The best running trails around Challand-Saint-Victor

The climb is at times truly challenging

The Ru d'Arlaz is one of the ancient irrigation canals of the Aosta Valley, still used today to bring water to the valley's agricultural land. Flanked by a pleasant forest path, it offers an example of the ingenious hydraulic system developed between the 14th and 15th centuries.

The Cascata d'Arlaz is fed by the waters of the Ru d'Arlaz, a historic irrigation channel still used today for agriculture. When the channel is in operation, the waterfall creates a pleasant mist that makes this stretch of forest particularly cool, even on summer days.

The Arlaz Waterfall can be reached either from the Col d'Arlaz or from the Orbeillaz car park, following path number 31 which runs alongside the Rû d’Arlaz, a 14th-century artificial canal that channels the water of the Evançon stream and carries it to the municipalities of Challand, Emarese and Montjovet.

The Col d'Arlaz is located between Montjovet and Challand-Saint-Victor and offers a beautiful view of the central valley and the mountains. The ascent from both sides has some sections with challenging gradients, but the beautiful panoramas are worth every effort.

The Castello di Issogne is one of the most famous castles in the Aosta Valley and is known for its Renaissance style that contrasts with the nearby, more austere Castello di Verrès. The castle has a remarkable courtyard with a fountain in the shape of a pomegranate tree and a colorful portico, a rare example of medieval Alpine painting, with frescoes depicting scenes from everyday life in the late Middle Ages. The castle's history dates back to a papal bull in 1151, and it has a rich history that includes its transformation from an episcopal fortress into an elegant princely residence. The castle is open to visitors and offers a unique look at the culture and architecture of the region.

The Castello di Verrès is an impressive medieval castle in the Aosta Valley, built in the 14th century by Yblet de Challant. The castle is known for its unique monolithic structure, which resembles a solid cube and differs from most other castles of the time which consisted of multiple buildings within a walled enclosure. Dominating the town of Verrès and the entrance to the Val d'Ayas, the castle has a military character that merges with elegant stone details that adorn the windows, doors and monumental mantelpieces. The castle has no corner towers nor a keep.

The castle of Issogne stands a short distance from the Dora Baltea: a Roman villa, a robust stronghold owned by the bishop, a medieval manor, a refined stately home that testifies to the power and wealth of the Challant family, and a dream castle for Vittorio Avondo. The external appearance, severe and modest, hides centuries of history and magnificent masterpieces inside. From the courtyard with the coats of arms to the lunettes of the atrium, from the lush garden to the pomegranate fountain, it represents a triumph of late Gothic art, in the transition period between the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Renaissance. Here every detail tells the story of Prior George of Challant, refined promoter of the architectural modifications and decorations that give the castle a uniqueness in the medieval figurative culture of the Alpine regions.