The Aosta Valley, with its rich historical and natural heritage, also offers very particular corners. Specifically, its ghost towns, where time seems to have stopped and nature has begun to regain its spaces, are certainly unusual places to visit. So find out what they are ghost town of the Aosta Valley and why they were abandoned.
Barmaz
Barmaz is one of the many hidden treasures of the Aosta Valley. This small village, although now reduced to ruins, was abandoned during the 1950s of the last century, when the population decided to move to larger places to seek job opportunities.
Barmaz was a agricultural village where vines and fruit trees were also grown. Today, unfortunately, very little remains of the ancient seventeenth-century town, with the traditional stone houses. To visit it, you will have to take the Saint-Denis exit and continue until the crossroads for Barmaz, at a certain point you will have to leave the car and continue on foot.
Even if this hamlet is abandoned, you can always look for holiday homes in Saint-Denis and its surroundings, in order to rest for a few days in the Aosta Valley hinterland.
Fornet
The city of Fornet, once an inhabited settlement, today presents itself as one of the most fascinating ghost towns in the Aosta Valley. This village has become depopulated between 1957 and 1960, when the construction of a dam led to the abandonment of several surrounding hamlets. Fornet, however, was not submerged by the lake; however, being very close it was decided to evacuate the country for security reasons
Today, few ruins of this ancient mountain village are visible: it is possible to make out some stone remains, the material of choice for ancient buildings. To visit it you will have to travel through one of the secondary valleys of the region. From Arvier you will have to take the SR25 until you arrive near Surier.
If you want to spend a few days in the surrounding area, take a look on Rentalia at the holiday homes near the town.
Cogne mines
The Cogne Mines are not exactly the remains of a ghost town, but they will certainly capture the attention of those who love depopulated places. This location was abandoned later the end of mining activitiesaround the seventies, which were the main reason for living in the area.
Today, the Cogne Mines offer a unique experience for those interested in industrial history of the region. In fact, you can see the pulleys, cable cars and miners’ buildings. To reach the Cogne Mines it is possible to follow the paths that start from the town of Cogne and lead directly to the mining site.
Cogne is a place to stop for a few days: if you are looking for the perfect holiday home for your needs, take a look at Rentalia’s offers.
Verney
Verney is another destination among the ghost towns of the Aosta Valley, a village that until the middle of the last century was inhabited by 25 people. The depopulation of Verney occurred gradually, due to changing economic conditions and life in the mountains. Despite this, it is still possible to see the small church built in 1652with frescoes still visible.
You will also be able to take a look at ancient houses, some of which are surrounded by tall vegetation. To reach Verney, you will need to follow the road that starts from Arvier and then deviate towards the ancient village. Nearby here you can also see one of the many giant benches in the area.
If you want to spend a few days in the surrounding area, take a look on Rentalia at the holiday homes near the ghost town.
