“The primitive beauty
of the Betenda ravine”
The centuries old Beech of Voisinal watches over the town of Valpelline like a wise old man. Like the Tornalla of Oyace, the evocative tower and its hexagonal floor plan, erected by the Saracens on an isolated hilltop.
Looking out from the parapet of the stone arch of the Betenda bridge, you feel as if you could go down to the bowls of the earth. The erosive powers of the water of the Buthier river have carved a narrow deep ravine into the gneiss rock.
The view over the square of the San Michele church is more relaxing and spacious, and allows you to cast your gaze over the whole valley. To the North the majestic peaks of Mont Morion stand, at the border with the Ollomont valley. You can reach the chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Snow by hiking up to the high pastures of Verdonaz at 2317 meters altitude.
Soft action Oyace
Sport and folklore: Fiolet is the traditional sport of Oyace, and consists of hitting an oval-shaped ball using a wooden bat of 80-100cm length. In the past it was played using a smooth pebble collected from along the Buthier river, and was called the ‘pira’. On springtime Sundays the sportsmen of the town train for the regional championships. Go and try out this fun activity for yourselves!
Snow shoes are an interesting ‘slow’ alternative to skiing. Oyace, with its woods and valleys, offers numerous walking routes, immersed in the silence of the snow-covered nature. Moving silently allows you to explore the secret life of the woods, hoping to encounter, at every step, some wonderful native animal.