Aosta Valley

"Valle d'Aosta" redirects here. For the wine region, see Valle d'Aosta DOC. For the town in Georgia (U.S. state), see Valdosta, Georgia.
Aosta Valley
Valle d'Aosta
Vallée d'Aoste
Autonomous region of Italy


Coat of arms
Anthem: Montagnes Valdôtaines
Country Italy
Capital Aosta
  President Augusto Rollandin (UV)
  Total 3,263 km2 (1,260 sq mi)
Population (30-10-2012)
  Total 126,933
  Density 39/km2 (100/sq mi)
  Official languages[1] Italian, French
  Italian 95%
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
GDP/ Nominal €4.3[3] billion (2011)
GDP per capita €33,700[3] (2011)

The Aosta Valley (Italian: Valle d'Aosta [ˈvalle daˈɔsta] (official) or Val d'Aosta (usual); French: Vallée d'Aoste [vale daɔst][4]/[vale dɔst][5] (official) or Val d'Aoste (usual); Arpitan: Val d'Outa) is a mountainous semi-autonomous region in northwestern Italy. It is bordered by Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France to the west, Valais, Switzerland to the north and the region of Piedmont to the south and east.

Covering an area of 3,263 km2 (1,260 sq mi) and with a population of about 128,000 it is the smallest, least populous, and least densely populated region of Italy. It is the only Italian region that has no provinces (the province of Aosta was dissolved in 1945).[6] Provincial administrative functions are provided by the regional government. The region is divided into 74 comuni (communes).

Italian and French are the official languages,[1] though much of the native population also speak Valdôtain, a dialect of Arpitan (Franco-Provençal), as their home language; about half of the population can speak all three languages.[7]

The regional capital is Aosta.


The Aosta Valley is an Alpine valley which with its tributary valleys includes the Italian slopes of Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa, Gran Paradiso and the Matterhorn; its highest peak is Mont Blanc.

A view of refuge Albert Deffeyes, La Thuile


The region is very cold in the winter, especially when compared with other places in the Western Alps.

View of Aosta

The valleys that lie around 1300 metres high, depending on the geomorphology, develop a Humid continental climate (Dfb), although with mild winter temperatures for this kind of climate, similar to the temperatures of the Norwegian fjords. Winter temperatures average around −3 °C (27 °F) or −4 °C (25 °F), and summers between 13 °C (55 °F) and 15 °C (59 °F). The snow season starts in November and lasts until March. Mist is common during the morning from April until October. The main communities in this area are Gressoney-Saint-Jean (averages of −4.8 °C (23.4 °F) in January and 13.8 °C (56.8 °F) in July), Brusson and Gressoney-La-Trinité.

The Astronomical Observatory of the Aosta Valley.[8]

The valleys above 1600 metres usually have a Cold Continental Climate (Dfc). In this climate the snow season is very long, as long as 8 or 9 months at the highest points. During the summer, mist occurs almost every day. These areas are the wettest in the western Alps. Temperatures are low, between −7 °C (19 °F) and −3 °C (27 °F) in January, and in July between 10 °C (50 °F) and 13 °C (55 °F). In this area is the town of Rhêmes-Notre-Dame.,[9] which may be the coldest town in the Western Alps and where the winter average temperature is around −7 °C (19 °F).

Areas between 2000 metres and 3500 metres usually have a Tundra Climate (ET), where every month has an average temperature below 10 °C (50 °F). This climate may be a kind of more severe Cold Oceanic Climate, with a low summer average but mild winters, sometimes above −3 °C (27 °F), especially near lakes, or a more severe Cold Continental Climate, with a very low winter average. Temperature averages in Pian Rosà, at 3400 metres high, are −11.6 °C (11.1 °F) in January and 1.4 °C (34.5 °F) in July. It is the coldest place in Italy where the climate is verifiable.[10]

In the past, above 3500 metres, all months were having an average temperature below freezing, with a Perpetual Frost Climate (EF). In recent years though there was a rise in temperatures. See as an example the data for Pian Rosà.[10]


The Fénis Castle, 13th century

The first inhabitants of the Aosta Valley were Celts and Ligures, whose language heritage remains in some local placenames. Rome conquered the region from the local Salassi around 25 BC and founded Augusta Prætoria Salassorum (modern-day Aosta) to secure the strategic mountain passes, and they went on to build bridges and roads through the mountains. Thus, the name Valle d'Aosta literally means "Valley of Augustus".[11]

In 1031–1032 Humbert I of Savoy, the founder of the House of Savoy, received the title Count of Aosta from Emperor Conrad II of the Franconian line and built himself a commanding fortification at Bard. Saint Anselm of Canterbury was born in Aosta in 1033 or 1034. The region was divided among strongly fortified castles, and in 1191 Thomas I of Savoy found it necessary to grant to the communes a Charte des franchises ("Charter of Liberties") that preserved autonomy—rights that were fiercely defended until 1770, when they were revoked in order to tie Aosta more closely to Piedmont, but which were again demanded during post-Napoleonic times. In the mid-13th century Emperor Frederick II made the County of Aosta a duchy (see Duke of Aosta), and its arms charged with a lion rampant were carried in the Savoy arms until the reunification of Italy in 1870.[12]

The region remained part of Savoy lands, with the exceptions of French occupations from 1539 to 1563, later in 1691, then between 1704 and 1706. As part of the Kingdom of Sardinia it joined the new Kingdom of Italy in 1861. It was also ruled by the First French Empire between 1800 and 1814. During French rule, it was part of Aoste arrondissement in Doire department.[13]

Under Mussolini, a forced programme of Italianization, including the translation of all toponyms into Italian and population transfers of Italian-speaking workers from the rest of Italy into Aosta, fostered movements towards separatism. Many Valdostans chose to emigrate to France and Switzerland (where Valdostan communities are still present).

The region gained special autonomous status after the end of World War Two; the province of Aosta ceased to exist in 1945.[6]

Government and politics


The Aosta Valley remained agricultural and pastoral until the construction of hydroelectric dams brought metalworking industry to the region.

Agriculture has become increasingly specialised, the Region retaining only a small output of cereals, potatoes and fruit. Wines of high quality are produced in small quantities. All are entitled to the Denominazione di origine controllata (Valle d'Aosta DOC / Vallée d'Aoste DOC) label. Animal feed crops supply the region's dairy herds, some 40000 head in 2000, which are pastured in the high Alps during the summer period. The region's cheeses are renowned throughout Italy. Virtually no other form of stock rearing is practised.


Historical population
1861 81,884    
1871 81,260−0.8%
1881 85,007+4.6%
1901 83,529−1.7%
1911 80,680−3.4%
1921 82,769+2.6%
1931 83,479+0.9%
1936 83,455−0.0%
1951 94,140+12.8%
1961 100,959+7.2%
1971 109,150+8.1%
1981 112,353+2.9%
1991 115,938+3.2%
2001 119,548+3.1%
2011 128,000+7.1%
Source: ISTAT 2001

The population density of Aosta Valley is by far the lowest of the Italian regions. In 2008, 38.9 inhabitants per km2 were registered in the region, whereas the average national figure was 198.8, though the region has extensive uninhabitable areas of mountain and glacier, with a substantial part of the population living in the central valley. Migration from tributary valleys has now been stemmed by generous regional support for agriculture and tourist development.

The population is growing slowly but steadily. Negative population growth since 1976 has been more than offset by immigration. The region has one of Italy's lowest birth rates, with a rising average age. This, too, is partly compensated by immigration, since most immigrants arriving in the region are younger people working in the tourist industry. Between 1991 and 2001, the population of Aosta Valley grew by 3.1%, which is the highest growth among the Italian regions. With a negative natural population growth, this is due exclusively to positive net migration.[2] Between 2001 and 2011, the population of Aosta Valley grew by a further 7.07%. As of 2006, the Italian National Institute of Statistics ISTAT estimated that 4,976 foreign-born immigrants live in Aosta Valley, equal to 4.0% of the total regional population.

The Valdôtain population and their language dialects have been the subject of some sociological research.[14]



The cuisine of Aosta Valley is characterized by simplicity and revolves around "robust" ingredients such as potatoes, polenta; cheese and meat; and rye bread. Many of the dishes involve Fontina,[15] a cheese with PDO status, made from cow's milk that originates from the valley. It is found in dishes such as the soup à la vâpeuleunèntse[16] (Valpelline Soup). Other cheeses made in the region are Toma[17] and Seras. Fromadzo (Valdôtain for cheese) has been produced locally since the 15th century and also has PDO status.[18]

Regional specialities, besides Fontina, are Motzetta (dried chamois meat, prepared like prosciutto), Vallée d'Aoste Lard d'Arnad[19] (a cured and brined fatback product with PDO designation), Vallée d’Aoste Jambon de Bosses[20] (a kind of ham, likewise with PDO designation), and a black bread.

Notable dishes include Carbonnade, consisting of salt-cured beef cooked with onions and red wine served with polenta; breaded veal cutlets called costolette; teuteuns,[21] salt-cured cow's udder that is cooked and sliced; and steak à la valdôtaine,[22] a steak with croûtons, ham and melted cheese.

Wine growing



The Aosta Valley was the first government authority to adopt Modern French as the official language in 1536, three years before France itself.[24] Italian and French are nowadays the region's official languages[1] and are used for the regional government's acts and laws, though Italian is much more widely spoken in everyday life, and French is mostly spoken in cultural life. School education is delivered equally in both Italian and French[1] so that everyone who went to school in Aosta Valley can speak French to at least a medium-high level.[25]

The regional language is a dialect of Franco-Provençal called Valdotain (locally, patois). It is spoken as native tongue and as second language by 68,000 residents, about 58% of the population, according to a poll taken by the Fondation Émile Chanoux in 2002. The residents of the villages of Gressoney-Saint-Jean, Gressoney-La-Trinité and Issime, in the Lys Valley, speak two dialects of Walser German origin called Titsch and Töitschu respectively.[25]

Use of languages by the population (2001)[7]
Aostan French
Valdôtain (Franco-Provençal)
All three languages


There are a number of medieval castles and fortified houses in the Aosta Valley, including Châtel-Argent and Tour de Châtelard.[26]


See also


  1. 1 2 3 4 "Statut Special Pour La Vallee D'Aoste" (in French). Conseil de la Vallée d'Aosta. 2001. Retrieved 2015-10-25.
  2. 1 2 "Statistiche demografiche ISTAT". Retrieved 2010-04-22.
  3. 1 2 "Regional GDP GDP per capita in the EU in 2011: seven capital regions among the ten most prosperous" (PDF). European Commission - Press Release Database. 2014. Retrieved 2015-10-23. External link in |publisher= (help)
  4. Standard French pronunciation.
  5. Aostan French pronunciation - Jean-Marie Pierret, Phonétique historique du français et notions de phonétique générale, Peeters, Louvain-la-Neuve, 1994, p.|104.
  6. 1 2 Italian Parliament - VI Commission document 2000-07-18 (in Italian)
  7. 1 2 Decime, R.; Vernetto, G., eds. (2009). Profil de la politique linguistique de la Vallée d’Aoste (in French). Le Château. p. 20.
  8. "ESO Astronomy Camp for Secondary School Students". ESO Announcement. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  9. "Guida alla consultazione del bollettino meteorologico della Regione Autonoma Valle d'Aosta con elementi di meteorologia alpina" (in Italian). Valle d'Aosta Official Website.
  10. 1 2 "Pian Rosa Climate Charts". 2010. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
  11. Poling, Dean (October 12, 2009). "What does Valdosta mean?". Valdosta Daily Times. Retrieved 2013-02-21.
  12. François Velde (2000). "Heraldry in the House of Savoia". Heraldica. Retrieved 2010-04-22.
  13. Almanach Impérial an bissextil MDCCCXII, pp. 392–393, accessed in Gallica 18 February 2015 (French)
  14. Saint-Blancat, Chantal (1984). "The Effect of Minority Group Vitality upon Its Sociopsychological Behaviour and Strategies". Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development. 5 (6): 511–16. doi:10.1080/01434632.1984.9994177.
    Cooper, Danielle Chavy (1987). "Voices from the Alps: Literature in Val d'Aoste Today". World Literature Today. 61 (1): 24–7. doi:10.2307/40142443. JSTOR 40142443.
  15. "Fontina". Valle D'Aosta Official Tourism Website. 2014. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
  16. "Seupa à la Vapelenentse (Valpelline Soup)". Valle D'Aosta Official Tourism Website. 2014. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
  17. "Gressoney toma cheese". Valle D'Aosta Official Tourism Website. 2014. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
  18. "Fromadzo cheese". Valle D'Aosta Official Tourism Website. 2014. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
  19. "Valleé d'Aoste Lard d'Arnad". Valle D'Aosta Official Tourism Website. 2014. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
  20. "Vallée d'Aoste Jambon de Bosses". Valle D'Aosta Official Tourism Website. 2014. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
  21. "The Teuteun". Valle D'Aosta Official Tourism Website. 2014. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
  22. "Steak Valdaostan style" (in Italian). Consorzio Produttori e Tutela Della Fontina DOP. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
  23. "D.O.C. Wine". Valle D'Aosta Official Tourism Website. 2014. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
  24. Caniggia, Mauro; Poggianti, Luca (2012-10-25). "La Vallée d'Aoste: enclave francophone au sud-est du Mont Blanc" (in French). Zigzag magazine. Retrieved 2013-11-28.
  25. 1 2 AA. VV. "Une Vallée d'Aoste bilingue dans une Europe plurilingue". in French and Italian. Aoste: Fondation Emile Chanoux. Retrieved 2015-04-07.
  26. Massetti, E. "Aosta Valley Castles" accessed on 15 March 2014.


  • Cerutti, Augusta Vittoria. "Le Pays de la Doire et son peuple". Quart: éditeur Musumeci. 
  • Colliard, Lin (1976). "La culture valdôtaine au cours des siècles". Aoste. 
  • Henry, Joseph-Marie (1967). "Histoire de la Vallée d'Aoste". Aoste: Imprimerie Marguerettaz. 
  • Janin, Bernard (1976). "Le Val d'Aoste. Tradition et renouveau". Quart: éditeur Musumeci. 
  • Riccarand, Elio. "Storia della Valle d'Aosta contemporanea (1919-1945)". Aoste: Stylos Aoste. 

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Aosta Valley.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aosta Valley.