Gressoney-Saint-Jean: Castel Savoia, Easy Trails and Lago Gover

Historic Places in Gressoney-Saint-Jean

Gressoney-Saint-Jean offers specific points of interest for culture, short walks and seasonal activities. Castel Savoia, the parish church of San Giovanni Battista, the historic houses in Greschmatto and Dresal, the trails around waterfalls and Lago Gover each offer a different focus.

Castel Savoia was built between 1899 and 1904 at the request of Queen Margherita di Savoia. During the summer months, Queen Margherita di Savoia stayed at Castel Savoia until 1925. From the car park below, Castel Savoia can be reached via a walk of approximately 15 minutes through the park. The alpine botanical garden of Castel Savoia consists of a series of rock gardens with alpine plants from the region and from other parts of the world.

The parish church of San Giovanni Battista was built in 1515 and enlarged in 1753. The parish museum of the parish church of San Giovanni Battista displays a 13th-century crucifix, considered one of the oldest in the Aosta Valley. Greschmatto is home to the oldest house in the flat area of Gressoney-Saint-Jean. The house bears the year 1547 and formerly served as a courthouse and prison. Dresal is a group of stone and wooden houses; the oldest building in Dresal bears the year 1587.

Waterfalls and Easy Circular Trails

The Cascata Borgofier is located on the Lys promenade at signpost 14 in the direction of Gressoney-La-Trinité and can be reached from the main settlement of Gressoney-Saint-Jean after approximately 15 minutes of walking, on the right-hand side. The Cascata di Underwald can be reached directly from the hamlet of Gresmatten in less than 10 minutes. The two waterfall destinations therefore each have their own starting point and a specifically stated walking time.

The Anello Regina Margherita is an easy tourist circular trail connecting places loved and visited by Queen Margherita di Savoia. The Walser Réng is an easy, 8-kilometre circular trail that allows visitors to explore the landscape and cultural heritage of Gressoney-Saint-Jean and its surroundings. Both routes offer a manageable form of walking; the length of 8 kilometres is additionally specified for the Walser Réng.

Lago Gover in Summer and Winter

Lago Gover is surrounded by centuries-old pines and firs and offers an impressive setting with views of the Monte Rosa range. Sport fishing is possible at Lago Gover during the summer months. During the winter season, Lago Gover is transformed into a natural ice rink for skating. For seasonal planning, Lago Gover therefore focuses on a summer sporting activity and an explicitly winter activity.

The combination of mountain views, old-growth trees and the change between sport fishing in summer and skating on natural ice makes Lago Gover a destination in its own right within Gressoney-Saint-Jean. With its rock gardens, the botanical garden of Castel Savoia adds another focus on alpine plants from the region and from other parts of the world.

More places for planning your trip: Saint Jacques, Saint-Rhémy-En-Bosses, Rhêmes-Notre-Dame, Brusson, Châtillon, Valpelline, Introd, Verrès.

For the higher-level travel overview: Aosta Valley.