Covering an area of 3,263 km2 (1,260 sq mi) and with 122,714 inhabitants as of 2025,[citation needed] it is the smallest, least populous, and least densely populated region of Italy. The province of Aosta having been dissolved in 1945, the Aosta Valley region was the firstregion of Italy to abolish provincial subdivisions,[10] followed byFriuli-Venezia Giulia in 2017 (where they were reestablished later). Provincial administrative functions are provided by the regional government. The region is divided into 74comuni (French:communes).
Italian andFrench are the official languages, and theValdôtain dialect ofFranco-Provençal is also officially recognized. Italian is spoken as a mother tongue by 77.29% of the population, Valdôtain by 17.91%, and French by 1.25%. In 2009, reportedly 50.53% of the population could speak all three languages.[11]
The valleys, usually above 1,600 m (5,200 ft), annually have a coldcontinental climate (Dfc). In this climate, the snow season is very long, as long as 8 or 9 months at the highest points. During the summer,mist occurs almost every day. These areas are the wettest in the western Alps. Temperatures in January are low, between −7 and −3 °C (19 and 27 °F), and in July are between 20 and 35 °C (68 and 95 °F).
Areas between 2,000 and 3,500 m (6,600 and 11,500 ft) usually have atundra climate (ET), where every month has an average temperature below 10 °C (50 °F). This climate may be either a kind of more severe cold oceanic climate, with a low summer average but mild winters, sometimes above −3 °C (27 °F), especially near lakes, or a more severe cold continental climate, with a very low winter average. Temperature averages inPlateau Rosa, at 3,400 m (11,200 ft) high, are −11.6 °C (11.1 °F) in January and 1.4 °C (34.5 °F) in July. It is the coldest place in Italy where the climate is verifiable.[13]
In the past, above 3,500 m (11,500 ft), all months had an average temperature below freezing, with a perpetual frost climate (EF). In recent years, however, there has been a rise in temperatures. See, as an example, the data for Plateau Rosa.[13]
Early inhabitants of the Aosta Valley wereCelts andLigures, whoselanguage heritage remains in some local placenames. Rome conquered the region from the localSalassi around 25 BC and foundedAugusta Prætoria Salassorum (modern-day Aosta) to secure the strategic mountain passes, and they went on to build bridges and roads through the mountains. Thus, the nameValle d'Aosta literally means "Valley of Augustus".[14]
TheTour des Seigneurs de la Porte Saint-Ours in Aosta.
In 1031–1032,Humbert I of Savoy, the founder of theHouse of Savoy, received the titleCount of Aosta from EmperorConrad II of theFranconian line and built himself acommanding fortification at Bard. SaintAnselm 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 aCharte des franchises ("Charter of Liberties") which preserved autonomy—rights that were fiercely defended until 1770, when they were revoked to tie Aosta more closely toPiedmont, but which were again demanded during post-Napoleonic times. In the mid-13th century,Emperor Frederick II made the County of Aosta aduchy (seeDuke of Aosta), and its arms charged with a lion rampant were carried in theSavoy arms until the reunification of Italy in 1870.[15]
The region remained part of Savoy lands, with the exceptions of French occupations from 1539 to 1563, later in 1691, and then between 1704 and 1706. It was also ruled by theFirst French Empire between 1800 and 1814. During French rule, it was part of Aostearrondissement inDoire department.[16] As part of theKingdom of Sardinia, it joined the newKingdom of Italy in 1861.
French forces briefly controlled the area at the end ofWorld War II, but withdrew under British and American pressure.[17] The region gainedspecial autonomous status after the end of World War II; the province of Aosta ceased to exist in 1945.[10]
For decades, the valley has been dominated by autonomist regional parties such as theValdostan Union, which represents the interests of the French-speaking population.[18] The latestregional election was held in late September 2025. The currentPresident isRenzo Testolin, first elected in 2023 supported by a coalition of autonomist and progressive lists.[19][20]
The Aosta Valley, the smallest region by area in Italy, is not divided into provinces. It is, however, still divided into 74 comunes, namely:
The largest resident foreign-born groups on 31 December 2019[23]
Nationality
Population
Romania
2,361
Morocco
1,553
Albania
695
China
298
Ukraine
272
Tunisia
261
Dominican Republic
235
France
220
Moldova
179
Algeria
160
Poland
144
United Kingdom
105
Nigeria
102
The population density of Aosta Valley is by far the lowest of the Italian regions. In 2008, 38.9 inhabitants per km2 were registered in the region, whereas the average national figure was 198.8, though the region has extensive uninhabitable areas of mountain and glacier, with a substantial part of the population living in the central valley.
Negativenatural population growth since 1976 has been more than offset by immigration. The region has one of Italy's lowestbirth rates, with a rising average age. This, too, is partly compensated by immigration, since most immigrants arriving in the region are younger people working in the tourist industry. Between 1991 and 2001, the population of Aosta Valley grew by 3.1%, which is the highest growth among the Italian regions. With a negative natural population growth, this is due exclusively to positive net migration.[5] Between 2001 and 2011, the population of Aosta Valley grew by a further 7.07%. As of 2006[update], the ItalianNational Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) estimated that 4,976 foreign-born immigrants live in Aosta Valley, equal to 4.0% of the total regional population.
TheValdôtain population and their language dialects have been the subject of some sociological research.[24]
The economy of the Aosta Valley is based above all on the tertiary sector, in particular on tourism. Due to the autonomy conferred by the special statute, the public sector, which administers most of the regional financial resources, plays a role of primary importance in the Aosta Valley economy. The industries are concentrated in the lower valley (betweenVerrès-Champdepraz andPont-Saint-Martin) and are often small to medium sized. However, the contribution of agriculture and livestock to the regional economy is modest. Potatoes, apples, vines, barley are grown and cattle are raised. The artisanal production is significant, in which wooden sculpture emerges.
Aosta Valley has many small and picturesque villages, three of them have been selected byI Borghi più belli d'Italia (English:The most beautiful Villages of Italy),[25] a non-profit private association of small Italian towns of strong historical and artistic interest,[26] that was founded on the initiative of the Tourism Council of the National Association of Italian Municipalities.[27] These villages are:[28]
Notable wines include two white wines fromMorgex (Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle andChaudelune), a red wine blend from Arvier (Enfer d'Arvier) and one fromGamay.[29] TheValle d'Aosta DOC (or Vallée d'Aoste DOC, in French[30]) is anItaliandenominazione di origine controllata located in the Aosta Valley of north-westItaly. Surrounded by theAlps, the Valle d'Aosta is home to the highestelevated vineyards in all ofEurope. The principalwinemaking region of the Valle d'Aosta is found along the eastern banks of theDora Baltea (fr.,Doire baltée) river with the city ofAosta serving as the central winemaking location. The region is divided into three main vineyard areas; the upper valley,Valdigne, the central valley (locallyValle centrale in Italian,Vallée centrale in French) and the lower valley, (locallyBassa valle in Italian,Basse vallée in French).
The Aosta Valley was the first government authority to adopt Modern French as the official language in 1536, three years before France itself.[32]
Bilingual road sign at Chambarlet (Aosta), with French going before Italian.
Since 1946, Italian and French are the region'sofficial languages[2] and are used for the regional government's acts and laws, though Italian is the most widespread mother tongue and thus is much more widely spoken in everyday life, while French is mostly spoken in cultural life. Education is conducted evenly in French and Italian,[2] so that anyone who has gone to school in the Aosta Valley can speak both languages to at least a medium-high level.[33]
Legal decree No.365 of 11 November 1946 (art.2) states that it is mandatory to know both Italian and French to teach in Aosta Valley's schools.[34] According to Aosta Valley's autonomous status (art.39), the same number of hours of French and Italian teaching must be held.[35] The decree No.861 of the President of the Republic of 31 October 1975 (art.5) states that it is mandatory to pass a French exam to teach in Aosta Valley for Italian native speakers, as well an Italian exam for French native speakers.[36] Italian law No.196 of 16 May 1978 states the adaptation rules of national educational programmes into French for Aosta Valley, and states as well that all members of the examination boards must be fluent both in Italian and French.[37] Aosta Valley students must pass an extra test in French at theSecondary education final exam, similar to the first test (in Italian).
The survey found that the Italian language was native to 77.29% of respondents, Franco-Provençal to 17.91%, and French to 1.25%, though the active use of these languages by the population shows French at 75.41% and Franco-Provençal at 55.77%. The population ofGressoney-Saint-Jean,Gressoney-La-Trinité andIssime, in theLys Valley, speak two dialects ofWalser German,Titsch andTöitschu respectively.[33] According to the survey,Walser German was spoken as a mother tongue by 207 people, or 17.78%, in these three villages. Nevertheless, it was known to 56.38% of the population.[38]
The cuisine of Aosta Valley is characterized by simplicity and revolves around "robust" ingredients such as potatoes,polenta; cheese and meat; andrye bread. Many of the dishes involveFontina,[41] a cheese withPDO status, made from cow's milk that originates from the valley. It is found in dishes such as the soupà la vâpeuleunèntse[42] (Valpelline Soup). Other cheeses made in the region areTomme de Gressoney[43] and Seras.Fromadzo (Valdôtain forcheese) has been produced locally since the 15th century and also has PDO status.[44]
Notable dishes includeCarbonnade, similar to theBelgian dish of the same name consisting of salt-cured beef cooked with onions and red wine served with polenta; breadedveal cutlets calledcostolette;teuteuns,[47] salt-cured cow'sudder that is cooked and sliced; andsteak à la valdôtaine,[48] a steak withcroûtons, ham and melted cheese.
The railway line is theChivasso–Ivrea–Aosta railway, currently undergoing modernization works, the railway service, therefore, will be carried out from January 2024 with replacement buses. The region's only airport is theAosta Valley Airport, inSaint-Christophe. However, there are currently no scheduled flight services at the airport. Other airports that are close to region areTurin Airport andGeneva Airport.
![The Saint-Pierre Castle[40]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aCastelloDiSaintPierreJuly312023_03.jpg)
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