La Valpelline
Parcours Place Moulin
Free shuttle service to the Place Moulin Dam
Sustainable mobility
Parcours Place Moulin is a free sustainable mobility service designed to help visitors discover the Valpelline valley and the Place Moulin area in a safer, more responsible, and more conscious way.
The initiative is promoted by the Unité des Communes valdôtaines Grand-Combin as part of the Interreg ALCOTRA VI-A Italy-France project “PARCOURS Climate Change”.
This experimental service was created with the aim of reducing the impact of vehicle traffic in a delicate alpine environment, characterised by fragile environmental balances and hydrogeological instability phenomena, often linked to climate change, which are monitored and studied by the Region and the competent authorities responsible for land management and control.
Through the use of the free shuttle service, Parcours Place Moulin promotes a more sustainable use of the area, helping to reduce emissions, improve safety along the access road, and encourage a more mindful, respectful, and conscious approach to the mountains.
The service operates with road shuttle buses with a capacity of around 30 seats, designed to offer a practical alternative to the use of private cars.
The route connects the Lexert park-and-ride parking area to the Place Moulin dam, with intermediate stops at:
▪ the village of Les Dzovennoz;
▪ the main village of Bionaz;
▪ the Chez Chenoux junction;
▪ the Vallone di Montagnayes parking area;
▪ the Landslide Memorial;
Periods of activity
2026 Timetable (repeated in 2027):
Service operates at weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) from 11 July to 2 August and from 29 August to 20 September
Service operates daily from 3 to 25 August and on 28 August
Time slots
▪ from 9.00 am to 12.00 pm
▪ from 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm
Frequency
▪ every half hour from 13 to 17 August
▪ every hour during all other periods when the service is operating
Costs and rules
The Parcours Place Moulin service is free of charge and open to everyone. No advance booking is required: access to the shuttle is subject to seat availability.
Rules of conduct
To ensure everyone’s safety and respect for the environment, users are asked to:
▪ follow the instructions of the on-board staff;
▪ adhere to the timetable and scheduled stops;
▪ behave responsibly and respect the local area;
▪ be mindful of weather and environmental conditions
• pets are permitted provided they are muzzled and kept on a lead (in accordance with regional law)
• there is no bicycle transport service (in accordance with regional law)
The stops
Every stop, a new experience
Step 1
Lexert
Rest area/interchange car park for accessing the Parcours Place Moulin shuttle service. The site is much loved for spending relaxing hours on the lake shore and is the starting point for walks, visits to natural waterfalls, trekking paths and itineraries along the traces of Bionaz’s former mining activity.
Read more
Lake Lexert
Lake Lexert lies at about 1,555 m in the municipality of Bionaz. On its shores there is a large area equipped for picnics and a stretch of path accessible to people with disabilities. The surrounding larch and fir forest makes it ideal for outdoor activities, family walks and moments of relaxation immersed in nature.
Trekking route next to the lake
Next to Lake Lexert and its equipped area, trekking routes suited to summer hiking wind through the area, offering an immersive experience in the local nature.
Serey Waterfalls
They are recognised as a natural attraction. Mines In the municipality of Bionaz, historic mining activity is documented, for example along a hiking trail that starts from the Lexert hamlet and leads to the old miners’ village.
Step 2
Les Dzovennoz village
The village of Les Dzovennoz is one of the liveliest and most recognisable settlements in the municipality of Bionaz, where alpine architectural tradition blends with visitor services. The village and the small clusters scattered along the neighbouring slope preserve significant examples of Valdostan rural architecture, with stone and timber buildings, stone-slab roofs and functional structures linked to mountain farming life, which tell the historical identity of the valley.
Read more
At the same time, Dzovennoz now plays a strategic role as a reference point for anyone travelling through the Valpelline: here you can find small shops, bars and useful services for a stopover, a break or for organising your day between hikes and outdoor activities.
Hiking trails
From this stop, very scenic routes branch out, including ones to bivouacs in this area, such as:
• Franco Spataro Bivouac;
• Luca Pasqualetti Bivouac
Step 3
Main Town
The stop in the Main Town of Bionaz takes you into the historic heart of the village, where you can still feel the authentic identity of an alpine hamlet deeply rooted in its traditions.
Read more
Parish Church of Saint Margaret
The cultural and historical heart of the town is the Parish Church of Saint Margaret, built in 1694, which is one of the main cultural points of interest in the valley. The façade is enriched by frescoes by Ettore Mazzini, while the interior preserves a rich artistic heritage: the carved and gilded wooden main altar, restored Baroque statues and a central altarpiece depicting sacred scenes.
Learn more about the Parish Church of Saint Margaret
Step 4
Junction for Chez Chenoux
The stop at the Chez Chenoux Junction is an important point along the route, ideal both for those seeking active pursuits and for those wishing to set off to discover the upper Valpelline. Located in a panoramic and easily accessible position, this stop connects outdoor experiences, relaxation and hiking routes of great interest.
Read more
Rebel Park
Rebel Park is a multifunctional adventure park, set amid greenery and designed for a wide audience, from families to groups of friends. In addition to recreational and sporting activities, the park is enhanced by a panoramic terrace offering an open view over the valley, making it an ideal spot for a relaxing break in contact with nature.
Hiking trails
The junction is also a privileged starting point for several hiking routes leading to La Tsa, a high-altitude mountain pasture set in an open, sunny environment typical of the Valpelline alpine landscape. This spot is a much-loved destination for moderate hikes, thanks to its wide pastures and panoramic views.
From here, routes also lead to some of the area’s alpine refuges, including:
• The Rifugio Crête Sèche, a reference point for hikers and mountaineers;
Step 5
Vallone di Montagnayes
A rugged alpine environment and silent, a Nature Reserve where the landscape gradually changes from the wooded valley floor to the high-altitude meadows.
Read more
Hiking routes
From this stop, there are some very picturesque routes; among these, we recommend the one to the Carlo Chentre Bivouac – Ettore Bionaz.
Step 6
Landslide Memorial
Immersed in the forest that grew on the debris of the Becca di Luseney landslide, the Luseney Landslide Memorial is a place of remembrance recalling the tragic event of 8 June 1952. On that occasion, a vast mass of debris detached from the mountain between 2,900 and 3,200 metres, plunging down the valley and filling the valley floor. The landslide caused the death of four people, swept away an entire herd and deeply reshaped the area, leaving traces still visible today on the slope and in the surrounding landscape.
Read more
The landslide claimed the lives of four people, swept away an entire herd and profoundly altered the landscape, leaving marks that are still visible today on the mountainside and in the surrounding countryside.
Today, this place invites us to reflect on the relationship between man and the mountains: an extraordinary yet fragile environment, subject to natural phenomena that, over time, redefine its balance and form. A visit to the memorial is therefore not only a moment of remembrance, but also an opportunity to understand the power and complexity of the Alpine environment.
Hiking routes
The landslide memorial stop is an ideal starting point for exploring the central part of the Bionaz area, in a natural setting shaped by the valley’s geomorphological events.
From here, you can take various hiking routes, including the paths leading to Poullayes, La Lechère and the Verdona valley, trails that wind through woods, pastures and open landscapes, offering picturesque views of the valley floor and the still-visible traces of the 1952 landslide.
The routes, which vary in difficulty but are generally accessible, allow for both short walks and more challenging hikes, linking up with the valley’s network of trails. This stage is particularly suitable for those wishing to enjoy an experience that combines hiking, interpreting the landscape and exploring the history of the area.
Step 7
Place Moulin Dam
The Place Moulin Dam is one of the largest artificial reservoirs in Europe and the main summer tourist attraction of the Valpelline. Sitting at over 1,900 metres above sea level, it offers a spectacular view of the surrounding peaks.
Read more
Scenic hikes
The area is especially appreciated for its scenic hiking routes: the path running alongside the lake, which is almost completely flat, is also ideal for families and inexperienced walkers, offering striking views of the water and the surrounding peaks.
For those wishing to venture further, the dam represents a true gateway to the high mountains, with numerous routes leading to mountain huts and bivouacs set within fascinating alpine landscapes. Among the most popular destinations are:
• the Prarayer Hut, easily accessible and perfect even for a first high-altitude experience;
• the Nacamuli Huts, at Col Collon, and the Aosta Hut, near the Tza de Tzan glacier, both intended for experienced hikers and located in a high-mountain environment, at the foot of the glaciers and along the routes connecting Italy and Switzerland.
For more experienced hikers, several alpine bivouacs are also available, including:
• Perelli Cippo Bivouac;
• Laura Florio Bivouac;
• Tête des Roéses Bivouac;
The area is also ideal for activities such as mountain biking and relaxing moments outdoors, including picnics and landscape observation.
Satisfaction survey
Questionario di gradimento
Did you use the service or take part in the experiences along the route?
Your opinion matters.
