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Courmayeur

Coordinates:45°47′N06°58′E/ 45.783°N 6.967°E/45.783; 6.967
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Courmayeur
Croméyeui(Arpitan)
Comune di Courmayeur
Commune de Courmayeur
Courmayeur from the Torino Hut in July 2017
Courmayeur from theTorino Hutin July 2017
Coat of arms of Courmayeur
Location of Courmayeur
Map
Courmayeur is located in Italy
Courmayeur
Courmayeur
Location of Courmayeur in Italy
Courmayeur is located in Aosta Valley
Courmayeur
Courmayeur
Courmayeur (Aosta Valley)
Coordinates:45°47′N06°58′E/ 45.783°N 6.967°E/45.783; 6.967
CountryItaly
RegionAosta Valley
FrazioniDolonne, Entrèves, La Palud, Villair inferiore, Villair superiore, Larzey, Entrelevie, La Villette, La Saxe, Planpincieux, Lavachey, La Visaille, Arnouvaz.
Government
• MayorStefano Miserocchi (Independent)
Area
• Total210 km2(80 sq mi)
Highest elevation
4,810 m (15,780 ft)
Lowest elevation
1,224 m (4,016 ft)
Population
(31 December 2022)[2]
• Total2,602
• Density12/km2(32/sq mi)
DemonymCourmayeureins
Time zoneUTC+1(CET)
• Summer (DST)UTC+2(CEST)
Postal code
11013
Dialing code0165
Patron saintSt. Pantaleo
Saint dayJuly 27
Websitecomune.courmayeur.ao.it

Courmayeur(French:[kuʁmajœʁ];Valdôtain:Croméyeui)[needs Franco-Provençal IPA]is a town andcomuneinnorthern Italy,in the autonomous region ofAosta Valley.

History[edit]

The toponymCourmayeurhas been mentioned asCuria majori(1233–1381),Corte Maggiore(1620),Cormoyeu(1648),Cormaior(1680),Cormaior(Vissher, 1695),Cormaggior(L'Isle, 1707),Cormaior(Stagnoni, 1772) andCormaieur(Martinel, 1799). The present toponym was first confirmed by Édouard Aubert (La Vallée d'Aoste,1860), Joseph-Marie Henry (Histoire populaire de la Vallée d'Aoste,1929) andAmé Gorret(Guide de la Vallée d'Aoste,1877).

Sundial

It became a popular tourist destination when alpinism arose, thanks to its proximity to Mont Blanc.

Under theFascist regimeand its "Italianist" rule, the town was briefly renamedCormaiore.Courmayeur was reestablished in 1948 alongside all other French toponyms in the Aosta Valley.

TheMont Blanc Tunnel,connecting Courmayeur withChamonix,opened in 1965, and provides an important road link between Italy and France.

In 2013, in accordance with regional law 61 (Dénomination officielle des communes de la Vallée d'Aoste et protection de la toponymie locale), a referendum was carried out to change the official name toCourmayeur-Mont-Blanc,[3]but there was insufficient support.

Geography[edit]

At anelevationof 1,224 m (4,016 ft)above sea level,it is located at the foot of the southern side ofMont Blanc,at 4,810 m (15,781 ft) the highest point in theAlpsandwestern Europe(seeSeven Summits), and is crossed by theDora Baltea(fr.Doire baltée) river.

Courmayeur shares administration of Mont Blanc with its neighboring municipality ofSaint-Gervais-les-BainsinFrance,and is consequently able to claim the title of highest commune in Italy.

Courmayeur also shares access to theglacialski run of theVallée Blanchewith another French town,Chamonix,which sits at the opposite, northern, side of theMont Blanc massif.

Main sights[edit]

Dolonne hamlet, seen from Joseph-Marie Henry Square
The Town Hall

Courmayeur is cited as "Italy's best all-round ski resort",[4]and contains theAlpine Botanical Garden Saussurea,which describes itself asEurope's highestbotanical garden.[5]The Church of Saint-Pantaléon dates to the 18th century.

In the summer months Courmayeur is a popular destination for hikers.[6] The nearby village ofLa Paludis the base station of theSkyway Monte Bianco,thecable carto thePointe Helbronner.This links to theVallée Blanche Aerial Tramwaygoing to theAiguille du Midi,which connects to theTéléphérique de l'Aiguille du Midi,the cable car fromChamonix.

Notre Dame de Guérison sanctuarystands at the foot of Mont Chétif.

Sports[edit]

Sister cities[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011".Italian National Institute of Statistics.Retrieved16 March2019.
  2. ^"Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018".Italian National Institute of Statistics.Retrieved16 March2019.
  3. ^C’est au tour de Courmayeur de vouloir s’appeler "Mont-Blanc"
  4. ^Porter (January 1990).Italy, 1990.Prentice Hall PTR. p. 415.ISBN978-0-13-217357-5.
  5. ^Le Vay, David (4 August 2014).A Tour of Mont Blanc: And other circuitous adventures in Italy, France and Switzerland.Summersdale Publishers Limited. p. 66.ISBN978-1-78372-215-0.
  6. ^Belford, Ros (1 March 2010).Back Roads Italy.Dorling Kindersley Limited. p. 38.ISBN978-1-4053-4531-6.

External links[edit]