Chamois is a small mountain municipality in the Valle d'Aosta, located to the south-east in the valtournenche, at 1800 meters above sea level. Made up of five hamlets, it has around 100 inhabitants and is surrounded by woods and pastures, within a magnificent and uncontaminated nature in the shadow of the Cervino. Chamois is the only Italian town without asphalted roads. In fact, it cannot be reached by car but only on foot or by bicycle, through special paths, or by cable car or small airplanes thanks to the first "altiport" in Italy. It is a real corner of Paradise, an ideal place for those looking for quiet, relaxation and contact with the natural environment.
Virtuous municipality
Since 2006, Chamois has been listed among the “Pearls of the Alps”, because it is among the most virtuous mountain municipalities for environmental sustainability and gentle mobility. The village is characterized by wooden and stone houses that overlook a breathtaking view. The streets are narrow and the gardens are very well kept with flowers of a thousand colours.
The town hall, the small church, shops and accommodation facilities, the departure and arrival stations of the main ski lifts and the modern cableway for the transport of goods overlook the small square of Chamois. Furthermore, from here the paths branch off leading to the hamlets, each with its own stone fountain and well-kept houses, and to the hiking routes.
Experienced and less experienced hikers will find the right route to meet their needs here. The paths offer panoramic views so beautiful that they will leave anyone breathless. The village of Chamois can be reached on foot by following the Seingless trail, an old mule track with 93 tight bends, or through the flat path called “energy path”, which connects the country of The Magdeleines with the fraction of Corgnolaz. In both cases you have a unique experience that allows you to breathe pure air and enjoy spectacular landscapes. Furthermore, skirting the Ru des Novalles, which is a scenic medieval irrigation canal, you can see Chamois from above without taking the chairlift.
Cableway
The most convenient way to reach Chamois is cable car, that part from Bush, a hamlet of Antey-Saint-André, and arrives in the hamlet of Corgnolaz. The cable car was chosen by the inhabitants of Chamois in 1955, as a means of connecting the village with the valley floor. In addition to being a fast and direct means of transport, it avoided the construction of roads, therefore the emissions of harmful gases and traffic, giving citizens and tourists the opportunity to better contemplate the uncontaminated and boundless landscape. This allowed the small stone streets that run between the renovated houses to be left unchanged, preserving the charm of the area unchanged. The cable car is open every day of the year from 7am to 22.30pm, with runs every 30 minutes or 15 in case of large crowds.
During the summer the opening hours are extended on Saturdays and Sundays, during the August holiday period as well as in the event of events or demonstrations. On the evening of the end of the year, extraordinary races are also guaranteed to offer the possibility of attending the evocative traditional end-of-year torchlight procession. From the village you can go further up with the chairlifts and reach splendid places such as Lod lake.
Here there is a picnic area and refreshment points. Various excursions depart from this place to other villages, peaks and to the sanctuary of Clavalitè. In winter, however, you arrive there to reach the ski slopes. Chamois is an ideal destination in both summer and winter. Furthermore, it is a place suitable for children, their health, their safety, their freedom, their desire to play.
(Photo: Municipality of Chamois, Lake Lod, Facebook page)
