Montjovet

Introduction

A valley bottom municipality located in the lower Valle d'Aosta; its territory extends on the two orographic slopes of the Dora Baltea.

Description

The evidence of the first human settlements is very ancient, even dating back to prehistoric times, but it is the Romans who have given us the present toponym: in fact, it derives from mons jovis, i.e. mount of Jupiter. In fact, it seems that Latin settlers erected a temple to the god Jupiter on a nearby hill. In the Middle Ages, Montjovet was a very important centre: its seigniory also included the municipalities of Saint-Vincent, Emarèse, Saint-Germain and various territories now belonging to Champdepraz. It constituted a sort of obligatory stop for travellers crossing the valley, in fact the current route of the road, the one that cuts across the mountain ridge and is commonly known as 'mongiovetta' dates from the end of the 18th century. There is evidence of the existence of hospices since the mid 12th century; there were three parishes (now reduced to two) and two castles, that of Chenal and that of Saint-Germain. The latter, in spite of its current state of ruin, retains its charm, enhanced by its particularly panoramic position over the central valley.
As a curiosity, in the municipality of Montjovet, on the right side of the Dora, there are some place names of clear German derivation, such as Gettaz des Allemands and Rodhoz; according to some scholars, these are Walser colonies, while according to others they are settlements populated by straggling soldiers who found permanent refuge in particularly isolated places.

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Information

Superficie: 18,76 kmq
Altitudine: m
Maggior elevazione: m
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