Gressan

Introduction

A municipality at the bottom of the valley, located almost opposite Aosta, on the right side of the Dora Baltea river. It is characterised by a large flat area, which lends itself well to agricultural activities: apple-growing is still practised. In fact, the ancient Romans, after defeating the indigenous population of the Salassi, settled their agricultural estates in the most productive areas. One of them, the fundus Grattiani, became Gressan over the centuries.

Description

The proximity to Aosta, the administrative centre, has also favoured the settlement of noble families: the oldest seems to have been the De Balnea family, whose house-fort, passed on to other owners, is said to have witnessed the birth of St Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury and Doctor of the Church, in 1033. Other notable buildings were the castle of the De Graciano family, now incorporated into the parish church; the house-fort of the La Cour family; the castle of the La Tour de Villa family and the tower of La Plantà.
 Subverting the purely agricultural character of the municipal economy was the birth of the ski resort of Pila, located at 1800 m. The resort has a large downhill skiing area, is easily accessible by car and by cable car from Aosta and, despite its location on the northern side of the mountain, is very sunny. It is a valley bottom municipality, located almost opposite Aosta, on the right side of the Dora Baltea river. It is characterised by a large flat area, which lends itself well to agricultural activities: apple orchards are still practised. In fact, the ancient Romans, after defeating the indigenous population of the Salassi, settled their agricultural estates in the most productive areas. One of them, the 

fundus Grattiani, became Gressan over the centuries. Its proximity to Aosta, the administrative centre, also favoured the settlement of noble families: the oldest seems to have been the De Balnea family, whose house-fortress, which passed to other owners, is said to have witnessed the birth of St. Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury and Doctor of the Church, in 1033. Other notable buildings were the castle of the De Graciano family, now incorporated into the parish church; the house-fort of the La Cour family; the castle of the La Tour de Villa family and the tower of La Plantà. Subverting the purely agricultural character of the municipal economy was the birth of the ski resort of Pila, located at 1800 m. The resort has a large downhill skiing area, is easily accessible by car and by cable car from Aosta and, despite its position on the northern side of the mountain, is very sunny.

Information

Area: 25.30 sq km
Altitude: 626m
Maximum elevation: Punta della Valletta (3090m)
Number of inhabitants: 3135
Name in dialect:
 Inhabitants name:
Patron Saint: Saint Stephen (26 December)
Website: www.comune.gressan.ao.en
Webcam:
Bordering municipalities: Aosta, Aymavilles, Charvensod, Cogne, Jovençan, Sarre
 Villages and hamlets: La Bagne, Barral, Barrier, Bénaz, Bonella, Borettaz, Bovet, La Cerise, Chamen, Champlan, Chanté, Chérémoz, Chez le Rû, Ciel-bleu, Clair, Clérod, La Cort, Crétaz, La Cure de Chevrot, Eaux-froides, Échandail, Étrepiou, Favret, Les Fleurs, La Fontaine, Gerdaz, La Giradaz, Gorret, Grand-Cerise, Impérial, Jacquin, Letey, Leysettaz, La Magdeleine, Moline, Naudin, La Palud, Pâquier, Perriail, Pila, Pilet, La Piscine, Plattaz, Plein Soleil, Rémaz, La Roche, Ronc, Surpillod, Taxel (chef-lieu), Tour de Ville, Vignettaz, Vilvoir, Viseran
 Landscapes: