Col Fenêtre, from the Machaby car park

Introduction

The Col Fenêtre connects the lower Lys valley (Perloz) with the central valley (Arnad). The route proposed here describes the ascent from Arnad, more precisely from near Machaby. A long walk with a fair difference in altitude on an excellent mule track, as far as La Cou, and then on a good path as far as the pass.

Description

We descend the road again until we come to a signpost indicating the path (4): here we turn left and take the wide paved mule track leading to Machaby. You will soon come across a "tzapelet" (an old oratory with frescoes used in processions) and continue past a stream on a wide wooden bridge. Continue along the paved road as you enter the chestnut forest (Castanea sativa). After a turn to the right, continue for a few minutes until reaching the Machaby Sanctuary (691m, 0h15'): the edifice, erected in the 15th century, is dedicated to Our Lady of the Snows with an annual festival every 5th August. Continue along the little road and in a few minutes you will reach, near another oratory, the locality known as "Pradouegne" (wide plateau under age-old chestnut trees) and the village of Machaby: a short visit to the village to observe the characteristic Dzerby is recommended. Back in Pradouegne, you can take advantage of an eno-gastronomic break at Cesarino Bonin's "Lo Dzerby" farmhouse and then continue the route towards the remains of Lieutenant Lucini's fortification (717m, 0h25'). Shortly after the shelter, you come to the fork to descend towards Bard: this path is currently closed by an order of the mayor of Arnad due to landslide risk. Proceed along the easy road that enters the forest again with a series of hairpin bends; every now and then there are panoramic views, especially of the not-so-distant Paretone, the cradle of Aosta Valley free-climbing. Slowly you reach a small clearing where there are the remains of other military fortifications on a plateau where the village of Arbeadze once stood (824m, 0h50'). Here we leave the small road and begin to proceed along the beautiful paved mule track. Along the ascent, we come across a couple of renovated cottages and then enter the chestnut forest again. After a few hairpin bends, we come to a fork in the road (899m, 1h05'): a faint trail branches off to the right of a hairpin bend to reach the base of the famous Pilastro Lomasti. Obviously, this deviation is overlooked and we proceed further into the forest, where the mule track makes an endless series of turns, always supported by impeccable dry stone walls. After a thousand metres, the chestnut tree gives way to beech (Fagus sylvatica) and birch and, shortly afterwards, the mule track gives way to a grassy road. You slowly approach the pass and the vegetation thins out until you reach the wide clearing before the village of La Cou. Pass a small wooden fountain and finally reach La Cou (1379m, 2h20'). Cross the small hamlet by taking the right-hand side of the hamlet, where a slightly downhill mule track is taken. At the end of the descent, enter the forest and begin a long stretch with a few ups and downs into the valley. Follow the relief of the slope with a succession of ravines while the path occasionally undergoes short ups and downs. After passing a short section of pathway set up on a stone and wooden footbridge with a railing, we leave the beech forest to cross a short grassy knoll. The path slightly steepens and bridges the slight difference in altitude up to the pass with short, non-demanding climbs. The pass is now in sight, we skirt a stone farmhouse and finally reach the Col Fenêtre (1673m, 3h00') where there is a large stone cairn. In June, just below the pass, the officinal peony blooms: a last little effort will certainly pay off.