The 10 Best Specialty Museums in Valle d'Aosta, Italy

Fortress of Bard complex is the protagonist of a wide project aimed at the creation of a cultural pole in the Western Alps of Italy. From impregnable defence for the valley the Fortress has been transformed into a gateway to the Alps’ culture and traditions, with a museum centre in the forefront of the international scenery dedicated to the mountain. Nowadays the Fortress offers only a part of the several activities planned by the project, whose purpose is to bring together innovative cultural spaces, services and accommodation in one single structure. To complete the project, in addition to the Museum of the Alps, The Children’s Alps, and the space for temporary exhibitions, Fortress of Bard will host two other museums (Frontiers Museum; Fortress Museum), an info-point to promote the cultural artistic heritage of Valle d’Aosta Region (already working); a school area provided with a lecture room for lessons, meetings and film projections; two conference rooms; a media centre; historical and thematic paths; a small refined hotel, a restaurant and a café (already working).

MAV opened on January 24, 2009. It houses in Villa Montana near the famous medieval castle of Fénis. MAV is not a nostalgic museum: the promotion of the works of its collection proves a dynamic project of cultural production in which the dialogue with the territory prevails and where community can identify the distinctive and evolutionary lines of a shared handicraft patrimony. Place for meeting and discussion as well as dynamical and inventive workshop, MAV connects the role of guardian of memory to cultural promotion, educational impulse and research activities aimed to create some opportunities for participation and exchange with the community and craftsmen. In the same spirit, the training vocation expresses in experiential learning activities focused on gestures and contact with the raw material devoted to a wide audience of youths and adults.

APRIRA' AL PUBBLICO qualora LA REGIONE VALLE D'AOSTA SIA "ZONA GIALLA" con orario continuato 10-17 nei soli giorni feriali, secondo le disposizioni MIBACT - The Regional Archaeological Museum (MAR) is housed in a prestigious historical building built on the foundations of the Roman tower that flanked the northern gate of the city. At first Vaudan Hall, then the seat of the Monastery of the Visitation, founded in 1633, at the beginning of the nineteenth century, after the Napoleonic suppression of the convent, it became the seat of the barracks. The set-up of the Museum, documented by a rich collection of archaeological finds, furnishings and personal artifacts, the result of the excavations conducted for decades on behalf of the Autonomous Region of Aosta Valley, is divided into a chronological path from the ancient phase of the Mesolithic (7000 - 6000 BC) until the seventh century AD. It covers various topics related to religion, daily life and public life.

An old rural house where all the spaces needed for survival are grouped under the same roof. The current shape is the result of an architectural evolution dating between 1680 and 1856. The three floor of the museum were renewed back to their original functions. You are welcome to enjoy an interactive tasting area and a store where you can buy gastronomical products linked to local food culture.

Berton House Museum opened in 2015 in La Thuile and tells Berton brothers' passion for Aosta Valley. Museum project design results from Louis and Robert brothers' express will to save the home heritage into a museum. Teacher, historian, collector, writer and passionate of valdostan culture Robert Berton has particularly gathered from the first editions of Sant'Orso Fair between 1950 and 1960, unique pieces as evidences of the valdostan craftsmanship as well as an important compendium of about 4,000 books. They formed together with the original furniture of the house an interesting collection. In his will, the Professor left house and all the belongings that contains to Municipality of La Thuile in order to "have it accessible" to the Community with the purpose of promoting Aosta Valley culture in all its aspects.