By now, everyone knows about the famous Matterhorn mountain that soars 4,470 meters (14,690 ft) into the sky on the Italian-Swiss border, but maybe you didn’t know that it is called Cervino in Italian. The ski resort town that sits just below it is Breuil-Cervinia and after reading this article, you will be putting it on your bucket list.
Where is Breuil-Cervinia?
We are in the Italian region of Aosta Valley (Valle d’Aosta in Italian) specifically in the Valtournenche Valley. This lovely town of under 1,000 people has an elevation of 2,000 meters. It used to be that it was primarily a winter destination, but that has changed over the past several decades with people from all over Europe (and beyond) flocking here in the warmer months as well.
A Winter Destination
The vast majority of visitors are drawn here for the endless outdoor possibilities year-round. Cervinia’s ski resort is open from mid-October through the beginning of May making it one of the longest seasons around. When you choose Cervinia for your winter-sport fix, you’ll be choosing not one, but three ski resorts! Breuil-Cervinia, Valtournenche, and Zermatt in Switzerland are all interconnected by slopes and lifts in a convenient way. We’re talking about a whopping 150 km of slopes!
Every Winter Sport You Can Dream Up
Activities range from alpine skiing to snowboarding, from freeriding to heliskiing, from ski mountaineering to snow parks. There are ski schools for all ages, restaurants and facilities, and of course, ski equipment rental as well. Visit the official website Cervinia Ski Paradise for complete details.
Summertime Fun
In the summer months, many of Cervinia’s slopes are converted into hiking and mountain biking trails. Actually, you can still snow ski in the summer as well on Plateau Rosa and the Ventina glaciers. Climbing, mountaineering, and rafting in the area’s many freshwater sources are all popular as well.
If you’re not particularly athletic or adventurous, not to worry because Cervinia is also a great place to take simple walks and enjoy food and wine tasting tours. The area is famous for its Fontina cheese and Blanc de Morgex et La Salle wine among many others.
Layet lake (also known as Lago Blu) is a must-see with stunning reflections of the Matterhorn in its crystal clear water. Goillet lake is a man-made dammed lake that is also stunning.
Or maybe you’d like to play a round of golf at Golf Club del Cervino which happens to be the highest-elevation course in all of Italy. This 18-hole course has stunning views of the Matterhorn- truly a once in a lifetime experience!
The quaint historic center also offers upscale shopping as well as artisan craft shops not to mention lots of bakeries and restaurants serving up local flavors.
Getting Here
If you choose to come by car, you’ll likely take the A5 autostrada which connects Aosta to Milan. By train, the closest station is Châtillon / Saint-Vincent where you can catch a bus to Breuil-Cervinia. Buses are also available from Milan, Turin, and Aosta.
