Étroubles

Orange Flag of the Italian Touring Club

It is thesplendid alpinecontext of thevalley of the Gran San Bernardo that forms the backdrop to the medieval village ofÉtroubles, at an altitude of 1270 metres, crossed by theVia Francigena that linked the British islands to Rome, crossing Europe.

Strolling along the characteristic historic centre, between stone houses, cobbled alleys and fountains, you cannot fail to admire the sculptures and frescoes by contemporary Italian and foreign artists, which form a permanent open-air museum. Also worth a visit are the Parish Church (1815) with its cusped bell tower of the fifteenth century, the Dairy Museum, which demonstrates the various stages of milk processing to produce local cheeses with the tools of the nineteenth century, the small Bertin plant, where you can find documents, machinery and objects related to the production of hydroelectric energy, dating back to the early twentieth century.

The village preserves and enhances a number of ancient traditions, linked to events and sport. A distinctive carnival is held in Étroubles, in which the masqueraders wear typical embroidered costumes, with sequins, rosettes and mirrors still made in the municipality, commemorating the passage of Napoleon's troops, while in August there is the Veillà, an atmospheric and folkloric event with the inhabitants re-enacting costumes and trades of the past. Lastly, fiolet, the Valle d'Aosta version of the Lippa savoiarda, has been a popular game in Étroubles for a long time.

For a taste of typical high-quality products, reinterpreted with creativity, you can make a stop at Le gite aux Marroniers, a café-restaurant in the historical centre run by young chef Ilaria Pilone.