Étroubles
A village between art and nature
The village of Étroubles is the first one you encounter as you climb towards the Pass. It is surrounded by an amphitheater of majestic mountains at an altitude of 1,270 meters and by forests and meadows. With its cobblestone streets and flowered balconies, its architecture has rightfully earned its place among the most beautiful villages in Italy (Borghi più belli d’Italia).
Étroubles has also received the recognition of the Bandiera Arancione from the Italian Touring Club, the mark of environmental and tourism quality for hinterland areas. It has been awarded the "Marchio di Qualità dell’Ambiente di Vita Comune Fiorito" by the Asproflor association, given to towns that excel in the care and preservation of urban green spaces and the development of slow and conscious tourism. Furthermore, it has obtained the tourist label "Gioielli d'Italia," a project launched by the Ministry of Tourism and the National Association of Italian Municipalities (ANCI) to enhance tourism in small villages and to promote cultural activities in the area.
Known as Restopolis in Roman times, Étroubles has been a strategic location and a transit point since ancient times. During the Roman era, it served as the winter residence for the Roman garrison at the Great St. Bernard Pass, and the village is crossed by the Via Francigena. In the Middle Ages, the square tower in Vachéry was particularly important, it dated back to the 12th century and was likely built on Roman foundations. The church, of which the Romanesque bell tower from the 1400s still remains today, as well as a hospice, founded in 1317 and still functioning in the last century, also played significant roles.
The current name of the village, Étroubles, may derive from the term etrobla which means "fields covered in straw" in the local dialect, the Franco-Provençal dialect called the patois of the Aosta Valley. Until a few decades ago, the village was surrounded by rolling fields of wheat and rye.
Since 2005, the village of Étroubles houses the first open-air museum in the Aosta Valley, a permanent exhibition of works by local and international artists hidden in the narrow streets of the village.
Étroubles, always at the forefront, is home to the Bertin power plant and the ancient turnery dairy. Among the first of their kind in the region, both locations have been renovated or house a permanent exhibition showcasing the local history and various temporary exhibitions.
Rich in history, traditions, and nature, the village of Étroubles preserves an unparalleled charm and will enchant you in every season.
