Saint-Christophe among vineyards, hills and history

Saint-Christophe lies in a broad hilly landscape between orchards and vineyards on the left bank of the Dora Baltea River. The combination of an agricultural landscape, distinctive historic buildings and signposted local routes makes the area appealing to travellers who want to get to know Italy in greater depth and plan varied days.

Hills and distinctive landscapes

One prominent landscape feature is Tsatelet, a rocky glacial hill overlooking the Aosta plain. Its sunny orientation encourages the development of steppe vegetation. Three still-active irrigation channels also run across the hill of Saint-Christophe. They are partly covered by paths or unpaved roads and make traditional irrigation a visible part of the landscape. If, when choosing your destination, you look not only at place names but also at characteristic landforms, Saint-Christophe offers specific points of reference.

Romanesque traces in the parish church

The parish church of Saint-Christophe houses the tombstone of Saint Grato, which is considered an object of particular historical value. The statue of Saint Christopher is also located in the parish church. It dates from the 15th century and follows the old Romanesque tradition in its design. The architecture also includes a tall Romanesque bell tower with a pyramidal top and paired windows. This allows different historical clues to be observed in a single building, without requiring you to focus on an extensive museum landscape.

Hamlets, villages and castle park

“A’ la découverte de nos bourgs” has been documented since 2009 as an exhibition aimed at promoting knowledge and appreciation of the hamlets and villages of Saint-Christophe. Passerin d'Entrèves Castle is surrounded by an extensive park. Both subjects draw attention to the area’s small-scale settlement structure and historic places, which help shape the character of Saint-Christophe.

Route along the Ru Pompillard

For an active day plan, the Veynes–Roisan route along the Ru Pompillard is a clearly defined option. It follows the final section of stage 10 of the Cammino Balteo. The route runs along a flat unpaved road from Veynes to Roisan and can also be travelled by mountain bike. When choosing between a more leisurely exploration of the landscape and a more sporty activity, the main relevant factors are therefore the character of the route, its course between the two places and the possibility of using a mountain bike.

Veynes and regional orientation

The surrounding area also includes the chapel of Veynes, which has been restored. Corrado Gex Regional Airport lies on the border with the municipality of Quart. It is approved for commercial flights as well as gliding and powered flight. These two specific reference points add historic architecture and a regional air transport site to the picture of the area, without implying any further information about timetables or connections.

Viticulture as part of the local area

Saint-Christophe is one of the eleven towns and villages across whose territory the vineyards of Cave des Onze Communes extend. Viticulture is therefore a documented part of the region’s landscape and cultural environment. If you are also planning your trip from the perspective of local products and long-established growing areas, this is one of the defining facets of Saint-Christophe.

More places for planning your trip

Also discover Valtournenche, Nus, Valpelline, Aosta, Champdepraz, Verrès, Morgex and Gressoney-La-Trinité.

For the main travel overview: Aosta Valley.