Unité des Communes Grand-Paradis Cogne

The municipality of Cogne is the largest in the Aosta Valley and the 19th largest in terms of altitude.
Situated in the heart of the Gran Paradiso National Park at an altitude of 1,544 meters (5,744 feet) and with a population of 1,396, Cogne is now a well-known tourist resort, yet quiet and welcoming and particularly careful in respecting and preserving its natural heritage.
At the height of the main town (Veulla), five valleys branch off: to the south, the Valnontey, leading to the slopes of the Gran Paradiso; to the north, the Grauson valley; to the southeast, the Urtier valley and the Valeille; and to the east, the Gimillan valley.
Cogne overlooks the wide expanse of the Prati di Sant’Orso recognized as an “Italian Wonder” in 2012, which are home to the bataille de reines, a traditional competition between Aosta Valley cows.

Given Cogne’s great importance to iron mining, it is possible to learn about how the activity worked, the experience in the mine, the transformation process, the workplaces and the lives of the workers at the Aosta Valley Mining Park and Cogne Mine exhibition center. Cogne, too, does not hide its traditions, which can be touched at village festivals or learned about at the Maison de Cogne Gérard-Dayné, a historic building that houses a permanent exhibition on the life and traditions of the local population, with a focus on the craft of bobbin lace. An important role in the town is played by the Church of Saint Bear, built in the 12th century in honor of the patron saint of the Aosta Valley. It hides, in addition, a legend… Historical and cultural visits aside, the stop that cannot be missed in your planning in Cogne is undoubtedly the Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy’s first national park established in 1922, which contributes to the preservation of nature and Alpine wildlife. You cannot miss the endless activities that Cogne offers in both summer and winter. Here there are extensive networks of trails, snow walking paths and snowshoeing routes for walking in all seasons in the heart of the national park. With 80 kilometers (50 miles) of cross-country skiing trails, Cogne is one of Aosta Valley’s most renowned Nordic skiing resorts, the scene in February of the Marcia Gran Paradiso, a classic technique cross-country race. With more than 150 waterfalls, the most famous of which are those of Lillaz, Cogne is an international destination for ice climbing enthusiasts. For the more adrenaline-fueled hikers, the Gran Paradiso massif offers breathtaking scenery and opportunities for mountaineering excursions of varying levels of difficulty.