Doues: Discover Mountain Trails, Culture and Nature

Doues Among Trails, Forests and History

Doues combines manageable hikes, mountain landscapes and vivid traces of the past. The range extends from an easy circular route and trails through the Champillon Basin to chapels, churches, crafts and regional traditions.

Hiking Trails and Landscape

The Ru du Mont is an easy, 7 km circular route from Châtelair to Vaud with 110 metres of elevation gain and an approximate walking time of three hours. Its manageable length and clear details make it an easy-to-assess option for a hike in the area around Doues.

Champillon also offers a specific destination for hikers. From Plan Détruit, families can reach Rifugio Champillon on foot in about an hour, through the pastures of the Champillon Basin. Rifugio Champillon “Adolfo Letey” is intended for hikers travelling along the Tour des Combin and Alta Via no. 1.

Champillon can be reached via the municipal road from the main village of Doues and is 11 km from it. At the Belvedere picnic area, you are at an altitude of about 1,800 metres, in an open fir forest with large level areas. From there, two trails lead uphill to Colle di Champillon and downhill towards the inhabited part of the municipality.

For observing nature in winter, the forests around Doues offer a special opportunity: you can spot wildlife there on snowshoes. The Aula Verde is designed and equipped for visitors of all ages, as well as for people with various motor and sensory impairments.

Chapels, Churches and Local Memory

The chapel of Châtelair is the oldest chapel in Doues and is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. Doues is also home to the parish church of San Biagio, which was rebuilt in 1790. Integrated into the parish church is a chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas; it houses the tomb of the lords of La Crête.

The Museo degli Alpini features a permanent exhibition about the Alpini and other related topics. The village of Meylan once had a typical village school for children from high-altitude settlements.

Traditions and Crafts

During the historic Carnival of the Coumba Freida, the Landzette wear colourful traditional costumes. These allegorically represent the uniforms of French soldiers and invoke the arrival of spring. The Batailles de Reines are among the deeply rooted traditions of the Aosta Valley and broaden the cultural perspective beyond Doues to the region.

Local crafts in Doues include sculptures, carved works, bas-reliefs, agricultural tools, household objects and furniture. Ski tours also lead from the upper villages of Doues towards Creux and Champillon.

Getting There and Orientation

Doues can be reached by the “Aosta – Doues” bus route.

Discover More Destinations

If you would like to compare Doues with other places or add to your trip through the Aosta Valley, here are the directly linked destinations: Avise, Brusson, Saint Nicolas, Courmayeur, Châtillon, Jovencan, Gressoney-La-Trinité, Verrès.

For the higher-level travel overview: Aosta Valley.