Holiday apartment in Doues: hiking, nature and Alpine culture

Doues combines an easy mountain hike, tranquil woodland landscapes and a culture rich in tradition. If you are planning a stay in a holiday apartment in Doues, you can tailor your visit entirely to your own interests: with a manageable circular route, a trip to a chapel, insights into local crafts or winter experiences in the snow.

Holiday apartment in Doues as a base for trails and hikes

The Ru du Mont is an easy 7 km circular route from Châtelair to Vaud. The route involves 110 metres of elevation gain, and the approximate walking time is three hours. This makes it possible to include a hike of manageable scope in your daily plans. From Plan Détruit, families can reach Rifugio Champillon on foot in about an hour, crossing the meadows of the Champillon basin. Rifugio Champillon “Adolfo Letey” caters to hikers travelling along the Tour des Combin and Alta Via no. 1. Champillon can be reached via the municipal road from the main village of Doues and is 11 km from it.

Nature experiences among forests, meadows and high-altitude trails

The Belvedere picnic area lies at an altitude of around 1,800 metres in an open fir forest with large, level areas. From there, two paths lead uphill to the Colle di Champillon and downhill towards the inhabited part of the municipality. These different directions provide a clear framework for planning your day, without every activity having to be the same in character. In the forests around Doues, you can discover wildlife on snowshoes. The Aula Verde is designed and suitable for visitors of all ages, as well as for people with various motor and sensory impairments.

Discover culture and history in Doues

The chapel of Châtelair is the oldest chapel in Doues and is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. Doues is also home to the parish church of San Biagio, which was rebuilt in 1790. Integrated into the church is a chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas; it contains the tomb of the lords of La Crête. The village of Meylan also preserves a historical trace: it once housed a typical village school for children from high-altitude settlements. The Museo degli Alpini adds another cultural highlight with a permanent exhibition about the Alpini and other related topics.

Traditions, crafts and winter activities

During the historic Carnival of the Coumba Freida, the Landzette wear colourful traditional costumes. These represent the uniforms of French soldiers allegorically and evoke the arrival of spring. The Batailles de Reines are among the most deeply rooted traditions of the Aosta Valley. Local crafts in Doues include sculptures, woodcarvings, bas-reliefs, agricultural tools, household objects and furniture. In the upper villages of Doues, ski tours lead towards Creux and Champillon. For your holiday apartment, these different areas of focus can provide helpful guidance, depending on whether you wish to combine hiking, culture, nature observation or seasonal activities. Doues can be reached by the “Aosta – Doues” bus route.

More destinations for planning your trip

If you would like to discover other places in addition to Doues, here are suitable destinations for your personal plans: Pontboset, Coveyrand, Acque Fredde, Ollomont, Émarèse, Valtournenche, Arvier and Bionaz.

For the higher-level travel overview: Aosta Valley.