Chalet L'Ermitage
Chamois, Aosta Valley, Italy — reachable on foot only
Whatever our destiny, it inhabits the mountains above our heads. Paolo Cognetti, The Eight Mountains
A refuge perched above Chamois
Perched above the pretty, car-free village of Chamois, with breathtaking views over the wild slopes of the Matterhorn valley (Valtournenche), L'Ermitage chalet is a privileged place to recharge in the mountains — family or friends' holidays, hiking, snowshoeing, skiing or mountaineering trips, workshops, "workations" or retreats. Reachable only after a 700m cable-car ascent followed by a fifteen-minute walk, true disconnection is guaranteed.
Luggage and supplies can be brought up by 4x4 or snowcat thanks to Chamois Servizi, the municipal transport service. L'Ermitage is ideal for groups of around fifteen people (20 maximum).
Chamois and L'Ermitage, seen from near Lake Lod.
The chalet
A promontory, 270° of scenery
Set on a promontory, the refuge overlooks the landscape at 270° with no facing buildings. To the north and east it backs onto a larch forest; to the south and west, its façade and meadows open onto a breathtaking panoramic view.
L'Ermitage has a large shaded terrace for eating outdoors, a grove to hang a hammock in, and direct access to hiking trails and ski slopes. At dawn and dusk, chamois are often seen grazing nearby.
- — Large shaded terrace, tables, benches and 10 deck chairs
- — Living room, dining area and equipped kitchen (induction hob, dishwasher)
- — Wifi and good mobile coverage
- — Oil heating, running water, electricity, mains drainage
- — Laundry room (two washing machines, one dryer)
- — Table tennis, badminton, beach rackets, sledges, books and board games
The living room / dining area / lounge.
The large 1st-floor room
Nine bedrooms, from dormitory to double room
L'Ermitage has nine bedrooms, four with double beds. As most rooms are small, capacity really depends on how the space is used. From experience, up to 8-10 people feel roomy, up to 12-15 feel comfortable — beyond that, it gets tighter. Every room has a washbasin.
Important: pillows, duvets and blankets are provided in plenty, but you'll need to bring your own sheets and towels.
| Room | Layout | Comfortable use | Full capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garden level | |||
| Room 0 (overflow dorm) | 4 single beds | 0 | 4 |
| 1st floor | |||
| Room 1 (large) | 1 double bed + 1 single | 2 (couple) | 3 |
| Room 2 | 1 single + 1 trundle bed | 1 | 2 |
| 2nd floor | |||
| Room 3 | 1 single bed | 1 | 1 |
| Room 4 | 2 bunk beds | 4 | 4 |
| Room 5 | 1 bunk bed | 2 | 2 |
| Room 6 | 1 double bed | 2 (couple) | 2 |
| Room 7 | 1 bunk bed | 2 | 2 |
| Room 8 | 1 double bed | 2 (couple) | 2 |
| Room 9 | 1 double bed | 2 (couple) | 2 |
| Total | 18 people | 24 people | |
Life at L'Ermitage
The village of Chamois
At 1818 m, Chamois is the highest municipality in the Aosta Valley and the only one that is entirely car-free — "like an island in the mountains". It has around fifty permanent residents.
Its exceptional setting, traditional houses roofed with stone slabs (lauzes), and its commitment to soft mobility earned it the "Pearl of the Alps" label. Children playing in its lanes are more likely to be bumped by a cow than by a car.
Chamois has a pretty lake, Lake Lod, where you can enjoy polenta or an ice cream, and a small family ski area with 16 km of runs between 1800 and 2500 m, served by three chairlifts and two magic carpets. The village centre and the lake are a 15-minute walk from the refuge; the slopes are accessible on skis right from the garden.
All around, there are countless options for hiking, snowshoeing, skiing (alpine, ski-touring or cross-country), mountain biking, e-biking and mountaineering — all the gear can be hired locally. In summer, festivals, concerts, markets and communal dinners punctuate the season.
Like a (car-free) island in the mountains...
Good addresses in the village
Épicerie Minimarket Bazar
Restaurant Chez Pierina
Bar-restaurant Le coin du paradis
Bar-restaurant Da Bruna
Equipment rental
Ski rental — Osvaldo Ducly
Mountain bike & e-bike rental — Ratelé du soleil
Access and logistics
Getting to L'Ermitage takes a bit of fitness and a little planning — the trade-off for a guaranteed disconnection. Here's how to organise it.
The cable car
It climbs 700 m from Buisson to Chamois, 7 days a week all year round, at least from 7am to 10:25pm, every half hour. The ride takes seven minutes. Chamois can also be reached on foot from La Magdeleine (about an hour on flat ground).
The trail
From Chamois' main square, a fairly steep but straightforward trail (100 m of ascent) reaches L'Ermitage in 15 minutes. In high season, a gentler alternative exists via the Lake Lod chairlift, during its operating hours.
The Chamois Servizi service
For luggage, a pallet can be transported from Buisson to L'Ermitage (book 48h ahead, about €60/m³) or motorised transport can be booked from Chamois by noon the day before (about €25 one way). These services generally don't carry passengers, so the refuge is not wheelchair accessible.
From abroad
By car, the Aosta Valley is reached via the Mont Blanc tunnel or the Great St Bernard tunnel. By air, the most convenient options are Turin (1h15), Milan Malpensa (2h), Milan Linate (2h15) or Geneva (2h30); there's even a small altiport right in Chamois! By train, connections run to Turin, Milan and Geneva via Lyon or Basel, then bus or train to Châtillon and Buisson.
Minimarket Bazar opening hours
| Monday | 8am-1pm / 3pm-7pm |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 8am-12:45pm |
| Thursday | 8am-12:45pm |
| Friday | 8am-12:45pm |
| Saturday | 8am-12:45pm / 3pm-7:30pm |
| Sunday | 8am-7pm |
Rates, terms and booking
Terms
- Rented by the week, Saturday to Saturday. For any other duration or to check availability, get in touch.
- A €1000 deposit is required, from which a €200 cleaning fee will be deducted.
- There is no linen and towel rental service yet — please bring your own. Providing a few spare sheets and towels can, however, be discussed.
- The booking is only confirmed once we've replied in writing and the rate and deposit have been paid.
Book L'Ermitage
Write to us to check availability or ask any questions; we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
ciao@ermitage-chamois.comBE39 3771 4704 0519
The Valtournenche valley and the Aosta Valley
Chamois lies halfway up the Valtournenche, a steep valley overlooked by the iconic silhouette of the Matterhorn (4478 m). Upstream, Valtournenche and Breuil-Cervinia link their slopes to Zermatt's, in Switzerland — a 360 km ski area. Downstream, Antey-Saint-André and then Châtillon-Saint-Vincent offer every kind of supply option, plus a spa.
A bilingual Italian-French autonomous region, the Aosta Valley is home to renowned resorts such as Courmayeur, imposing castles such as Fort Bard, and a generous cuisine built around polenta and local wines. The regional capital, Aosta, with its pedestrian old town and Roman gate, is half an hour's drive from Chamois.
Appendix — floor plans
