Ayas The Rascards

In the Aosta Valley there are ancient constructions typical of the region called rascards.
These are ancient rural dwellings made from fir, larch and pine logs, stripped of their bark and then specially notched at the ends.
Rascards are traditional dwellings typical of the Alpine arc, designed to prevent the buildup of moisture and therefore exploited in the past especially for storing both hay and grain.
Rascards are especially common in the Ayas Valley, but several can also be seen in Valtournenche and the Gressoney Valley.
How rascards are made The traditional “concentrated-function” rascard consists of at least three floors: the lower floor includes the cellar and the stable; the middle floor, the most illuminated part of the house, constitutes the actual living quarters, with two separate rooms, the “majòn” and the “péillo,” exploited especially during the good season, because in winter the heat loss upward was excessive, since the third level of the rascard is suspended on pillars; the third level is supported by a series of wooden pillars about 70 cm high, called “mushrooms” and often topped with a losa, or flat stone usually used to make roofs.
Where you can find rascards in the Aosta Valley There are different types of rascards spread somewhat throughout the Aosta Valley and to this day enough of them are still preserved.