Discovering life on high alpine pastures

Alpages Ouverts, the 'Valle d'Aosta branded' event that combines culture, agriculture and tourism, is back. Its aim is to make people discover the agro-pastoral life at high altitude in the company of the protagonists: breeders and 'arpian', i.e. the people who for one hundred continuous days a year devote themselves to cheese production and maintenance of the territory. Alpages Ouverts is organised by the Association Régionale des Eleveurs Valdôtains-Arev with the collaboration of the Regional Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and with the patronage of the Region. "Alpages Ouverts is celebrating its 25th anniversary," emphasises councillor Marco Carrel, and the programme includes, starting at 10 a.m., themed itineraries guided by Arev experts, a focus on landscape and nature, animations and games for children, and tastings of dairy products from the alpine pastures and Valdostan meat products. Next dates: 27 July, Layet alpine pasture, in Valtournenche, thanks to Denis Foudon's family; 3 August in upper Val d'Ayas at Alpe Mascognaz, managed by Aurelio Vercellin Nourissat's family; Saturday 24 August at Prasupiaz alpine pasture, with Bruno Jeantet's family.