| View of the Matterhorn from Cime Bianche, above Cervinia/Breuil (Valtournenche) |  |
| From here, at an altitude of 2812 metres, the third cable car section takes you to Testa Grigia, at 3480 metres above sea level, on the edge of the Plateau Rosà glacier. The Matterhorn, often draped in clouds, stands on the horizon of a totally mineral landscape. Its triangular silhouette is of course different from that seen from Switzerland, but it is still easily recognisable. |
| Corgnolaz, heart of the car-free village of Buisson (Valtournenche) | |
| A stroll through the narrow streets of the village is a journey out of time. Chamois has preserved all its charm, with renovations done with great taste and respect. It is a dream destination if you want to escape the crowds and exhaust fumes, and go for beautiful walks in bucolic landscapes. |
| Lake Lod, above the village of Chamois (Valtournenche) | |
| Above Corgnolaz, this small fairytale lake allows you to go on beautiful hikes or to have a picnic or a barbecue in the areas provided for this purpose. There is no road leading to it and, to get there, it's a 40-minute climb on foot... or a quiet and spectacular journey with a long chairlift which leaves a few dozen metres from the arrival of the cable car. |
| Lake Maën, below the village of Valtournenche | |
| Going up the Valtournenche in the direction of Cervinia-Breuil, shortly before the village that gives its name to this counter-valley of the Valle d'Aosta, you pass by the lake of Maën, where it is possible to have a picnic, take a meditative break or stretch your legs along a shaded path parallel to the road. |
| The alpine garden of Mont Fréty, above Courmayeur | |
| We are here at the mid-station of the Skyway Monte Bianco, the spectacular cable car that connects Entrèves, above Courmayeur, to Punta Helbronner, east of Mont Blanc. On this day the top of Europe was overcast, but the beautiful Saussurea Alpine Botanical Garden was sunny and full of flowers. |
| Plan Maison, above Cervinia/Breuil (Valtournenche) | |
| From Cervinia-Breuil, a cable car and gondolas climb to Plan Maison, at an altitude of 2,561 m, from where the second section of the cable car leaves for Cime Laghi Bianchi, the last stop before Testa Grigia and the Plateau Rosà glacier, Europe's largest summer ski area. |
| Helbronner Peak, top station of the Skyway Monte Bianco cable car | |
| Mont Blanc, unfortunately, is covered in clouds on this day, but the view is still spectacular. In the foreground, you can see the rocky mass of the Grand Flambeau, a mountain that culminates at 3559m. |
| The Torino Refuge, the starting point for the ascent of several peaks in the Mont Blanc massif | |
| Situated below Punta Helbronner, this refuge is the starting point for the ascent of several peaks in the Mont Blanc massif, including the Mont Maudit (4465 m), the Mont Blanc du Tacul (4248 m) and the Dent du Géant (4013 m). It is reached from the top station of the Monte Bianco Skyway, via a lift and a long tunnel. |
| Roman ruins in the heart of Aosta, capital of the autonomous region | |
| In Roman times, Aosta was called Augusta Praetoria Salassorum and the town was founded at a point that controlled the Great St Bernard and Little St Bernard passes linking the Po plain to conquered Gaul. The Roman ruins bear witness to this strategic importance. |
| The village of Etroubles, on the road to the Great St Bernard Pass | |
| This beautiful village is located in the middle valley of the Great St Bernard, halfway between Aosta and the pass. Since 2005, the village has become an open-air museum, where numerous works of art are exhibited in the alleys, as part of a project to revive the local economy after the closure of the ski facilities, co-financed by the European Union and developed in collaboration with the Pierre Gianadda Foundation in Martigny. |
| Cogne, in the heart of the Gran Paradiso National Park | |
| The main street of the village of Cogne is, inevitably, the most lively and touristy. Cafés, restaurants and shops follow one another. Our shots were taken at the end of June, just before the peak summer season, which attracts far more crowds. However, Cogne is still a human-sized destination. |
| The Matterhorn guides´ refuge at Testa Grigia, on the Plateau Rosà glacier | |
| The border between Italy and Switzerland is mobile, linked to landmarks in the Plateau Rosà glacier. The melting of the glacier due to global warming is therefore changing the border and the Italian refuge Guide del Cervino is now largely in Switzerland, which causes some surprises when it comes to undertaking work, due to differences in legislation. Fortunately, this does not prevent the restaurant from running smoothly! |
| La Place, the village where the Castle of Issogne stands | |
| The tiny village square is squeezed between the Castle of Issogne and the church of Santa Maria Assunta. The Street View arrows allow you to take a short stroll through 22 panoramic views, to the castle park and to the church. |
