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Area: 3.263 km2
Population: 119.020 (2001)
Regional Capital: Aosta
Valle d'Aosta is located in northwestern Italy, it is bordered by France to the west, Piedmont to the south and east and Switzerland to the north.
The region has 2 official languages: Italian and french.
Places to see - Things to do:
- Aoste, Saint-Vincent...
- Chamois, Gignod, Gressan, Morgex, Pont-Saint-Martin, Saint-Barthelemy...
- castles : Bard, Fenis, Gressoney-Saint-Jean, Issogne, Saint-Pierre, Verres...
- Trekking and Birdwatching in the Gran Paradiso national park...
- Winter-resorts : Breuil-Cervinia, Courmayeur, Aosta-Pila, la Thuile...
- monte Cervino, monte Rosa, Gran San Bernardo, monte Bianco...
Gastronomy: -non exhaustive list-
first dishes (fondue, gnocchi à la fontina, seupa di gri, country style soup...) ; main dishes (charcoal-grilled, Val d'Aosta style cutlet...) ; pork meats (ham from Bosses, lard from Arnad...) ; biscuits and desserts (blancmange, brochat, fiandolein, tegole from Aosta...) ; cheese (fontina, tomme from Gressoney...) ; wine and liqueurs (Blanc de Morgex, Enfer d'Arvier, Torrette ; genepi...)...
Festivities & Events: -non exhaustive list-
All year round
¤ many dates, "lo Tsan" in Aosta. It is one of the local typical sports still practiced in Valle d'Aosta.
January / February
¤ Carnival period, various events in several locations (Bionaz, Cogne, Courmayeur, Pont-Saint-Martin, Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses ...)
October
¤ variable dates, final of "la Bataille des Reines". the "reines" -queens- are the most fighting spirit cows of the herd, fighting to establish the hierarchy. Beginning in late March, each Sunday (pause in June-July), clashes are going on in the arenas built in the different villages of the region, the animals are not at risk but the competitive spirit is alive.
Native People: -non exhaustive list-
J.A. Carrel, mountaineer ; L. Cerise, famous doctor ; E. Chanoux, leader of the Val d'Aosta Resistance ; I. Manzetti, inventor of the 'speaking telegraph' first telephone apparatus (1864)...
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Aosta Valley
