We have recently introduced a new section to our online magazine to help you discover听pleasant听walking and trekking itineraries to explore the natural beauties of Italy.听It seems only fair to begin our adventure with the听dama bianca, the white lady, of the Alps: the Mont Blanc.听We will start听with a series of easy-to-walk itineraries, perfect if you are vacationing with children, or if you are not too fond of long high altitude walks: in the end, you do not need to be a pro climber or in perfect shape to be able to enjoy the Alps. If you are a trekking enthusiast, do not worry: more itineraries for you will be soon presented here, so stay tuned!
It is time to start: yet, 听we should get听acquainted with her majesty听the Mont Blanc before exploring her most incredible corners.
The Highest of Them All: the Mont Blanc
罢丑别听Monte Bianco,听or Mont Blanc as it is known to Anglophones, is the highest peak of Europe. It reaches 4.810,45 metres (that is听about 15.782 ft) and it is part of the Western Alps. Specifically, the Mont Blanc belongs to the听Alpi Graie, which run from the听Moncenisio听to the听Col Ferret.听This may confound you a little bit: yes, the Alps are a single mountain chain, yet, because of their geological characteristics,听蹿补耻苍补听补苍诲听蹿濒辞谤补听and geographical position, they are divided into sections, each of them with a specific name: Liguri, Marittime, Cozie, Graie, Pennine, Lepontine, Retiche, Prealpi Lombarde, Noriche, Pusteresi, Dolomitiche, Carniche, Giulie and the Prealpi Trivenete.听
Let us go back to the Mont Blanc, though: its peaks are shared between Italy and France, specifically between the Valleys of听痴别苍测听补苍诲听贵别谤谤别迟听in Italy, and that of听础谤惫别听in the French 厂补惫鈥媜颈别.听The Mont Blanc is not one, single mountain, but rather a听尘补蝉蝉颈蹿,听that is, a compound of several peaks, that covers an overall area of 645 km2. From a geological point of view, the Mont Blanc is pure granite, except for some peripheral areas of more recent formation. Its听French and its听Italian sides differ greatly in their look and feel, the French sloping gently down towards the valley, the Italian presenting a more rugged, harsher descent. Typical is the pointy, choppy conformation of its ridges, caused by the continuous action of听erosive agents throughout the millennia.
On the basis of its geo-physical conformation, the massif can be divided in three areas: the first, comprised between the valleys and a听height of 2400 metres听(about 7.874 ft), is characterized by its smoothness, caused by the eroding听action of quaternary听glaciers. Rugged, pointed crests are found between 2400 and 3600 metres (7.874 and 11.811 ft). These are听overshadowed only by the听majestic, breathtaking pyramid of the actual Mont Blanc, whose round peaks are perennially covered in snow. This is, by the way, where the Mont Blanc (which translate as White Mountain, in case you did not know it!) takes its name.
Ice and snow are, in fact, what makes the Mont Blanc such an incredible mountain: there is something that tastes and smells of eternity in the crystal blue of glaciers and the diamond sparkle of snow. This much, is undeniably true. It is, however, the French side to host the largest glaciers, which reach an astonishing overall area of 160 km2.听La Mer de Gl芒ce (the sea of ice), with its 52,3听km2,听听is certainly the best known.
On the Italian side, the main glaciers are the听惭颈补驳别听(8 km2) and the听叠谤别苍惫补听(7 km2). joining Courmayeur to the听Aiguille du Midi听(3843 mt, 12.608 ft) has been in fonction since 1962. On the French side, a mountain train service joins Chamonix to the base of听La Mer de Gl芒ce.
A train ride to La Mer de Gl芒ce
Mont Blanc: Itineraries for All
The Pertud-Freney Ring
This is听the longest of the three itineraries proposed here,听running for about 6 km and a half (about 4听miles) through beautiful woods. The path is large and well kept, even through its few rocky sections. There is听only one, less polished part of it, 听just after the听bosco del Peuterey, but walking it is usually not 听a problem.
How to Reach the Area
From the Courmayeur roundabout on the听Statale 26, drive in the听Traforo del Monte Bianco听direction, then follow the indications to the听Val Veny.听Drive past the听Santuario di N么tre Dame de la Gu茅rison听and, once you reached the听Plan Veny,听you will notice the听Hotel Purtud, along the Dora river. You can park your car by the bridge nearby and commence your first, Mont Blanc adventure.
The Itinerary
Cross the bridge on the听Dora听and follow the signs for the听La Sorgente听camping site. Take the left at the crossroad just before听it, and enter the beautiful听笔别耻迟别谤别测听woods, known for their centennial trees (larches in particular). Keep walking, following the signs for the听听(you are now on the Alpine path number 19). Keep on walking until you听exit the woods and pass the crossroad to the听rifugio:听you will soon reach a beautiful picnic area at about 4 km (2,5 miles) from the bridge where your walk has begun. The area is perfectly equipped for all your necessities with 85 tables, 22 cooking area, 5 water fountains and 6 toilets. If you do not feel like to cook, you can have a nice lunch and a hot chocolate or coffee at a nearby caf茅, the听Roger e Richard Pramotton. If you’re a side sleeper, do make sure to take with you!
After your lunch, you can close up this round-shaped itinerary by following the newly constructed cycling path along the听Dora听river, or turn back and walk the same road听you followed on your way up.
The Praz-Sec Double Ring
The path is simple to follow, smooth and free of difficulties. For this reason is perfect for a family walk with kids and grandparents. The full itinerary is about 4,5 km (just short of听3 miles) and it should not take more than a couple of hours to complete. The area is full of small alpine streams and the soil can get quite soggy: be careful while you walk so!
How to Reach the Area
Drive to the Courmayeur roundabout on the听Statale 26 and continue driving towards France. Reach La Palud and take the road to the听Val 贵别谤谤别迟听until you get to听Praz Sec,听about 5 km after (3 miles). The parking lot is located beside the river Dora.
The Itinerary
Follow the path for about 70 metres (230 ft), and you will encounter a bridge. Cross it, turn immediately left and cross a second one. You will get to a crossroad: take the right and follow the signs to Lavachey,听a quaint village you will reach after walking for about 1 mile. If you wish, you can stop here for your lunch or to get some refreshments: there are two nice restaurants in town, the听听and the Ristorante Chalet Mont Dolent.听Both offer typical Valdostana cuisine, fantastic mountain food equal to none! If you wish, you can stay overnight in听Lavachey,听too, of course, and enjoy some vin br没l茅 while admiring the moon-shining, white and blue coat of the听dama bianca.听As the itinerary is pretty short, you may like to stop in听Lavachey听on your way back, once you have completed the full, double ring walk.
The itinerary continues from听Lavachey on the听main road, following which you will soon reach a picnic area. From here, you can start the second leg (or ring, in fact) of this simple, yet beautiful walk. Cross the bridge you will find on the main road, take the right and keep on walking to听Freboudze, a small village, and walk by it. At this stage, you will no longer be on the main road, but rather on a semi private path that runs among farmland: do not worry though, it is perfectly legal to use it! Keep on it until you reach a bridge, which will bring you once again on the main road. If you keep on it for about a mile, you will be back to Lavachey.听From here, you can reach departure point either by following the same route you took on your way up,听or follow a path that runs parallel to the main road instead, which will bring you also to Praz-Sec.
Tzapy, Val Sapin
This is a very easy itinerary to walk, as the path is clear of difficulties, large and very well kept. A very short itinerary, of just about 2,2 km (roughly 1,5 miles), it will take no more than 1 and a half hour to complete. It is a perfect idea for a short morning walk.
How to Reach the Area听
Once again, drive to the Courmayeur roundabout on the Statale 26听and get into town. You will reach a second roundabout, where you will take the road on the left, then follow the direction听to Entr猫ves听to the junction for听Villair.听Drive pass the village and, once you encounter a second junction to听L’Hermitage, keep driving straight, following the signs for the听Val Sapin.听You will soon reach a parking area, after driving for a short while on a dirt road.
The Itinerary
From the parking lot, take the semi private path that enters the woods up to the Villaggio Della听Trappa.听Walk for another 1,2 Km (just under a mile) and reach the old village of听Tsapy,听where the road ends. Here, you can just walk through the fields, enjoy the beautiful view on the听Col Sapin听and choose the perfect spot for a picnic.
If you are still up for some adventure after lunch, there is something special just for you: if you walk through the houses of听Tsapy听village and follow the signs for the听Trou des Romains听(literally, the hole of the Romans) you will reach the entry of an old Roman-times mine. It is only a ten minutes walk, but the path is pretty steep, so make sure you take that into account. The area is amazing, but it is better to be familiar with the mountains and their perils before attempting to discover it.
These first three itineraries are pretty easy on the feet and may be a good way to begin a long trekking holiday on the Mont Blanc. In the second part of our Mont Blanc: Itineraries for All 听series, we will take a look at longer itineraries leading to听rifugi, typical Alpine huts where you can spend the night and enjoy camaraderie, hearty food and a drop of grappa in听that heart-warming, friendly atmosphere you can find only听high up in the mountains. For the moment, however, you can start taking a look at a couple of handy links. Here is one to the village of , where you can find accomodation offers and a nice overview of local events. Courmayeur is a very handy place to stay, if you plan to spend your听Italian holidays exploring the Mont Blanc, as plenty of the itineraries starts from here. It is also a lovely village and a great skiing spot.
You may also like to discover something more about Valle d’Aosta,听the smallest of the Italian regions, and one of those enjoying a special, semi-independent status in name of its bilingualism (French-Italian), a bit like Trentino Alto-Adige and Friuli Venezia-Giulia.听Valle d’Aosta听is where the Italian part of the Mont Blanc is, and it is, indeed, a lovely place to explore. Its main city, ,听is a beautiful Alpine location, which finds its most ancient roots in Roman times. Do take time to visit it!
See Mont Blanc walking Itinereries part two here.
By Francesca Bezzone
