The Aosta Valley Villages of Arvier, Introd and Morgex: Famous for Medieval Villages, Pope John Paul II and the HIghest Wine in Europe

Arvier is a unique place because there are two medieval villages - Arvier and Leverogne almost side by side because of two important families in the area. It’s the only place in the Aosta Valley where two medieval villages are so close to each other.  

Top 5 things not to miss

• Stroll through the medieval village of Leverogne
• See remains of the Roman Road in Leverogne
• Explore the medieval village of Arvier 
• Visit the vineyards
• Hike up to the Big Bench for epic views and down the canals

Both villages are on the Roman Road and date back to the year 1200. In Leverogne, one of the highlights of the medieval village is the pilgrims' hospice which dates back to 1368. While it’s not possible to enter inside, the fresco is fascinating. It depicts the "7 Acts of Mercy" on the top row and the "7 Deadly Sins" on the bottom row. While the fresco is damaged - the devil's mouth is missing, historians have confirmed that's where all the women illustrated in the bottom row are headed.

The street turns to cobblestone, and that’s where the oldest part of the village starts. While the Roman Road lies beneath the current street, it’s not visible as it’s several meters below. The best way to see what’s left is by the old Roman bridge. I walked on the bridge but appreciated the view even more by walking up the road above the bridge. 

From there, it’s a short walk to Arvier. Of special note are the old bell tower of the church and the castle ruins of La Mothe, which date back to the 13th century. As part of an upcoming project called "Agile Arvier," the castle will be transformed into a "Museum of the Future". I can’t wait to see the transformation. I also enjoyed the views over the valley and of Arvier from the castle ruins.

The other thing I loved about the medieval village of Arvier is the photo exhibition, the Photo Alp Arvier. It showcases the best photos of the Tour du Ruitor. The international ski mountaineering competition is held every two years in Arvier and is one of the largest of its kind in the world! It’s a creative way of combining the old with the new and encourages visitors to explore all of the medieval town.

Across the road from Arvier are the vineyards. Here, there’s a microclimate that’s hotter than the rest of the area. I loved the “Enfer” wine from the Arvier Collective. It means “hell” in French but is referencing where the vineyards are grown.

What makes the wine unique from the Arvier Collective is that they play music at 432 Hz to help it balance itself. I liked it so much, I bought a couple of bottles to bring home. From 2023, all the wine will be labeled organic, so it’s a good choice for health conscious individuals and for the environment.  

Besides the village, Arvier is also an excellent area for hiking. Leverogne is on the Camino Balteo.  I hiked part of it up to the Big Bench with the Deputy Mayor , where you get fantastic views of Mont Blanc.

Then, I hiked down a different trail, the Ru Eausourde. It’s a canal system that brings water down the mountain to the farmers. I loved getting a glimpse of the innovative technique used by local farmers. 

Along the way, there is artwork exhibited from local students of local flora and fauna. It was part of a school project educating the students and it won an award. Look for butterflies, birds and so much more. This is a great choice for kids as well. 

Arvier: Useful Information

Best time to visit: Arvier is a great destination to visit in fall, spring and summer. 

How to get there: Arvier is only a 20-minute drive from Aosta. It’s also accessible by bus from Aosta with the “Aosta-Courmayeur” line.

Introd and the hamlet of Les Combes was a favorite holiday destination of Pope John Paul II who used to love to walk around the area. It’s easy to see why. 

Top 5 things not to miss

• Visit the Maison Bruil d’Introd, an ethnographic museum 
• Observe local animals at the Parc Animalier Introd
• Get the best viewpoint of the Castello di Introd 
• Marvel at the Introd Bridge
• Learn about Pope John Paul IIs visits 

My visit to Introd started with a visit to the Maison Bruil d'Introd, an ethnographic museum showcasing the traditional food of the Aosta Valley. It's housed in one of two rural houses found in Introd. Parts of the house date back to 1680. It shows how people survived back then, often sleeping in the same room as the cows since that was the warmest place in the house.

It also shows how food was prepared and preserved to survive the long winter and the use of herbs for medicinal purposes. It was fascinating and gave me an appreciation for how easy we have it today. 

Next up, I visited the nearby animal park, Parc Animalier Introd. It showcases local animals, including chamois, ibex, marmots, owls, and so many more. Next year, look for the newest additions - wolves! My local guide said her daughter loved it there, and I think kids will particularly enjoy it.

I was fortunate enough to visit inside Castello di Introd with my local guide, but normally it’s only open for special events. The best views of the castle are from the park right below the castle. As there are no restaurants in Introd, I recommend bringing a picnic lunch and enjoying the royal view. 

The Introd Bridge crossed a ravine that’s 80-meters deep.  It’s an architectural masterpiece that used whole tree trunks to construct the wooden scaffolding. It was built during World War I. It’s also a nice walk from the Old Bridge to the new Bridge, as the Introd Bridge is called. 

Next, my local guide drove us to the nearby village of Les Combes. Here is the House Museum John-Paul II.  It contains images, documents and objects and is a tribute to Pope John Paul II, who came to the Aosta Valley and Les Combes for his summer holiday from 1989 to 2004.

This collection showcases both the worldly, pontifical side of the Holy Father and, on the other, personal objects used during his time in the  Aosta Valley. It’s only open during summer, so check the opening hours before you go. 

Near the museum is the Chapel of San Lorenzo. It’s now a  sanctuary dedicated to St. John Paul II. It even houses a lock of his hair.

While John Paul II’s residence is private property and can’t be visited, it’s possible to follow in his footsteps on the easy Plan du Saint-Père. It’s a path that he frequently used to walk. 

Introd: Useful Information

Best time to visit: Introd is a great destination to visit in fall, spring and summer. 

How to get there: Introd is only a 25-minute drive from Aosta. It’s also accessible by bus. First, by bus from Aosta to Villeneuve. Then from there with the lines “Villeneuve-Rhêmes” or “Villeneuve-Valsavarenche”.

Morgex is well known for its popular outdoor activities you can do in the area, from skiing to hiking and more. From the town, there are gorgeous views of Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco). It’s also famous for having the highest vineyards in Europe. But the town itself is als not to be missed.

Top 5 things not to miss

• Visit the Parish Church of Our Lady of the Assumption
• Marvel at the  De l’Archet Tower
• Explore Reading Park 
• Walk to the vineyards 
• Hike to the nearby Lago d’Arpy 

The first place the mayor of Morgex took me to was the Parish Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, a medieval church dating to 1176. Of particular note is the painting of the Last Supper. It’s on the left-hand side of the central nave and dates back to 1559. The frescoes of the fifteenth-century chapel at the bottom of the left-hand nave are also noteworthy. My guide tells me that over the years, the church has been done in various styles as they’ve come and gone from fashion. As a result, the church doesn’t have just one style but multiple styles.

Next up is a visit to the De l’Archet Tower. Dating back to the 10th century and is one of the oldest in the Aosta Valley. It measures 9-meters tall with walls 2.6 m thick

The tower is home to the Comics Bibliomuseum and to the “Natalino Sapegno” foundation, which conducts research on modern and contemporary European literature. The tourist office is also located here and is open during the high season. It’s possible to do a guided visit of the tower during special events. Check with the tourist office for more details. 

Reading Park sits on the grounds of former railway tracks. It provides interactive play stations for kids. It also houses one of the town's 43 booking crossings in which you can take a book or drop one off. Adults will appreciate the stunning views of Mont Blanc.  Cross the bridge and look down to see the former railway tracks. Morgex is a master at incorporating the past with the present in creative ways. It’s something I really appreciated about the town.

Just above Morgex, you’ll see some of the region’s vineyards, home to the famous DOC Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle. The highest ones in Europe are found at an elevation of just 1200m, just outside of Morgex. Despite the high altitude, winemaking existed in the area before the middle ages. The president of the wine collective tells me that you can rarely see Mont Blanc from the vineyards, as they’re planted close to another mountain, away from the winds that come off Mont Blanc. While visiting the vineyards, he also pointed out the terraces. They’re built low to the ground to protect the vines from cold winds and to get heat from the earth. 

Approximately 10km from Morgex is Lago d’Arpy (Lake Arpy). Both the mayor and my guide insisted that I go, in fact, that every visitor to Morgex should go. It’s a flat easy hike that’s popular with families.  Lake D’Arpy is famous for its impressive view of the Grandes Jorasses.  It’s beautiful at any time of the year, but I had the pleasure of visiting when the larch trees were in full color! Once I visited, I understood why they were so insistent that I visited, and I’m so glad that I did. 

Morgex: Useful Information

Best time to visit: Morgex is a great destination to visit at any time of the year, depending on your interests.

How to get there: Introd is only a 30-minute drive from Aosta.  It’s also accessible by bus from Aosta with the “Aosta-Courmayeur” line.