This is the wildest of all the valleys in the Aosta area and is practically unspoilt by tourism.  It lies in the heart of the National Park and, besides being the best departure point for climbing the Gran Paradiso; it is also a game reserve where you can observe herds of chamois and steinbocks at close range.

Past the fork in the road to the Rhêmes Valley, the secondary road to Valsavarenche skirts the torrent.  The sides of the valley are close together and covered with firs but where there is a little open space, you will find one of the valley’s villages:  Chevrère, Molère, Bois de Clin, Rovenaud and Dégioz, the chief village.  The impressive parish church dates back to the end of the last century (a little jewel with a beautiful 14^th century wooden statue); not far off is the ancient medieval bell-tower.

Dégioz has only recently been developed as a holiday resort and you will find some good shops and hotels as well as sports facilities.  It is the center of a network of mule tracks and mountain paths. The Kings of Italy used to come here to shoot steinbock and chamois during the last century and so the area offers no end of outings for ramblers.

The last village reached by car in this valley, after passing through Maisonasse and Eau-Rousse, both with good accommodation, is Pont, which is the departure point for climbing the Gran Paradiso.  You must first walk along a mule track, which takes you to the Vittorio-Emanuele mountain hut at 2775 meters. From Pont, you can also climb up to the vast basin of Nivolet, where the pass links Valsavarenche to Ceresole Reale and the Province of Turin.