Gran Paradiso National Park (Cogne)
Cogne – Parco nazionale del Gran Paradiso
The gateway town to Italy's first national park, where meadows, glaciers and Alpine ibex make up the purest Alpine scenery.
Gran Paradiso National Park was established in 1922. It began as a hunting reserve for the Savoy royal family and is where the Alpine ibex survived. The park is centred on Gran Paradiso peak, at 4,061 m. Cogne is the park's most popular gateway. In front of the town, the open Sant'Orso meadows face the Gran Paradiso peaks. In summer, you can take gentle trails to Valnontey and Lillaz, or hike up to mountain huts such as Vittorio Sella to watch ibex and chamois. In winter, it is a destination for cross-country skiing. The town is also known for its traditional hand-made bobbin lace. Cogne is about 27 km from Aosta, served by regional buses, and about 40 minutes by car.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Valnontey & Paradisia Alpine Garden
- Lillaz Waterfalls
- Pila
- Porta Praetoria
- Piazza Émile Chanoux
- Arch of Augustus
- Roman Theatre of Aosta
- Collegiata di Sant'Orso