Italy - Cogne
Cogne lies at an altitude of 5030 ft
(1534 mt.) and is located at 15 mi. (27 km.) from Aosta at the widest point of the Cogne
Valley.
Early settlements grew up in the
Urtier Valley. The first parish church was built by Saint Orso. From 1200 onwards the
Cogne Valley was governed for seven centuries by the Bishop of Aosta.
The iron ore (called "magnetite") mines in Cogne have played an important role
both in the valley's economy and in that of the Aosta Valley as a whole.
These days it is well known for a
wide choice of winter sports. The cross-country ski tracks cover nearly 50 mi. (90 km) and
provide the setting for the Marcia Granparadiso cross-country skiing race.
But the outstanding attraction is the
Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy’s oldest national park, originally the hunting
grounds of the ruling House of Savoy, who donated the first 5000 acres to the people in
1919.
Today the park covers 173,000 acres of perennially snow-capped mountain peaks, tiny
glacial lakes, wooded slopes and vast flowering meadows and enables visitors to get
close-up views of chamois and ibexes.
The park provides about 450 miles (650 km)of marked trails and mule-tracks, which makes it
a virtual paradise for advanced and inexperienced hikers alike.
