Echelly

A Place Suspended in Time

Once you arrive here, on the small promontory facing south-east, you can look back and see, higher up, the chapel of Echelly – a discreet sentinel of a place suspended between sky and earth.

In front of you unfolds a striking panorama, dominated by forests, steep slopes, and a now-abandoned village: Les Bormes.
The very name evokes a hidden landscape: bormes means crevices, natural caves, places of refuge and contemplation.

Once, this village was alive. Its houses of wood and plastered stone spoke of care and presence. According to local tradition, the very first parish church of the valley once stood here, dedicated to Saint Anne. Already in ruins by 1821, today only a few stones remain, but its memory endures, like an echo in the landscape.

Traces of the Royal Road

If you lower your gaze down the slope, you may glimpse the line of the Royal Hunting Road, built in 1862 by Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of Italy, to reach Dondena, his favorite alpine reserve.

But this is not only the story of a king.
It is also – and above all – the story of a people.

The municipalities of Pontboset and Champorcher contributed timber and 2,200 days of free labor. Men and women, armed with determination and hard work, carved a passage through the mountains, opening a road that would forever change the life of the local communities.

Until then, the transport of goods often fell upon women, forced to take the place of pack animals. A harsh reality, speaking of ingenuity, tenacity, and resilience.

A Path of Listening

This point of the trail is a threshold: between the visible and what is no longer seen, between presence and absence.

The ruins of Les Bormes, the chapel of Echelly, the road carved in stone – everything here tells the past with a quiet voice, one that does not ask to be interrupted but to be listened to.

Take a moment to look.

To breathe.

To feel the silent presence of those who came before us, and continue your walk with a renewed gaze.

Suggested activities for kids

Game: The Time Window

Look down over the valley. If you could send a message to someone walking here 100 years from now, what would it be? If you were a bird, which mountain peak would you fly to? Draw it and tell a story about your adventure to the top.

Game: Shades of Green and Brown

As you walk back, count how many different greens you can find. Which one do you like best? Do you prefer light or dark greens? Are all tree barks brown? What colors do you see? Draw your favorite one.

When you get home, try uploading your photos to the Color Palette app and see how many colors are found in Nature.

Happy trails, little explorers! Every step may hold a little magic,
Every stone, a secret. Walk with curious eyes— the mountain has so many surprises to share with you!

Suggested activities for adults

On your descent, observe the slope you’re on – the Adret – then look to the opposite slope – the Envers. Depending on timing, each may be in sun or shade, but always differently lit from where you stand.
If you’re from Aosta Valley, you know well the difference between Adret and Envers. Otherwise, consult the deep-dive section on these terms .

Ask yourself: are you more of an Adret person or an Envers person? In Aosta Valley, many towns lie in Envers despite shade. In Brissogne, the Shadow Festival takes place in August!
Some moments call for shade, others for sun. But have you asked whether your moods demand more or less light? What images do you associate with light? And with shadow?

Write these in your notebook. You may enjoy rereading them later.