Seasonal conditions
Open year-round (the Breuil–Zermatt road is summer-only). Best June–September; the Matterhorn view is most reliable in early autumn light. Verified 2026-11-08 (Regione Valle d'Aosta).
ROUTE
Cervinia and the Matterhorn Ride — Aosta to Breuil
The Valtournenche climb from Aosta through Châtillon and Valtournenche to Breuil-Cervinia at 2,000 m — the Matterhorn's Italian face at the end of the valley road.
scenic-road116 km2.5 hmoderate
zeneize84 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0
ABOUT THIS ROUTE
The route in detail
Regional Road 47 runs from Aosta up the Valtournenche valley to Breuil-Cervinia at 2,000 metres — the resort at the foot of the Matterhorn's Italian south face. The climb follows the Marmore river past castles at Châtillon and the mountain hamlets of Valtournenche, ending in the highest paved valley road in the Aosta region with the Matterhorn's four-sided pyramid closing the view at the valley head.
From Aosta the road follows the SS26 to Châtillon, where the SR47 turns south into the Valtournenche valley. The climb runs along the Marmore torrent through Maen and Antey-Saint-André — steady gradients past stone villages and hay meadows — to Valtournenche, and continues past the Cielo Alto plateau to Breuil-Cervinia. The resort's car-free centre and the Matterhorn view from the plateau make the natural stop; the road continues (seasonal pass, summer only) to Zermatt's Swiss side, closed outside the short summer window.
PLAN RESPONSIBLY
Season & safety
Key hazards
- Sharp switchbacks above Valtournenche with tourist traffic in August.
- Afternoon thunderstorms in the valley — the Matterhorn builds its own clouds.
- Narrow streets in Breuil-Cervinia centre with pedestrians.
- Cold air at 2,000 m even in summer mornings.
Required gear
- Certified motorcycle helmet and full protective riding gear.
- Warm layer — Breuil-Cervinia sits at 2,000 m.
- Waterproof outer layer and charged phone.
- Basic puncture and roadside emergency equipment.
Check before you go
- Check the Regione Valle d'Aosta road bulletin for the valley road.
- Check the Matterhorn weather web-cam before riding.
- Confirm fuel in Aosta or Châtillon.
- Plan the return within daylight.
Local guidance
Treat the published duration as riding time only. Follow posted limits through the villages and watch pedestrians at the resort.
WAYPOINTS
Route points
- 01
Aosta
start
- 02
Châtillon
waypoint
- 03
Valtournenche
waypoint
- 04
Breuil-Cervinia
end
MAP & ROUTE
On the atlas
Elevation2,130 m high point462 m low point3,537 m total climbing39% steepest stretch (km 85.9)
DESTINATIONS
Places on this route
Aosta
The Rome of the Alps — a Roman-founded capital ringed by 4,000-metre peaks, where a ruined theatre and a triumphal arch sit at the crossroads of two great Alpine passes.
Aosta Valley
Courmayeur
The pearl of the Alps — Italy’s oldest mountain resort under the south face of Mont Blanc, where a rotating cable car climbs to 3,466 m and two glacial valleys begin at the edge of town.
Aosta Valley
Cervinia
Italy under the Pyramid — Europe’s highest resort at the foot of the Matterhorn, where the lifts climb to 3,882 m, the glacier skis in July, and the mountain of mountains fills every window.
Aosta Valley
INTERESTS
Why riders & travellers love it
WEATHER
Weather along the route
Forecast data from Open-Meteo. Updated regularly.
NEARBY
Explore nearby
REGIONS
Explore the region
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