Perched on several levels along a grassy slope, just above France, and characterized by a spectacular view over the valley below, Le Crest (Lo Créht in patois) is one of the villages belonging to the so-called “Poà,” the ascent (from the Latin term podium, elevation).
Mappa di Le Crest
Le Crest and the connections over time
Le Crest preserves an ancient network of connections that bear witness to alpine life and dynamics far beyond the modern era. Today, it is conveniently accessible by cable car from Champoluc; once, however, it could only be reached on foot along a path winding through the forest and ski slope, following the route of a historic mule track. This route, which crosses the Colle del Pinter at 2,777 meters, linked the Val d’Ayas with the Valle di Gressoney, representing a fundamental transversal connection between valleys, used for commercial, pastoral, and military exchanges. It was only in 1948 that Le Crest was equipped with electricity and saw the erection of the Chapel of Maria Auxilium Christianorum, symbolizing the slow but steady progress of this mountain community. The Val d’Ayas and the surrounding valleys, with their numerous passes and cols, embody the complex interconnection of alpine routes, where the mountains do not isolate but rather unite territories and cultures. Historians such as W. A. B. Coolidge have emphasized how alpine passes are human creations, traced to overcome hostile nature and promote commerce, defense, and daily life. Over the centuries, from the Savoyard military to nineteenth-century British geographers and alpinists, these trails have been explored and enhanced, becoming vital arteries of an intricate mountain system, rich in history and human relationships. The vestiges of these ancient connections, now hiking trails, allow us to relive the web of contacts that have always defined alpine identity.
