La Magdeleine, agriculture a stone's throw from the sky

La Magdeleine - On the slopes of Mount Cervino, in the southern part of the Valtournenche gully, in the province of Aosta, there is a group of houses lying on the plateau, is La Magdeleine, a scattered town of 110 inhabitants at a height of 11644 m s. Lm 40 km north-west of the capital. Already existing in the Iron Age due to favorable climatic conditions and gold deposits, and occupied by the Celts, in the Middle Ages the center was administered by the Lordship of Cly on behalf of the Savoy.

The village, dominated by the imposing silhouette of Monte Tantanè, stretches out on terraced pastures that alternate with luxuriant woods and the houses seem to rest on the green grass of the surrounding fields. Among the houses stands out the elegant silhouette of the Church of Santa Maria Maddalena, dating back to 1482 and subject to renovations several times up to the current neoclassical style. The peculiar feature of La Magdeleine is the tranquility of the place, a real tourist attraction for lovers of relaxation in contact with nature and healthy air, and with a rural environment that finds its main source of livelihood in agriculture and livestock. . Traditions have not been lost, it is easy to find ovens for baking bread that daily renew ancient rites and re-propose genuine flavors of yesteryear. The village festivals, proposed on a punctual basis, are a moment of strong appeal to savor the products of the territory and to learn about the local customs of this community strongly linked to agriculture. The cultivation of wheat, practiced assiduously until the mid-1900s, is documented by the presence of numerous water mills that exploit the streams coming from the melting of the snows of the nearby mountains, which can now be visited as workshops of crafts and tools of the past also through the construction of a specific Path of the Mills. In winter the city has rediscovered another of its ancient vocation, enhancing the slopes and ski facilities dedicated to families. The high number of hours of sunshine allows you to stay on the snow even on the coldest days and the Snow Park ensures fun even for those who are not too familiar with the snow.