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On the paths of history


TO THE PUNCH! TO THE PUNCH! WE HARDEN THE STEEL SHARPEN THE SWORDS… FEUDALISM AND FREEDOM…! This is how Nanowar of steel sing, a sort of Elio and stories stretched in a Metal key.

to the assault of the castle of Fenis

SBut why start an article that should talk about MTB in this way? The reason is simple, we have arrived in Valle d'Aosta, a land famous for its high mountains, perennial glaciers and castles, a legacy left to posterity from a time when knights challenged each other in single combat to win the hand of the lady and where courtly love praised the heroic deeds of the paladins of the time ... we could discuss at length the similarities between the Middle Ages and our century, but the theme of the article is another.

So let's start to discover this valley, make a canyon gap in time and go back to the year one thousand, to discover its beauties and castles, which made armies of boys and girls dream, and let's face it, even today we too grown children we look at these manors with dreamy eyes, waiting at any moment for the appearance of a dragon, of Guinevere or Merlin the magician. The Middle Ages was certainly a dark age, but it gave us a world inhabited by fairies, gnomes and elves, wizards and knights, who sometimes help us escape from reality.

The starting point of our trip is Saint Vincent, famous for its casino and its spas, but we will avoid playing our bikes at roulette. Our guide will be Fausto Rosas, who will step into the role of Piero Angela of two wheels, leading us to discover the vestiges of the past.

Two days of ups and downs, where you can touch the history that has passed through these lands. Julius Caesar passed here with his legions, Napoleon and his armies and the Counts of Challant ruled for a long time. We will travel along roads that have seen the Roman chariots pass, we will touch the walls that resisted the assaults of the little French emperor, where the suffering and madness of man can still be breathed and the roar of battle and the cries of the wounded fill the head . Fortunately we will cross these lands in time of peace and we will be able to admire the power of nature and the ingenuity of man.

It will be a different trip from those we are used to, no adrenal descents, banks or jumps, but the emotions of history, of passing where hundreds of early years others have passed, the slow pace that allows us to chat and get to know our fellow students better. adventure. A regenerating walk. Don't get me wrong, those wishing to step on the accelerator pedal would certainly find something to satisfy their thirst for lactic acid, but this time we interpreted this two days in a tourist key, a family friendly trip, a passenger in style. slow bike.

DAY 1

The starting point is the Grand Hotel Billia, which takes its name from its creator who inaugurated it in 1908. From here we will head towards the lower valley. Strong destination of Bard. A trip made of ups and downs, where we will touch the presence of history. For long stretches we will follow the Via Francigena, which takes pilgrims from distant England to Rome. We will pass on ancient Roman roads, where local friends show me the furrows still present in the pavement, left hundreds of years earlier by Roman chariots. It seems incredible to think that such simple signs could have come down to us.

 During this ride we will pass the fort of Verres, a monobloc manor, we will stop to visit that of Issogne, where the rooms of the nobility are still visible and we will finally reach Bard with its fort. Imposing and gigantic in its occupying an entire colina. The tour will end in Pont St Martin, after crossing yet another Roman road we will stop at the local train station, to load our bikes and return to the starting point.

Let's dwell a little longer on the paths, deadly tears, technical sections and short and long plateaus along the Dora, a stimulating exit also from a cycling point of view, capable of satisfying even the demanding biker. The only advice is to do this excursion in the morning, trying to finish it by 11. This is because afterwards the fans turn on and a strong vend begins to blow from the plains towards the mountains which makes pedaling problematic.

DAY 2

We always start from the renowned hotel, but this time towards the upper valley, more precisely Fenis. This is the castle par excellence, which thinks of a manor probably thinks of him, towers, spiers, laces and elevating bridges that make the joy of any lover of the theme. Green meadows surround it as even in Highlander Scotland… I'm not exaggerating, Fenis Castle is truly splendid.

Cyclistically speaking, this excursion is more interesting, a wide path in the middle of the mountain accompanies us for a long time, it takes us to the Baron Gamba castle. Here are some Killer tears and a short descent that will enhance and awaken the desire for adrenaline will accompany us towards the cycle path that will take us to Fenis.

Two interesting days, the views, the history and the life of this valley fill your spirit leaving you with good sensations. When the snow melts we will return, to go up, look for the descents that excite us all and regenerate ourselves in some mountain pastures breaking through Fontina ... But this later, now let's enjoy the relaxation of the thermal baths, the cries of joy of the children in front of the castle of the princesses and of fairies and let the imagination make us believe that we have met Gandalf, Frodo and the whole Fellowship of the Ring during this excursion on the paths of history.

DATA SHEET:

DAY 1:

 DISTANCE: 31 KM

TIME: 1h30'-4h and beyond

DAY 2

DISTANCE 20Km

TIME: 1h -3h and beyond

For information on castles:

www.lovevda.it

Technical information:

Guide:

Massimo Duclair: 3666615498

Enrico Melato 3470190357

Rental and repairs:

Rosas bikes: www.rbike.it, [email protected], 3396499867

Where stay:

Grand hotel Billia:

Paradise hotel and Wellness

Material used:

Bike: Cannodale Habit

NorthWave shoes-gloves

Helmet: Limar

Clothing: Santini



Written by

[email protected] Mountain bike travel editor and expert. Chiropractor and personal trainer, for years following some of the strongest national interpreters of enduro mtb.

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