Ollomont La Tornalla
A legend handed down by the people says that the tower that now soars above the forests touching the sky was built by a group of Saracens who fled to Valpelline around 1000 AD, shrouding this monument of history and charm in an enigmatic legendary veil.
However, the earliest document mentioning the tower dates back to 1197 where a certain Ricalmo is reported to have given an “allodio ad Ayacy” to the church of St. Bear.
Previously belonging to Lords of Oyace, it was dismantled by Amadeus IV, Count of Savoy.
Its most fascinating feature is its octagonal plan, a true unicum in the Aosta Valley.
La Tornalla The History
A turbulent history The first documented mention of the Tornalla dates back to 1197, when a certain Ricalmo granted the "allodio ad Ayacy" to the church of Sant'Orso, testifying to the strategic and social importance of the fortified complex of Oyace even at that time.
Over the centuries, the tower and associated castle have seen ups and downs, including the partial destruction ordered by Amadeus IV of Savoy between 1233 and 1253, as a result of behavior deemed improper by the lords of Oyace against the House of Savoy.
Of the original stronghold, only the tower survived, becoming a silent witness to the historical vicissitudes of the region
