Oratory of Les Arsines
Hiking
Oratory of Les Arsines
Details
Description
The Oratory of Les Arsines is a votive pillar located on a scenic promontory on the slopes of the rocky ridge between Pointe Serena and Mont Faceballa. Its location is extremely scenic, dominating the village of Valpelline and the view sweeps towards the mountains of the Aosta basin to the south, while in front there are wild valleys of Arpisson, Verzignoletta and Verdona.
The route is not particularly long, always on easy trails with stretches, however, on a marked slope, which requires a m...
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Description
Il sentiero 3A non è percorribile a causa dei numerosi alberi caduti. Il terreno circostante è poco assestato ed è facile scivolare. Tornati indietro abbiamo preso il sentiero 3B e saliti dal 3. Quest’ultimo è stato pulito, ma anche in questo caso gli alberi sradicati hanno reso il sentiero a tratti instabile e franoso. A soli 15 minuti dalla meta mio marito non si è più fidato a proseguire. Pazienza, ci riproveremo quando le condizioni saranno migliori.
More info
Road access: Nulla da segnalare
Details
Valpelline
average
E
1h 50m
1h 30m
3h 20m
1.069 m
1.703 m
658 m
7.200 m
3A
3,3B
Mar - Apr - May - Sep - Oct
medium
3.0
Overview
The route is not particularly long, always on easy trails with stretches, however, on a marked slope, which requires a minimum of training. The not too high altitude and sunny exposure suggest that the hike should be done in mid-season, (sometimes even in winter) while in the middle of summer you might suffer from the heat.
Reaching the start
Continue in the direction of Bionaz for 2 km, just past the crossroads for Ollomont, you will meet the small hamlet of Semon: here go up to the left along the small road for 200 m reaching the small parking area just before the church.
The route
You ascend to the right on the mule track of trail 3A along a sunny ridge with good slope between areas of stones and shrubs. At 1250 m, the trail shifts to the right into a denser wooded area, high above the gorge carved by the Breuson Torrent, which in spring flows rushing with numerous waterfalls.
At 1413 m you reach a small clearing with the Chez la Ville huts, where there is a fountain; just above, looking west, the pastures of Bas Breuson 1475 m are visible, which can be reached with a short detour on the trail.
Having passed the huts of Chez la Ville, on the left one re-enters the coniferous forest, resuming climbing until the junction with path 3D; one keeps to the right, following 3A, which increases in gradient (this is the most strenuous section of the trail) with a series of serpentines until an altitude of 1720 m, where it suddenly bends southward and becomes flat.
With a long, very relaxing traverse through the pine forest, you suddenly come to the grassy clearing with the beautiful hut of Gay 1719 m (fountain), then after a few flat minutes you come in sight of Les Arsines: a concrete bridge allows you to cross the penstock of the Valpelline hydroelectric power plant, and here is the beautiful votive pillar at 1710 m, built on a rocky spur overlooking the village of Valpelline. There are also some partially ruined huts nearby.
The spot is particularly scenic, and will entice you to make a pleasant stop for refreshment before embarking on the descent with the loop tour.
You return back to the penstock bridge, where you meet trail 3 on the right, which quickly descends into the pine forest, which is rather dense and not very scenic, but offers shelter from the sun on hot days.
On an earthy, needle-covered bottom, you cross the penstock again via another concrete bridge, before a short traverse over more rocky terrain to the west towards the mouth of the Ollomont Valley. The descent ends at Fressionaz, when the road to Ollomont is encountered.
Here the return path 3B should be followed to the left, which traces the route of the Ru di Z-Aagne, i.e., a canal (no longer visible because it is piped under the ground) used to bring water from Ollomont to the poorer territories of the hamlets of Valpelline.
With a flat route with beautiful views of the Arpisson Valley, after crossing the penstock for the third time you return to Semon.
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Castles and Towers
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Weather service by the RAVA Functional Centre
Avalanche bulletin by Aineva
Reviews
Description
Il sentiero 3A non è percorribile a causa dei numerosi alberi caduti. Il terreno circostante è poco assestato ed è facile scivolare. Tornati indietro abbiamo preso il sentiero 3B e saliti dal 3. Quest’ultimo è stato pulito, ma anche in questo caso gli alberi sradicati hanno reso il sentiero a tratti instabile e franoso. A soli 15 minuti dalla meta mio marito non si è più fidato a proseguire. Pazienza, ci riproveremo quando le condizioni saranno migliori.
More info
Road access: Nulla da segnalare
challenging 
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Last update
30 April 2025, 15:09