The best traffic-free bike rides around Ollomont

these are splendid glacial lakes located at about 2,320 meters above sea level, a bit secluded and hidden, in a "comba" on the path to the Fenêtre Durand.

Shortly beyond the lakes of Thoules, climbing towards the Fenêtre Durand, you encounter Modarc, an installation by the Aosta Valley artist Barbara Tutino. It is an arch made of reclaimed metal, formed by two specular and opposite elements — almost two large apostrophes — that meet at the top to close the arch. The idea is that of passage. The work is dedicated to the transit of peoples through these mountain passes, like the nearby Fenêtre Durand, which has always been a gateway to Swiss Valais: a theme that has ancient roots here, from the exchanges and trade of the past to the passages of those who, in more difficult times, sought refuge across the border. The arch also recalls the old mining appurtenances scattered throughout this territory. Col Fenêtre, moreover, has always been one of the passages that connect the Valpelline with Swiss Valais. For centuries, men, goods, and flocks have crossed this saddle to pass from one side of the Alps to the other, weaving ties between the two border communities. It is precisely to this meaning — the hill as a bridge that unites, rather than a line that divides — that the work is inspired.

The des Thoules lakes occupy a shelf at about 2,320 meters in the Comba des Eaux Blanches, the valley that rises from the By basin towards the Fenêtre Durand, the ancient border pass with Swiss Valais. They are two modest-sized, intensely blue basins, nestled next to each other on an alpine meadow plateau.

L'Alpe Les Balmes is a group of huts around 2,130 meters, just above the village of By, in the basin above Ollomont.

L'Alpe By is a plateau of pastures at about 2,000 meters, in a quiet valley of Valpelline, above Ollomont. The Grand Combin dominates, and around it the Mont Vélan, the Mont Gelé and the Mont Avril close the basin. In the middle of the meadows, the old Ru, dug in the 15th century, still passes through, and there are the traces of the village where people once lived all year round.

Il Prarayer is an alpine plateau located at about 2000 meters above sea level, at the end of the Place-Moulin lake. It is reached by a simple path that runs along the lake, almost always flat. The environment is open, with meadows, small streams, and some alpine pasture buildings. The landscape is surrounded by high peaks and glacial environments, clearly visible in the background. The Rifugio Prarayer is located here, used as a base for longer excursions. The area is suitable for a quiet break after the walk along the lake. Itineraries to side valleys and high-altitude routes start from here. Despite the altitude, the setting remains accessible and not very demanding.

The Place Moulin dam is a majestic arch-gravity dam, designed to make the most of the narrow and incised conformation of the valley. Its concrete structure develops with a slight curvature, which allows the water's thrust to be transferred to the lateral rock walls, reducing direct pressure on the base and ensuring high stability. With a height of approximately 155 meters and a crest length of over 600 meters, it represents one of the most imposing hydraulic works in the Italian Alps. The artificial basin formed upstream reaches a capacity of over 100 million cubic meters of water, mainly fed by the Buthier stream and glacial meltwater. The plant is an integral part of a hydroelectric system: the accumulated water is conveyed through penstocks to power plants located downstream, where the head is transformed into energy. The management of levels is regulated by surface and bottom outlets, designed to control both floods and ordinary releases.

The Marmitta dei Giganti in Bionaz is a striking cavity carved into the rock that tells of the power of the alpine glaciers. It formed during the last ice age, when meltwaters, laden with sand and stones, channeled into powerful vortices: the debris, rotating ceaselessly, smoothed the rock to create this deep, almost perfectly shaped "pot". Alongside the scientific explanation, the charm of legend also survives: it is said that giants dug these cavities, using them as containers or leaving their superhuman strength imprinted on them. It is precisely this intertwining of nature and imagination that makes the place so fascinating.