The valley is called Valsainte, holy valley, and the spot Saint-Éméric: both names come from here. Emeric, son of Giacomo II, finished his theology studies in Turin, gave up worldly life and retired to this secluded place just above the castle of Quart; later he became bishop of Aosta and after his death was proclaimed blessed.
What to see
The hermitage stands at 1,150 metres and amounts to a small stone-clad chapel with a pitched roof. Inside are a stone altar topped by a wooden cross and a statue of the blessed. A short way off, legend points to a rock said to bear the marks of his knees, left there while he prayed.
Visiting
You walk up from the castle of Quart along the panoramic path, which carries panels on flora, fauna, geology and prehistoric finds; beside the hermitage a meadow is set up for picnics. The place still draws pilgrims.
Our editors' tip
There is nothing to see in the strict sense: it is a tiny chapel in the middle of a meadow. The point is the climb and the silence you find on arriving, and bringing lunch so you can stay a while is the sensible thing to do.