Gressoney Saint-Jean, a splendid center of the region Aosta Valley located at an altitude of 1385.0 meters in the shadow of the majestic Monte Rosa, a well-known climatic and holiday destination both summer and winter in the heart of the fascinating Valle del Lys, an Alpine basin that takes its name from the stream of the same name, a place that represents in its own way the enchanting Alpine region in its total essence.
This Aosta Valley center is historically characterized by the first settlements of the Walser community, an ethnic group of Germanic descent from the Swiss Oberland invited by the local feudal lords to populate the practically uninhabited area and who brought with them their own culture, uses, customs, traditions, crafts and also their language the "Titsch" linked to the Alemanni ancestors which as they settled in areas of the Alpine basin in previous centuries.
For this reason, the municipality has a German-speaking name, namely Greschoney Zer Chichu, while the purely Francophone one is due to the ancient ties with neighboring France and the current regional bilingualism deriving from the old Provençal word Gresconey, which identified a very common plant that grows in the local area, and in the second part honoring the Patron Saint John.
I recommend starting the visit from Villa Beck Pecoz, also known as Villa Margherita, a name that is due to the stays of the Savoy Queen before the construction of Savoy Castle erected in the upper part of the valley.
This beautiful aristocratic building is now the seat of the Town Hall, a structure with a high gabled façade with a plaster shade tending to yellow ochre with attractive traditional architectural details such as wooden portals and balconies inlaid with Art Nouveau influences in the interior boasting a majestic central staircase developed in fine wood, handcrafted wrought iron railings and various, elegant decorative elements present in rooms furnished with fine furniture from Germany.
Continuation along the bank of the Lys river entering Piazza Umberto I or Humbert Platz, a splendid square surrounded by characteristic wooden and stone buildings reaching the nearby Piazza Superiore or Ober Platz where the Parish Church of St. John the Baptist stands dating back to 1515 although extensively reformed and greatly enlarged in 1753.
You will be able to admire the beautiful portico that contains fourteen "d'Gheimisse" splendid painted votive shrines, made in 1800 representing the Via Crucis and next to it an imposing bell tower erected on a quadrangular plan dominated by a copper spire that replaced the original stone while inside you can appreciate a crucifix of the thirteenth century.
In honour of the patron saint, a fireworks display is celebrated every year near the church on the night between 23 and 24 June.
In the following three days an event entitled "Back to the past" is celebrated where local women wear red skirts, black bodice with golden embroidery and gold filigree cap, characteristic costumes belonging to the Walser culture, a well-known and heartfelt event that serves to remember and maintain the strong ties with the ancestors who arrived here centuries ago.
On the left side of the square stands an old building beautifully preserved that shows on its façade the noble coat of arms of the noble Lescoz family, a building also famous because it was the first official hotel established in the entire valley, hosting in the course of its history illustrious personalities including the well-known Swiss naturalist Benedict De Saussure.
Afterwards you can reach the hamlet of Belvedere to admire the refined Castel Savoia, a wonderful aristocratic villa with the appearance of a small castle built between 1899 and 1904 and located in a splendid position on the slopes of Colle della Ranzola.
This residence was a beloved refuge of the Savoy Royals during their stays in the Aosta Valley, it had as guests famous personalities including the famous Tuscan poet and writer Giosuè Carducci.
The villa is a magnificent building with a very eclectic profile, developed on three floors using gray stone as a building material, boasting in its elegant layout splendid mullioned windows, mullioned windows and large windows with the central body surrounded by five majestic neo-Gothic towers erected on an octagonal plan.
Time for your lunch, remaining faithful to the local gastronomy I recommend starting with an appetizer based on Motsetta, Dzambon and Teteun, first courses of your choice between Chneeflenne with Butter and Cream or Risotto alla Fontina, among the second courses options between Cotoletta alla Valdostana or Trout with Butter.
After lunch I recommend visiting the Alpenfauna Museum Beck Pecoz located in Predeloasch, an exhibition owned by the Region located in an attractive building with splendid frescoes of the German school.
Inside you will admire a collection of paintings, portraits, books, documentation concerning the flora and fauna of the Alps, old relics and ancient weapons of Egon Beck Pecoz, an excellent place to learn more about the natural heritage that the Lys Valley offers.
Visiting Gressoney Saint-Jean is a wonderful opportunity to admire a wonderful corner of the Aosta Valley Region that offers unforgettable landscapes, a place where nature, art and history come together as if by magic, leaving happy memories.
Where to Stay | Recommended Accomodation
Foresch Hus Chambres D’ Hotes
Villa Fridau Resort
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks a lot to read and note.