Jovençan La Maison des Anciens Remèdes

La Maison des Anciens Remèdes La Maison des Anciens Remèdes is an enchanting center dedicated to the use of medicinal plants, set up in an old 17th-century barn formerly belonging to the Jovençan parish.
Here, nature and popular culture meet, revealing ancient savoir-faire, legends, recipes and home remedies.   A guided tour to discover thirty-eight plants, from common to rare, mysterious and used in local folk culture.
Roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruits reveal their secrets and healing powers.   Videos reveal traditional folk remedies passed down from a peasant pharmacy where women guarded ancient knowledge.
The route inside the Maison des Anciens Remèdes Inside, a fine 18th-century painting depicting the martyrdom of St. Sebastian and an exceptional ex-voto painting from 1704, celebrating the salvation of the village of Courmayeur from the French invasionIn the chapel to the left of the chancel, an inscription recalls the stay in Courmayeur in 1930 of Prince Umberto of Savoy and Princess Maria José, on their honeymoon.
The bell tower, of uncertain age but dating from the 11th or 12th century, is a unique example in the Aosta Valley.
The spire, reworked later, resembles a tiara, perhaps in homage to the popes of Avignon.
With seven bells from different periods, the bell tower is a distinctive feature of the church. In the Apothecary’s Shop, visitors explore plants, discovering properties and contraindications, while a large book narrates the remedies of the mountains.   La Maison offers a glimpse into the territory and flora of the Aosta Valley, rich in scents and colors.   “The Academy of the Senses” invites people to recognize medicinal plants through twelve natural essential oils.   A children’s play corner, educational workshops and play spaces make learning a fun companion.