There Valle d’Aosta, despite being the smallest Italian region, is an enchanting place where nature has enclosed the splendid peaks of Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa and Gran Paradiso where the most famous tourist resorts are located, such as Cervinia and Courmayeur, without forget its magnificent capital, Aosta. THE Its splendid landscapes are embellished with countless fairy-tale homes and unmissable military fortresses, among them the Fenis Castle, the Savoy Castle and the Verrès Castle.
Fénis Castle the fortress set in a flat area
One of the The most renowned medieval castles in the Aosta Valley is certainly the Fénis Castle, in the municipality of the same name, commissioned by the Challant family and built between 1340 and 1420. The Castle has the typical appearance of the fortresses of that era, with double walls and many towers of various shapes, from square and crenellated ones to tall and round. The only unusual thing is that this castle, as was usually used, was not built in a dominant position over the rest of the territory, but rather in a flat and green area. Externally, Fenis Castle appears austere, but unexpectedly inside you are surrounded by an atmosphere of peace and serenity. After a long period of abandonment, the interiors have been partly renovated and enriched with non-original furnishings. On the contrary, the fireplaces, around which many of the activities of the time took place, are original from the 12th century. The castle was restored by Alfredo d’Andrade in 1895. On the ground floor there is the armory room, the soldiers’ refectory, the pantry and the kitchen, while on the first floor the chapel with reception room, the noble kitchen, the dining room and the justice room. A interesting part of Fénis castle is the internal courtyardwhere there is a semicircular staircase surmounted byfresco depicting Saint George killing the dragon. The wooden balconies with frescoes of the wise men and prophets and the paintings of the annunciation of Christ Christopher are also beautiful. For those who want visit Fénis Castle, located in Chez Sapin, the doors are open to the public at different times of the year. From October to March, you can visit the castle from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00. From April to September, opening hours extend from 9:00 to 19:00, always from Tuesday to Sunday. Furthermore, during the summer months of July and August, the castle is also open on Mondays. To access the castle, a entrance ticket with a cost of around 10 euros, for the full price, while the reduced ticket is available at the price of 7 euros.
Castel Savoia the home of Queen Margherita of Savoy
The Savoy Castle, wanted by Queen Margherita of Savoy at the end of the nineteenth century, it was inaugurated in 1904. It is located near Gressoney-Saint-Jean and it enjoys an excellent panoramic position overlooking Monte Rosa and at the foot of the Ranzola hill, it is no coincidence that the town is called Belvedere. The castle, with its pointed white turrets that emerge from the green trees of the forest that surround it, seems like the home of a princess, the protagonist of a fairy tale, who is waiting for her Prince Charming. The beautiful and modern Castel Savoia on the outside is surrounded by a rock garden full of various species of plants typical of the alpine environment. While inside, on the main floor and on the ground floor, the original paintings, stained glass windows and furniture commissioned by the sovereign are perfectly preserved. The two floors are connected by a fine carved oak staircase with eagles and griffins. For visit the Savoy Castlewhich provides a duration of visit of approximately 30 minutes in the internal environments it’s about 15 minutes outside, the ticket costs 8 euros for the full price and 6 euros for the reduced one. Castel Savoia is accessible from October to March from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00, with closing on Mondays. From April to September, it is open every day from 9:00 to 19:00.
Verrès Castle: the stone manor
The Verrès Castlebuilt in a dominant position at the mouth of the Aosta Valley overlooking the Évançon stream as a 14th century military fortresswas commissioned by Ibleto of Challant and reached via a mule track along which the views are truly unparalleled. Verrès Castle has a completely unusual structure for its time, being a single block and having its three floors connected by an enormous arched staircase, a marvelous work of architecture. Verrès Castle has a severe structure and is refined with the carved stone decorations of the windows. The rooms are currently completely emptybut every year its halls come alive with the characters of the historical carnival of Verrès. The castle is accessible every day in the period from April to September from 9:00 to 19:00, and in the period from October to March from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00, closing on Monday.
