paradiso (4061m)
 Number of inhabitants: 176
Name in dialect: Vassavarentse
 Inhabitant name:Valsavareins - Vassavaren, Vassavarentse
Patron Saint:  Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel (16 July)
Internet site: www.comune.valsavarenche.ao.en
Webcam:
Bordering municipalities: Aymavilles, Ceresole Reale, Cogne, Introd, Noasca, Rhêmes-Notre-Dame, Rhêmes-Saint-Georges, Villeneuve
 Villages and hamlets: Bien, Bois-de-Clin, Créton, Dégioz, Eau Rousse, Fenille, Les Toules, Maisonnasse, Molère, Nex, Payel, Pont, Rovenaud, Tignet, Toulaplana, Vers-le-Bois
Alps: Djouan