Discover Gratillon: Village History, Nature and Elevation

Gratillon is a hamlet located at an elevation of 1,052 metres and accessible via a road branching off to the right at an elevation of 1,041 metres. A still-used mill and the history of the school, which dates back to 1782, give the village a tangible character.

Village History and Craft Traditions

Gratillon is home to a mill that is still in use. The school in Gratillon was established in 1782 by the residents of Gratillon and Ferrère. For this purpose, funds from the Palm Sunday alms were allowed to be used for teaching.

A photograph dated 27 May 1926 shows pupils from the school in Gratillon together with their teacher, Émilie Junod. Patrizio Berthet took part in the Fiera di Sant’Orso for the first time in 1968. His furniture is made using strictly traditional craftsmanship and finished with hand-operated tools.

At the Museo Cerlogne in Saint-Nicolas, you can see works and personal belongings of the poet Jean-Baptiste Cerlogne, as well as those of other early dialect writers. The René Willien Study Centre preserves and promotes Franco-Provençal patois and has an extensive specialist library.

The historic Maison de la Tôr building in Lyveroulaz houses the Museo Gerbore. Around fifty agricultural machines from the 1950s are on display there.

Nature and Trails around Saint-Nicolas

The Bois de la Tour is a protected natural area featuring the main tree species of the Aosta Valley. The educational circular trail there includes information in Braille and a handrail for visually impaired and blind visitors.

The Geosite Route near Saint-Nicolas offers close-up views of eroded gullies and deeply cut small valleys. After descending and following the paved road for a short distance, it leads to a small square with panoramic views of the ravine and the village of Saint-Nicolas.

The Saint-Nicolas area also contains an extensive glacial deposit area with gorges and earth pyramids.

Cycling, Festivals and Winter Activities

In 2025, the fourth stage of the 61st Giro della Valle d’Aosta passed through Saint-Nicolas (Gratillon) on the SR 22 at an elevation of 1,011 metres. The Dezarpe de Vertosan is a festival held at the end of summer: herds are brought down from the high-altitude mountain pastures through Vertosan, Vétan and the Saint-Nicolas area, while animals and herders pass through the village.

For winter sports, a 2.5-kilometre section of the cross-country ski trails in Saint-Nicolas is illuminated for night-time use. It is open on Tuesdays and Fridays from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., or for groups by prior registration.

The L’AttraversArt tourism project envisaged a route approximately 10 kilometres long, with seven significant stops featuring artworks displayed outdoors. The route was intended to start in the centre of Saint-Nicolas and reach Vétan in the municipality of Saint-Pierre.

The Gratillon–Persod hiking trail is part of a regional plan to restore its accessibility. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore consider Gratillon’s elevation separately from the cultural, natural and trail destinations available in the surrounding region.

Getting There and Orientation

A bus route connects Aosta with Saint-Nicolas via Villeneuve and Saint-Pierre. From 10 September 2025, Gratillon Sus and Gratillon Sous are designated as stops on the Villeneuve–Saint-Pierre–Saint-Nicolas–Aosta connection.

Other Places for Orientation

For further travel planning, you can also view Gressan, Valgrisenche, Fontainemore, Fénis Ao, Arvier, Brusson, Aymavilles and Challand-Saint-Victor.

Back to the main travel overview: Aosta Valley.