Nus: Planetarium, Cross-Country Skiing and Wine

When looking for a hotel in Nus, you can first decide whether the landscape, a scientific experience, cross-country skiing or local wine connections should shape your stay. These themes call for different time planning: a show at the Planetario di Lignan lasts about an hour, while the Saint-Barthélemy Gran Tor is a 30-kilometre cross-country skiing loop. This makes it easy to distinguish a compact planetarium programme from planning a skiing loop.

Location and landscape of Nus

Nus lies at an altitude of 529 metres on the left bank of the Dora, in the deep gorge leading to the Saint-Barthélemy Valley. “Left bank” refers to the side of the river when looking downstream and specifies its location by the river. The surrounding landscape includes chestnut groves, fruit trees, meadows and vineyards. The river and gorge provide a geographical reference point; the groves, fruit trees, meadows and vineyards add to the landscape. If you also choose a place based on its surroundings, these features offer a concrete point of reference.

Planetarium and cross-country skiing

The Planetario di Lignan offers immersive shows lasting about an hour, with digital 4K projection across the entire dome. The approximate duration makes a show a clearly defined item to include in your day’s plans. By contrast, the Saint-Barthélemy Gran Tor is a 30-kilometre cross-country skiing loop in the upper Saint-Barthélemy Valley. You can assess the show by its duration and the skiing loop by its distance—two different measures for planning. If you plan to ski the loop, check the current operating conditions.

Castle and sanctuary

Castello di Nus lies above Nus, near the hamlet of Plane, on a rocky outcrop overlooking the entrance to the Saint-Barthélemy Valley. The Santuario Madonna delle Nevi a Cuney is located at an altitude of 2,656 metres at the foot of Becca del Merlo and is the highest sanctuary in Europe. The two cultural sites differ significantly in their geographical setting: the castle’s location is defined by the rocky outcrop and the entrance to the valley, while the sanctuary’s is defined by its elevation at the foot of Becca del Merlo. These different features help you distinguish between the two destinations when planning your trip.

Local wine connections

The indigenous red grape variety Vien de Nus is grown in Nus; its grapes are used to make Nus Rouge. Nus Malvoisie is made from the local Malvoisie selection of Pinot Gris and produced from dried grapes. The names therefore refer to different aspects of wine: Vien de Nus is a grape variety, and Nus Rouge is the wine made from it; for Nus Malvoisie, the local selection and dried grapes define its production. If you are interested in local products, this distinction offers a concrete connection to wine production in Nus.

Getting there by bus

Nus can be reached from Aosta by bus on the “Aosta-Pont-Saint-Martin” route. If you plan to travel by bus, check the current timetable for this route before setting off. This will help you plan your travel day around the service and coordinate your journey with your stay. When choosing a hotel, travelling by bus can be part of your personal trip planning.

Discover more destinations: Brengon, Epinel, Chef-lieu, La Thuile, Champoluc, Donnas, Sarre, Bionaz

For the full travel overview: Aosta Valley.