FLORA and FAUNA OF THE TSAILLEUN GEOSITE

 

Saint-Vincent

 

The history of the Earth and rocks should be studied making extensive use of field trips, because otherwise it risks becoming boring.

Here then a short walk, set up in Saint-Vincent between the hamlets of Cillian and Feilley, allows us to see the forces of Nature at work, visiting the "Roman Bridge - Tsailleun" geosite.

It is an exceptional concentration of nature, history and alpine civilization in the suggestion of the Montjovet Gorges.

During the lesson, the fauna and botanical aspects of the area are illustrated and the geological peculiarities are illustrated.

At the end of the visit it is possible to have lunch in the surrounding restaurants to taste typical local dishes and products.

 

THE LANDSCAPE

 

On an outcropping surface, abraded by the ancient glacier, the folds of the rock and, superimposed, the rectilinear glacial streaks can be recognized.

From the geosite, some geomorphological phenomena of considerable interest for the most recent geological history of the region can be observed in a panoramic way:

• The landslides on the opposite side, including the spectacular one of Rodoz which caused the barrier of the Dora Baltea river and the formation of a lake, now disappeared, which filled the center of the valley up to Nus, and perhaps beyond.

• The erratic boulders left by the Baltic glacier during its movements.

• The rock carvings on the rocks of Mont des Fourches, just downstream of the geosito;

• The medieval road network traced further down, through the Montjovet Gorges, with an alternative crossroads towards the Ussel castle via the typical Ponte delle Capre;

• Four medieval castles - Chenal, Saint-Germain, Ussel and Cly - often built on the rocky reliefs formed by geological movements.

 

THE FLORA

If the lesson takes place in the spring, from April to June, it is also possible to admire interesting botanical species, such as:

• wild xero-thermophilic orchids;

• at least two species of orobanche, parasitic of Artemisia campestris;

• spectacular blooms of Alyssum argenteum;

• Notholaena marantae, rare fern also linked to acid substrates

• abundant spring blooms of very beautiful and interesting species, such as Pulsatilla montana, Corydalis solid, Silene armeria, Muscari comosum.

 

FAUNA

Given the panoramic view of the place, it is often possible to observe different species of birds of prey, from the buzzard to the peregrine falcon to the short toed snake eagle, as well as the typical species of the thermophilous deciduous forests, for example the tits, the finches, the grosbeaks etc.

 

COSTS
guide: up to 6 people 150 Euro, after 15 Euro / head;
meals: ready on the backpack;

 

GENERAL PLAN
Arrival in Aosta with your own transport

meeting in front of the railway station, then reaching the locality by bus;
excursion with packed lunch;
return to Aosta by 18.00.

 

ACCESS

Coming from Turin-Ivrea: S.S. 26, crossroads for Saint Vincent. Coming from the A5 motorway, Châtillon exit, or from Mont Blanc-Aosta: exit Saint Vincent east.

Public transport: Pont-Saint-Martin - Aosta bus stop and shuttle from Châtillon railway station.

Parking: ample parking with garden at the Roman bridge.

Gps coordinates: N 45 ° 44.423 - E 07 ° 39.678

Recommended period: from March to November.

ACCESSIBILITY AND SERVICES
wheelchairs: YES with adequate equipment and on easy routes
blinds: YES
animals: YES on a leash
toilettes: NO, free
photographs: YES

LESSONS ARE CARRIED OUT ALSO IN CASE OF SNOW, but not of rain

 

Acknowledgments

 

I thank my friend Francesco Prinetti, to whom we owe the geological information of this proposal and pictures