Planet Cool

Planet Cool
Valle d'Aosta
Magazine: March 2008

The white pyramid of Rutor rises on this side; and on the other Monte Bianco marks the end of the high altitude slopes. In the middle, the La Thuile basin, historical passage through the western Alps by means of the Colle del Piccolo San Bernardo pass. Nowadays, a famous winter ski resort. This lovely mountain has to be discovered a bit at a time. The legacy of millenary traffic and the significance of the strategic defence position of this area can be seen even under the snow: forts plus Roman and Celtic vestiges. For many millenniums he small San Bernardo pass was of vital importance for trade between the Alpine slopes between the Valle d’Aosta and the Haute Tarentaise. Today, this is the zenith of the ski world. The Espace San Bernardo offers 74 slopes, served by 35 avant-garde ski lifts. A domaine skiable, as they say in this part of the world. Close by the village there is a selection of modern technical slopes, real ‘superblacks’ that have slopes with up to a 78% incline. On the level ground that then rises up to the Colle del Belvedere, spaces for cool juniors to enjoy the never-ending panoramic views.

Blissful flavours
La Thuile, on the other hand offers a ‘softer’ option. For example, pleasure walking with snowshoes in the woods. Routes to the Piccolo San Bernardo, to the Colle San Carlo and to the small, cosy ‘trendy’ places in every hamlet. Alongside this ‘white world’, La Thuile boasts an adequate infrastructure. But what counts most is that also here they are working to restore the authenticity of the valley identity. All this translates into innovative private ‘happenings’ in the hospitality sector: new locations are springing up, others are being revamped. A good example? Maison Carrel, on the Argillien Alp, is a new restaurant built in an old stable. À la Carte and funky food. On the hotel scene, a good choice is the Hotel Maison de Neige: a mountain hotel in a sombre but elegant ’40s style stone building.