Valle d'Aosta

I

Introduction

Valle d'Aosta, region (regione autonoma) in north-west Italy, bordered on the north by Switzerland, on the east and south by the Italian region of Piedmont, and on the west by France. The region’s boundaries are identical to those of Aosta Province. With a total surface area of 3,264 sq km (1,260 sq mi), Valle d’Aosta is the smallest of Italy’s 20 administrative regions.

II

Physical Geography

Flowing north-west to south-east through the region is the Dora Baltea River; the valleys of this river and its tributaries dominate the region. Along the mountainous borders of the Valle d'Aosta rise the Alpine peaks of the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa, and Mont Blanc. Natural transport routes to France and Switzerland are formed by the valleys and mountain passes of the region, among which are Little St Bernard Pass and Great St Bernard Pass. In addition, tunnels have been built through the mountains.

In the south-east is Gran Paradiso National Park, established in 1922, which covers an area of about 700 sq km (270 sq mi) and extends across the regional border into north-western Piedmont. The park is the oldest national park in Italy and was originally developed as a hunting reserve in the 1850s to protect the Alpine ibex, which was threatened with extinction. The mountainous landscape of the park culminates in Mount Gran Paradiso (4,061 m/13,324 ft), which is famous for its alpine meadows and extensive glaciers. The Mont Avic regional natural park contains dense pine, beech, and larch forests and encompasses an area of 57 sq km (22 sq mi) in south-eastern Valle d’Aosta.

III

Population

Valle d’Aosta is the least populated of Italy’s administrative regions, with an estimated 122,868 inhabitants in 2005; the average population density is 38 people per sq km (97 per sq mi). The population is generally concentrated in small villages in the valley of the Dora Baltea. The town of Aosta (population, 1996, 36,214)—the provincial and regional capital—is the only sizeable settlement. Small villages include Arnad, Charvensod, Châtillon, Fénis, Issogne, Montjovet, Nus, Saint-Vincent, and Verrès.

The population of the area is mainly Italian, and the official languages are French and Italian. Walser, a Germanic language from Switzerland, is the mother tongue for the small communities of Gressoney-la Trinité and Gressoney-Saint-Jean, in the west of the region. A number of beautifully preserved medieval castles are dotted throughout Valle d’Aosta, including those of Fénis, Verrès, Issogne, and Sainte-Pierre, which all date from the 11th to the 13th century. Aosta was founded in around 25 bc by Emperor Augustus and features impressive Roman remains, such as an the great arches of the old theatre, the Pretoria gate, the Arch of Augustus, and an amphitheatre.

IV

Economy

Agriculture, particularly the cultivation of cereals, grapes, and potatoes, is the major economic pursuit of Valle d’Aosta. Mining and the production of iron and steel, chemicals, and textiles are other leading industries. Tourism makes a significant contribution to the regional economy. The mountainous landscape is popular with hikers and contains many ski resorts, including Châtillon, Courmayeur, and Valtournanche.