Discover Gressan: Pila, nature and cultural heritage

Gressan caters to a range of travel interests: the municipality is home to Pila, with skiing and biking, as well as a longer hiking route, a protected landscape and historic buildings. When planning your stay, you can choose between mountain sports, outdoor activities and culture. Pila offers ski runs and trails with clearly stated figures, while the Itinerario W has a set distance and duration. The buildings and Fita di pomme add a historical and seasonal focus.

Ski resort and getting to Pila

Pila is in the municipality of Gressan and is a renowned ski resort at an altitude of 1,800 metres. The area has 70 kilometres of ski runs and 13 lifts. You can ski, snowboard, freestyle ski and telemark there.

From central Aosta, you can reach Pila and go straight to the ski runs by cable car in 18 minutes. Bus route 5, “Aosta-Aymavilles,” connects Aosta with Gressan. The two services differ in that the cable car goes directly to Pila and the ski runs, while the bus connects Aosta and Gressan. Check the current timetable before taking the bus.

Bike park and trails

Pila Bike Park has more than 130 kilometres of trails and an elevation difference of 2,100 metres. These figures give an idea of the scale of the trail network. Trail specifications may change, so check the latest information when planning your visit.

The Itinerario W – Gressan Museo a cielo aperto (itinerario lungo) is a longer hiking route: it is 12.7 kilometres long and takes 3 hours and 30 minutes. The distance and duration together help with planning your day; you can set aside several hours for the route. Maison Gargantua is the starting point for some routes exploring the surrounding area.

Natural landscape and architectural history

The Côte de Gargantua nature reserve in Gressan includes an elongated spur formed from glacial deposits. A spur is a projecting landform. Here, a specific landscape feature and its formation by glacial deposits come together.

The Church of Sainte-Marie-Magdeleine, also called “La Madeleine Chapel,” was built in the 12th century. One room in the Tour de Villa contains a cycle of heraldic frescoes. They depict the coats of arms of various noble families from the Aosta Valley and allied countries. The frescoes are believed to date from the second half of the 15th century. Compared with the church’s construction date, this presumed date of creation is several centuries later.

Fita di pomme in October

Fita di pomme, Gressan’s apple festival, takes place on the first Sunday in October. The festival includes a market for autumn fruits, typical local products and crafts, as well as a range of entertainment. If you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the specific event dates for the year in question.

Discover more destinations: Pila, Jovencan, Donnas, Rhêmes-Notre-Dame, Gressoney-Saint-Jean, Ozein, Lillianes, Verrès.

For the broader travel overview: Aosta Valley.