Aosta Valley

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Aosta Valley Valle d'Aosta Vallée d'Aoste
—  Autonomous region o Italy  —
Aosta Valley
Banner Coat o airms
Anthem: Montagnes Valdôtaines
Coordinates:
Kintra	Italy
Caipital	Aosta
Govrenment
- Preses	Augusto Rollandin (UV)
Aurie
- Tot	dunams (3,263 km2 /  sq mi)
Indwallers (01-01-2011)
- Tot	128,000
- Densitie	39.2/km2 (/sq mi)
- Official languages	Italian, French
Citizenship
- Italian	95%
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Simmer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
GDP/ Nominal	€ 3.9 billion (2008)
GDP per capita	€ 30,300 (2008)
NUTS Region	ITC
Wabsteid	www.regione.vda.it

The Aosta Valley (Italian: Valle d'Aosta (offeecial) or Val d'Aosta (usual), French: Vallée d'Aoste (offeecial) or Val d'Aoste (usual), Template:Lang-frp, German: Aostatal, Template:Lang-pms) is a muntainous semi-autonomous region in north-wastren Italy. It is bordered bi Rhône-Alpes, Fraunce tae the wast, Valais, Swisserland tae the north an the region o Piedmont tae the sooth an east.

Wi an aurie o 3,263 km² ({{rnd/cdec||()}} sq mi) an a population o aboot 130,000, it is the smawest, least populous, an least densely populatit region o Italy. It is the anerlie Italian region which haes nae provinces (the province o Aosta wis dissolvit in 1945). Provincial admeenistrative functions are providit bi the regional govrenment. The region is dividit intae 74 comuni (communes).

The native population speaks Valdôtain, a form o Franco-Provençal (Arpitan), as their first leid, while in the Lys Valley there is a Walser German speakin minority. The regional caipital is Aosta.

Geography

The Aosta Valley is an Alpine valley that wi its side valleys includes the Italian slopes o Monte Bianco, Monte Rosa an the Matterhorn; its heichest peak is Monte Bianco (the Mont Blanc).

A view o La Thuile

Climate

The climate o the region is severe, especially when compared wi ither places in the Western Alps. This is probably due tae the muntains blockin the mild winds frae the Atlantic Ocean. Places wi the same altitude in France or wastren Swisserland are not as cauld as the Aosta Valley.

Aosta Valley mey be dividit intae different climatic zones:

The Dora Baltea Valley, atween 300 an 1000 metres, wi the mildest climate in aw the province, haes a typical Oceanic climate (Cfb). The winters are mild, even milder than the Po River Valley, but uisually wet an foggy. Snaw is frequent anerlie durin Januar an Februar, but the foggy season, which stairts in late October, lasts till Mey. The temperatur average for Januar is atween Template:Convert/°C an Template:Convert/°C. The simmers are mild, uisually rainy. Temperatur averages in Julie atween Template:Convert/°C an Template:Convert/°C. The main touns in this aurie are Aosta, Saint-Vincent, Châtillon an Sarre. Due tae the occidental position at the Alpine Arc, the climate classifeed as Cfb may extend tae relatively heich places, especially near the French border, which receives the mild oceanic wind, so it’s possible tae fynd places at 1500, or even 1900 metres wi the same Cfb climate, but the temperaturs are lawer, aroond Template:Convert/°C in the winter an Template:Convert/°C in the simmer, an mist durin aw the year.

View o Aosta

The valleys around 1300 metres, which, depending on the geomorphology, develop a Humid continental climate (Dfb), although with mild winter temperatures for this kind of climate, similar to the temperatures of the Norwegian fjords, as in Trondheim. Winter temperatures average around Template:Convert/°C or Template:Convert/°C, and summers between Template:Convert/°C and Template:Convert/°C. The snow season starts in November and lasts until March. Mist is common during the morning from April until October. The main communities in this area are Gressoney-Saint-Jean (averages of Template:Convert/°C in January and Template:Convert/°C in July), Brusson and Gressoney-La-Trinité.

The muntain lands aroond 2000 metres hae a Cauld Oceanic Climate (Cfc). This aurie haes a climate similar tae some northren-Norawa fjords. Even though at a vera heich altitude, the climate is mild. This is due tae the heich influence o the oceanic mild air that can blow at these regions. Fog is common throughoot the year, especially in Aprile an October, when some years these regions can hae mair than a week wi constant fog an mist. The winters are mild. Mean temperatur ranges atween Template:Convert/°C at the driest regions an Template:Convert/°C near lakes. Durin the simmer, the mean temperaturs are vera low, aroond Template:Convert/°C.

The valleys abuin 1600 metres uisually develop a Cauld Continental Climate (Dfc). In this climate the snaw saison is vera lang, as lang as 8 or 9 months at the heichest points. Durin the simmer, mist occurs amaist ivery day. These auries are the wettest in the wastren Alps. Temperaturs are law, atween Template:Convert/°C an Template:Convert/°C in Januar, an in Julie atween Template:Convert/°C an Template:Convert/°C. In this aurie is the toun o Rhêmes-Notre-Dame, which mey be the cauldest in the Occidental Alps an whaur winter average temperatur is aroond Template:Convert/°C. Ither touns with this climate are Chamois, Aosta Valley, Breuil-Cervinia (sometimes ET), Bionaz (sometimes mild), Gressoney-La-Trinité (mild), an ithers.

Auries atween 2000 metres an 3500 metres uisually hae a Tundra Climate (ET). Ivery month haes an average temperatur belaw Template:Convert/°C. Winter an simmer averages can chynge accordin tae the altitude. This climate mey be a kind o mair severe Cauld Oceanic Climate, wi a law simmer average but mild winters, sometimes abuin Template:Convert/°C, especially near lakes, or a mair severe Cauld Continental Climate, wi a vera law winter average. Abuin 3000 metres is typically muntainous climate. Averages in Pian Rosà, at 3400 metres, are Template:Convert/°C in Januar an Template:Convert/°C in Julie. It is the cauldest place in Italy whaur the climate is verifiable.

Abuin 3500 metres, aw the months hae an average temperatur belaw freezin, an we fynd a Perpetual Frost Climate (EF).

History

Castle in Saint-Pierre

File:Fenis Castle1.JPG

The Fénis Castle, 13th century

The first inhabitants of the Aosta Valley were Celts and Ligurians, whose language lingers in some local placenames. Rome conquered the region from the local Salassi ca. 25 BC and founded Augusta Prætoria Salassorum (modern-day Aosta) to secure the strategic mountain passes, which they improved with bridges and roads. After Rome the high valley preserved traditions of autonomy, reinforced by its seasonal isolation, though it was loosely held in turns by the Goths and the Lombards, then by the Burgundian kings in the 5th century, followed by the Franks, who overran the Burgundian kingdom in 534. At the division among the heirs of Charlemagne in 870, the Aosta Valley formed part of the Lotharingian Kingdom of Italy, in a second partition a decade later, it formed part of the Kingdom of Upper Burgundy, which was joined to the Kingdom of Arles — all with few corresponding changes in the population of the virtually independent fiefs in the Aosta Valley.

In 1031-1032 Humbert I of Savoy, the founder of the House of Savoy, received the title Count of Aosta from the Emperor Conrad II of the Franconian line and built himself a commanding fortification at Bard. Saint Anselm of Canterbury was born in Aosta in 1033 or 1034. The region was divided among strongly fortified castles, and in 1191 Thomas I of Savoy found it necessary to grant to the communes a Carta delle Franchigie ("Charter of Liberties") that preserved autonomy — rights that were fiercely defended until 1770, when they were revoked in order to tie Aosta more closely to the Piedmont, but which were again demanded during post-Napoleonic times. In the mid-13th century Emperor Frederick II made the County of Aosta a duchy (see Duke of Aosta), and its arms charged with a lion rampant were carried in the Savoian arms until the reunification of Italy in 1870. During the Middle Ages the region remained strongly feudal, and castles, such as those of the Challant family in the Valley of Gressoney, still dot the landscape. In the 12th and 13th centuries, German-speaking Walser communities were established in the Gressoney, and some communes retain their separate Walser identity even today.

The region remained part of Savoy lands, with the exception of a French occupation from 1539 to 1563. As part of the Kingdom of Sardinia it joined the new Kingdom of Italy in 1861.

Under Mussolini, a forced programme of Italianization, including population transfers of Valdostans in France and Switzerland (where today still Valdotanian communities are present) and Italian-speaking workers into Aosta, fostered movements towards separatism. The region has a special autonomous status; the province of Aosta ceased to exist in 1945 and Aosta was regranted its autonomy in 1948.

Economy

Mont Blanc Tunnel entrance

The Aosta Valley remained agricultural and pastoral until the construction of dams to harness the potential of its hydroelectric power brought metal-working industry to the region.

Agriculture has become increasingly specialised, retaining only a marginal interest in cereals, potatoes and fruit. Wines of high - and rising - quality are produced in small quantities. All are entitled to the Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC). Animal feed crops supply the region's dairy herds, some 40 000 head in 2000, which are pastured in the high Alps during the summer period. The region's cheeses are renowned throughout Italy. Virtually no other form of stock rearing is practised.

Tourism is one of the strongest points of the region's economy. The valley's natural beauty, its peaceful atmosphere in summer and snow in winter have allowed the development of a flourishing tourist industry and especially winter sports, most famously at Courmayeur and Cervinia.

The upper Aosta Valley is the traditional southern starting-point for the tracks, then roads, which divided here to lead over the Alpine passes. The road through the Great St Bernard Pass (or today the Great St Bernard Tunnel) leads to Martigny, Valais, and the one through the Little St Bernard Pass to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, Savoie. Today Aosta is joined to Chamonix in France by the Mont Blanc Tunnel, a road tunnel on European route E25 running underneath the Alps.

Demographics

Historical populations
Year	Pop.	±%
1861	81,884
1871	81,260	−0.8%
1881	85,007	+4.6%
1901	83,529	−1.7%
1911	80,680	−3.4%
1921	82,769	+2.6%
1931	83,479	+0.9%
1936	83,455	−0.0%
1951	94,140	+12.8%
1961	100,959	+7.2%
1971	109,150	+8.1%
1981	112,353	+2.9%
1991	115,938	+3.2%
2001	119,548	+3.1%
2011	128,000	+7.1%
Source: ISTAT 2001

The population density of Valle d'Aosta is by far the lowest among the Italian regions. In 2008, 38.9 inhabitants per km² were registered in the region, whereas the average national figure was 198.8. It should be remembered, on the other hand, that the region has extensive uninhabitable areas of mountain and glacier, and that a substantial part of the population lives in the central valley. Migration from the lateral valleys has now been stemmed by generous regional support for agriculture and tourist development. The population is growing slowly but steadily. Negative natural increase since 1976 has been more than offset by a regular surplus on migration. The region has one of Italy's lowest birth rates, which means that the average age of the population is rising. This, too, is partly compensated by immigration, since most immigrants arriving in the region are younger persons working in the tourist industry. Between 1990 and 2001, the population of Valle d'Aosta has grown by 5.4%, which is the highest growth among the Italian regions. With a negative natural population growth, this is due exclusively to positive net migration. As of 2006, the Italian National Institute of Statistics ISTAT estimated that 4,976 foreign-born immigrants live in Aosta Valley, equal to 4.0% of the total regional population.

Italian and French are the region's official languages and are used for the regional government's acts and laws, though Italian is much more widely spoken in everyday life, and French is mostly spread in cultural life. The regional language is a dialect of Franco-Provençal called Valdôtain (locally, patois). It is spoken as native tongue and as second language by 68,000 residents, about 58% of the population, according to a poll taken by the Fondation Émile Chanoux in 2002. The residents of the villages of Gressoney-Saint-Jean, Gressoney-La-Trinité and Issime, in the Lys Valley, speak a dialect of Walser German origin.

Culture

Cuisine

The cuisine of the Aosta Valley is characterized by simplicity and revolves around "robust" ingredients such as potatoes, polenta, and rice; cheese and meat; and rye bread. Many of the dishes involve Fontina, a cheese with PDO status, made from cow's milk that originates from the valley. It is found in dishes such as a soup a la valpellinentse. Other cheeses made in the region are Toma and Robiola. Valle d'Aosta Fromadzo is produced locally since the 15th century and also has PDO status.

Regional specialties, besides Fontina, are mochetta (dried chamois meat, prepared like prosciutto), Vallée d'Aoste Lard d'Arnad (a cured and brined fatback product with PDO designation), Vallée d’Aoste Jambon de Bosses (a kind of ham, likewise with PDO designation), and a black bread. Notable wines include a white wine from Morgex, a red wine blend from Arvier (Enfer d'Arvier), and a Gamay.

Notable dishes include Carbonada, consisting of salt-cured beef cooked with onions and red wine served with polenta; breaded veal cutlets called costolette; tetouns, salt-cured cow's udder that is cooked and sliced; and bistecca a la valdostana, a steak with croutons and melted cheese.

Govrenment an politics

Main airticle: Politics o Aosta Valley

See an aw

• Alps-Mediterranean Euroregion
• Roman Catholic Diocese o Aosta
• Elections in Aosta Valley
• Let o Preses o Aosta Valley

Sources

• Janin, Bernard (1976), Le Val d'Aoste. Tradition et renouveau, Quart: éditeur Musumeci 
• Cerutti, Augusta Vittoria, Le Pays de la Doire et son peuple, Quart: éditeur Musumeci 
• Henry, Joseph-Marie (1967), Histoire de la Vallée d'Aoste, Aoste: Imprimerie Marguerettaz 
• Riccarand, Elio, Storia della Valle d'Aosta contemporanea (1919-1945), Aoste: Stylos Aoste 
• Colliard, Lin (1976), La culture valdôtaine au cours des siècles, Aoste 

Freemit airtins

Wikimedia Commons haes media adae wi:

Aosta Valley

• Template:It icon Template:Fr icon Website of the Aosta Valley Regional Authority
• Template:Fr icon Template:It icon Image Vallée - Aosta Valley's landscape photo gallery
• Template:It icon Template:Fr icon (Inglis) Weather forecast and map of the Aosta Valley
• Associazione regionale Pro Loco Valle D'Aosta / Association régionale des syndicats d'initiative Vallée d'Aoste

Template:Aosta Valley Template:Regions o Italy Template:Italy topics